Creating audio descriptions is an art but also a skill, where attention to detail is very important, as people who have worked in this trade for years know. But what happens when you have to perform this art live?

Sergio Carrasquilla, a beloved member of the Dicapta family, had the opportunity to face this difficult task at this year's Univisionarios gala.

One of the differences with normal audio description (which is prerecorded) that he highlights is the unpredictability of the entire process. “From the time I got to see the script to the time we went on the air, the script changed several times, and when we went live it was something else. It's awesome. They must make adjustments on the fly to adapt to what is happening... Meanwhile, you are locked in a cabin where the only contact you have is with a producer who informs you what is happening and a sign that tells you when may or may not speak.

Making live audio description is a big challenge, so careful planning is essential.

“A script is made with the key times… Saying what happens, saying it well and in a short time, is a great challenge. The difficulty lies in the language, not all of us see the same thing, nor do we all speak the same”.

“Almost everything important was defined before the event. We decided which aspects of people were important to mention given the nature of the event: how the stage was arranged, when to mention logos, when I had to thank the audience for watching the alternative audio channel, when to mention the sponsorship of Dicapta; among others”.

He told us that he had to take things into account which he had not thought of before.

“It is very easy to be wrong. As an audiodescriber, I had to watch out when something was going to be overlayed in the audio, I had to be very careful not to bump into the people who were speaking. The information that is said has to be important. It is not the same to say 'the orchestra begins to play' than 'a young singer with a black mariachi hat takes the stage'."

He emphasized that, as is the case in normal audio description, the most important requisite to do a good job is to make a collaborative effort. Almost all the things he needed to do a good job during the Univisionarios gala were possible thanks to meticulous planning with the people involved.

“It was gratifying to receive comments from several people who saw the gala with audio description in different parts of the country. Knowing that, thanks to our work, people with visual limitations enjoyed and understood the program better, encourages us to continue offering this type of service. We are very pleased that Univision made this experience possible for its audience in Spanish.

Would you like to have live audio description for your event? At Dicapta we provide this and other accessibility services on a daily basis, with high quality and for a wide audience. Contact us for more information.

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