Silent Files

A silent file is an audio or video file with no speech, singing or sound anywhere in the recording. This happens most often when a recording’s microphone was muted, the wrong audio track was exported, or a file lost its audio when it was converted or downloaded. What happens to a silent file depends on whether you ordered a human or an AI service.

In this article

Human Transcription and Captions

If you order human transcription, captions or subtitles for a file that’s completely silent, we still complete the order. A transcriptionist or captioner listens to the whole file to make sure no speech or sound is missed anywhere in it. If none is found:

  • Transcripts contain a single (silence) tag.
  • Captions contain a single (silence) caption.

The order is delivered and charged like any other order. This also applies to videos that show people talking without sound, or videos that use only sign language, since there’s no audio to transcribe.

If a video has music or sounds but no speech, it isn’t treated as silent. Captions describe the sounds, and instrumental-only transcripts contain a single (music) tag. Learn more in Music and Lyrics.

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AI Transcription and AI Captions

If you order AI transcription or AI captions for a file that’s completely silent, the order is canceled automatically and refunded, since there’s nothing to transcribe. If you uploaded the file with Auto Transcribe with AI turned on, that order is canceled too.

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Files That Are Partly Silent

If only part of a file is silent, the rest of the file is transcribed or captioned as usual, and you’re charged for the full length of the file.

  • Standard captions don’t show anything during silent stretches.
  • Premium Captions mark silence with (no audio), repeated every 8 to 10 seconds, so there’s never a gap of more than 10 seconds without a caption. Some streaming platforms require this. Learn more in Rev Human and Premium Services.

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Avoid Ordering a Silent File

Before you place an order:

  • Play the file from start to finish, or spot-check several points, and make sure you can hear it.
  • If you exported the file from editing or recording software, check that the audio track was included and the microphone wasn’t muted.
  • If you’re ordering from a link or a connected app, play the original file there first.

If your file was delivered with a (silence) tag but you can hear audio when you play it, contact support with your order number.

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