For independent filmmakers
Audio description for independent films
Description for your feature, short or trailer at $7.50 a minute, captions included, back in 2 business days. Published rates, no sales call, and files you own outright.
What it costs
Per minute of finished runtime, worked out for the three things independent filmmakers most often send us:
| Tier | Per minute | 2-min trailer | 15-min short | 90-min feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard — audio description and captions | $7.50 | $15.00 | $112.50 | $675.00 |
| Priority — the same, faster | $10.00 | $20.00 | $150.00 | $900.00 |
| Studio voice — voiced in our own room | $18.00 | $36.00 | $270.00 | $1,620.00 |
| Captions and SDH only | $2.50 | $5.00 | $37.50 | $225.00 |
Two rounds of revisions are included. 15% off from ten titles, if you are describing a slate or a back catalog. The fast turnaround covers up to 11 titles in one order; at 12 or more, we agree a schedule with you before anything starts. The full rate card has the rest.
What you get back
- A described master with two audio tracks, the original and the described mix, so the description can be switched on and off.
- The narration on its own, as PCM, so you or your distributor can remix it against a later cut.
- Captions as WebVTT and SRT: 42 characters, two lines, 17 characters per second.
- A written conformance report: placement, coverage, pace, loudness and track structure, per title.
Everything is yours. No per-play license, nothing to renew.
Check your delivery spec first
If a distributor or platform has handed you a deliverables list, read the audio description line before you order anything. Specs are specific: Netflix, for example, publishes its own Audio Description Style Guide and delivery specification for partners.
Send us the spec before you order. If it names a loudness target, a channel layout such as a 5.1 stem, or a file format, we will tell you plainly whether we can deliver to it, so you find out from us and not at QC.
How the description is made
We say this up front because you should know it before you pay. The script is written by AI viewing your film, and a person reviews and corrects every title before it ships. The standard voice is synthetic.
What keeps a synthetic voice from sounding rushed is where the lines go. Each one is placed in a real gap in the dialogue rather than laid on top of it, and the audio is checked by an engineer who has been recording and mixing since 2001.
If you want a person reading it, the studio tier is $18.00 a minute, recorded at The Hitbox, our own commercial studio.
Hear it before you buy
Every described film on our site plays free, with description on and no account. Watch our work and judge the placement for yourself.
We are a listed provider in the American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project, alongside Netflix and Prime Video.
Questions filmmakers ask
How much does audio description cost for an independent film?
Our standard rate is $7.50 per minute of finished runtime, captions included. A 90-minute feature is $675.00. A two-minute trailer is $15.00. A person reading the description in our own studio is $18.00 a minute.
How long does it take?
2 business days per title at the standard rate, or the next business day at $10.00 a minute. The clock starts once a person has confirmed your file is workable, not at checkout.
What files do I get back?
A master with two audio tracks, original and described. The narration on its own, as PCM. Captions as WebVTT and SRT. And a written conformance report.
Is the description written by a person or by AI?
The script is written by AI viewing the film, and a person reviews and corrects every title before it ships. The standard voice is synthetic. The studio tier is read by a person.
Can I hear your work before I order?
Yes. Every described film on our site plays with description on, free, with no account.
Order description for your film
Last checked 16 September 2026. Prices are read from the same rate card the order form uses, so the numbers on this page and on your invoice cannot disagree.