Please note: This feature is in beta and should be considered experimental.
Overview
What is it and who is it for?
A faster way to add captions to your videos in bulk. This is meant for professional editors who add captions to and edit hundreds of videos per week.
How does it work?
The setup takes about 5 minutes:
Once setup is complete, simply upload videos to the input folder, and they'll automatically get captioned and added to the output folder.
What can it do?
Captions can be added to:
Videos up to 5 minutes long
Videos in English
Vertical videos only (horizontal videos will be rescaled to vertical)
How can I give feedback or get help?
Please join our Discord and share your thoughts in the #zapier-beta-testing channel.
Instructions
I. Captions App
Goal: Design your desired captions style and color (your template) and retrieve your API key for later use.
Step 1 - Create your Captions
Open the Captions app on your iPhone
Import a sample video and add Captions in English
Edit how you'd like your Captions to look
Tap Close and Save
Step 2 - Create your Template
On the Projects page, tap on the 3 dots to the right of your project
Tap Prepare Template with Zapier
Create a name for your template.
Step 3 - Retrieve your API Key
Tap on Profile
Tap API Key
Copy your API Key
II. Google Drive
Goal: Create create your input and output folders in Google Drive and upload a sample video to test the automation.
Step 4 - Set up Google Drive
Navigate to the Drive and location you'd like to set up your folder
Create a folder named "Captions"
Within the folder, create two child folders named "Input" and "Output"
Upload a sample video inside of the "Input" folder
III. Zapier
Goal: Set up the rules to power your automation. This includes:
Drive - Check for newly added videos in your input folder.
Captions - Add captions with your desired template applied.
Drive - Upload the recently captioned videos into your output folder.
Gmail - Send an email when the captioned videos have been uploaded to Drive.
Step 5 - Create a Zapier Account
On a computer, visit https://zapier.com/
Create an account or sign in
Go to Zaps and create a new Zap
Create a name for your Zap.
Step 6 - Create Trigger
App & event
App: Google Drive
Event: New File in Folder
Account: Connect your account
Trigger
Drive: Choose your Drive
Folder: Choose your folder named "Input"
Test: Perform a test. You should see "We found records in your Google Drive account..." Click Continue with selected record
Step 7 - Add Captions Action
App & event
App: Search for and choose Captions
Event: Add Captions
Account: Enter in your API key (from Step 3)
Action:
Template: Choose the template you'd like to use
Video Title: Choose Title (Drive)
Video: File (Drive)
Video Extension: File Extension (Drive)
Test: Perform a test.
⚠️ Zapier will ask to publish your Zap. Please dismiss and continue. ⚠️
Step 8 - Add Drive Action
Click on the + button to add a new action
App & event
App: Google Drive
Event: Upload File
Account: Authenticate your account (it should already be connected)
Action:
Drive: Choose your Drive
Folder: Choose your folder named "Output"
File: File (Captions)
Convert to Document: False
File Name: File Name (Captions)
File Extension: File Extension (Captions)
Test: Perform a test.
⚠️ If your test fails, you can Skip Test ⚠️
Step 9 - Add Gmail Action
Note: This step is optional, but we recommend setting up a notification method to notify you that the captioned videos are in your output folder. Alternatively, you can set up Zapier to be notified via Outlook, SMS, Slack, etc.
Step 10 - Publish
Finally, click Publish to set this automation live!
Congrats, set up is complete! To automatically add captions to your videos, simply import a video into the "Input" folder. Zapier will will check for new videos, apply captions, and upload the captioned videos into your output folder. Lastly, Gmail will notify you when it is complete. Additionally, you can view your videos in the Captions app in Profile > Exports.
FAQs
Can I use Dropbox or another app other than Google Drive?
We recommend using Google Drive. Note, Dropbox has a file size limit of 120MB.