Event Captions (real-time transcription and translation) provides instant subtitles and translations for live events. This feature is exclusive to Max plan users; other users can try it for up to 5 minutes (this 5-minute live caption trial is separate from the free 15-minute allowance for file processing).
To unlock this feature, upgrade to the Max plan. Subanana upgrades use a time stacking and inheritance model: unused minutes from your current plan carry over in full to the new plan, and you gain the new plan's advanced features. Simply subscribe to the new plan — the merge happens automatically and the upgrade takes effect immediately.
Event Captions is its own project type. Choose "Event Captions" in the project creation menu to create an event. Every event provides captions in the original language; you can also add up to 5 audience translation languages, or turn translation off and use original-language captions only.
Feature highlights
Accurate live captions and translation in 80+ languages
One event can provide original captions plus up to 5 translations — each viewer chooses the language they want to read
Customizable transcription prompt, translation prompt, and glossary
Change the source and translation languages while the event is running; existing caption history is never rewritten
Audiences read captions live on their own devices via QR code or share link
Open a floating caption window on a computer, projector, or second screen
Copy a transparent-background browser-source caption link for OBS, vMix, or ProPresenter
Review the caption history after the event ends, and play back or download the event audio once the recording has been processed
Your content is never used for AI training (this applies to all processing modes), and you can delete it at any time
Create a live caption event
Choose "Event Captions" in the project creation menu.
Enter an event name and choose the source language your speakers will use. If the event mixes several languages, choose multilingual auto-detect and add hints for the languages you expect.
"Translate for the audience" is on by default. Add 1 to 5 audience languages; if you only need original-language captions, turn it off and viewers will read the original transcript only.
Optionally adjust the caption model, transcription prompt, translation prompt, and glossary, then create the event.
Start, pause, and change event settings
Open the event and choose the microphone you want to use.
Press the main microphone button to start capturing. Original captions appear in real time, with a translation generated for every selected language.
Press the main button again to pause; you can resume later from the same place.
Until the event is ended or archived, you can choose "Edit event" at any time to change the source language, audience languages, prompts, or glossary. After saving, the system reconnects automatically; speech during the brief reconnect is not transcribed. New settings apply only to speech received afterwards — earlier caption history is never changed.
Share captions with your audience
Press "Share" to open the event's QR code and viewer link.
Let your audience scan the QR code, or send them the link. Viewers do not need access to the admin view.
If the event offers several languages, viewers choose the language they want to read when they first open the link; the choice is remembered on that device, and viewers can switch to any available language at any time. If a translation is briefly delayed, the original text is never shown in its place.
Viewers can adjust caption size, light/dark appearance, and timestamps, and choose to show the original only, the translation only, or both side by side.
Show captions on screen or in production software
Press "Show caption on screen" in the event admin view. On first use, choose one of the following:
Show on this computer: open a floating caption window for a chosen language or dual-language pair — ideal for a projector or second screen. This mode offers dark or light backgrounds.
Use in OBS, vMix, or ProPresenter: copy a browser-source link for a chosen language or dual-language pair, then add the link to your production software. This mode offers dark, light, or transparent backgrounds; transparent is ideal for overlaying captions on video or a live stream.
To switch methods, choose "Change setup". Caption links show only the captions themselves — no event title bar or control buttons.
End the event and retrieve the audio
"End event" cannot be undone. If the event has been recording, the "Event caption audio" area asks you to end the event first; the recording is then processed. Once processing finishes and audio is available, you can play or download it from the same area — keep the event during processing and check back later. Caption and translation text records remain available for later review.
About privacy: all data is encrypted in transit (TLS/HTTPS); our staff only view content when assisting with your support requests, and access is logged. In live caption mode, event audio is recorded with the event and processed into a playable, downloadable recording after the event ends; transcription and translation text is also kept for your later review. You can delete the event and its content at any time. If you have specific confidentiality or compliance needs, contact us at hello@subanana.com.
Great for many industries and scenarios
🏢 Conferences, webinars, and large events
🎓 Live classroom translation
🏥 Medical consultations
🎤 Media interviews and podcasts
✈️ Guided tours