-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "CaptionsRush - Overview" description: "Two products: a desktop client for Discord/gaming captions, and an OBS Studio plugin for streamers. Built by a deaf gamer and funded by the community." source: "https://captionsrush.com" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # CaptionsRush > Real-time speech-to-text captions in two flavors: a **desktop client** for Discord voice chat and gaming (free forever with Whisper + NVIDIA NeMo local STT, 100+ languages), and an **OBS Studio plugin** for streamers (live on-canvas captions, CEA-608 closed captions for viewers, real-time translation across 60+ languages, sub-200ms latency). Built by a deaf gamer, for deaf and hard-of-hearing gamers — and the streamers who care about retention and accessibility for their viewers. **Desktop client — Never miss a callout again.** CaptionsRush delivers real-time voice captions with word-by-word streaming under 50ms — fast enough for ranked competitive gameplay. It works with any game, any Discord server, and supports 125+ languages on cloud plans (100+ on free local captions). The Community Edition runs Whisper and NVIDIA NeMo directly on your machine — no cloud, no limits, audio never leaves your device. **OBS plugin — Captions that grow your stream.** Native OBS Studio plugin for Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and any RTMP destination. Live on-canvas captions render directly on your scene; toggle "Send as CC" to embed CEA-608 closed captions in your output so viewers can read along. Powered by our **Valkyrie engine**: native-speaker accuracy across 60+ languages, language-switching mid-sentence, sub-200ms latency, and robust handling of alphanumerics, callsigns, and domain-specific terms. Captions aren't just accessibility — they're a retention lever (85% of social video is watched without sound; captioned video sees +12% watch-time and 80% higher completion). Cloud-powered accuracy is funded by community supporters — more supporters means lower costs for everyone. - Website: https://captionsrush.com - Live Translation (multilingual squads): https://captionsrush.com/translate - For Streamers: https://captionsrush.com/streamers - Discord Community: https://discord.gg/kS5R5RV6Rz - Contact: contact@captionsrush.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "The Story Behind CaptionsRush" description: "Why a deaf gamer built CaptionsRush — born from personal pain, built with purpose." source: "https://captionsrush.com/#story" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # The Story Behind CaptionsRush ## Built by a Deaf Gamer, Out of Necessity CaptionsRush was not born in a boardroom or a startup incubator. It was born from frustration — years of it. The founder is hard of hearing and a lifelong gamer. For years, he sat in Discord voice calls with his squad, straining to catch callouts in the middle of chaotic competitive matches. Enemy positions shouted in a split second. Coordinated pushes called out on the fly. Game-winning info that everyone else heard instantly — but he missed, every single time. He would ask teammates to repeat themselves. He would guess based on context. He would play at a disadvantage that had nothing to do with skill. The existing accessibility tools were either too slow, too clunky, or simply did not work for the speed of competitive gaming. So he built CaptionsRush. > "I'm hard of hearing, and after years of gaming I know how frustrating it is to miss callouts. I've always wanted to fully join fast, chaotic multiplayer matches — but the existing tools just don't cut it. Your team is shouting directions and enemy positions, and you're stuck asking for repeats or guessing. I built CaptionsRush so I could finally follow my squad in real time. No hacks — just captions that match the pace of the game. If that's your struggle too, it's for you." This is not a corporate product. It is a tool made by someone who lives the problem every day, for everyone who shares that same struggle. CaptionsRush exists because deaf and hard-of-hearing gamers deserve to compete on equal footing — no compromises, no delays, no excuses. The pricing reflects this mission: CaptionsRush is priced to cover operational costs, not to extract profit. Accessibility should not be a luxury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "How CaptionsRush Works" description: "Three-step process: Install, Capture, Play." source: "https://captionsrush.com/#how-it-works" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # How CaptionsRush Works ## Step 1: Install Download CaptionsRush for Windows or macOS. The lightweight setup takes about 5 minutes. Optionally integrate with Discord by adding a bot to your server. ## Step 2: Capture Real-time speech-to-text transcribes your team's voice calls in milliseconds. CaptionsRush captures audio from Discord voice chat (via bot integration) or any desktop audio (system audio mode). Each speaker's voice is transcribed individually with speaker identification. ## Step 3: Play An in-game overlay shows captions exactly where you want them. Customize font size, color, background opacity, and position. Save multiple presets for different games and scenarios. Play with full access to team communication. **Your teammates don't need to install anything.** Only you need CaptionsRush. If using the Discord bot, just invite it to your server — teammates talk normally and their voice is captioned for you in real time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Live Translation — Multilingual Squads" description: "Real-time any-to-any voice translation for Discord and in-game comms across 60+ languages, with per-word code-switching and no source language to declare." source: "https://captionsrush.com/translate" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Live Translation — For Multilingual Squads CaptionsRush translates Discord voice chat and in-game comms in real time, any of 60+ languages into any other. The bot joins your voice channel, captures each speaker separately, and streams translated captions to an overlay on your screen — word by word, while the person is still talking. ## Can I translate Discord voice chat in real time? Yes. Only you install CaptionsRush. The Discord bot needs an invite to the server, but your teammates change nothing — they talk normally and never know it is running. Translation is included on every cloud plan at no extra charge. ## What happens when teammates switch languages mid-sentence? CaptionsRush never asks you to declare a source language. It detects the language per word, so a mixed callout like "vale, voy a rotar B — cover me" is transcribed and translated correctly end to end. Tools that require a single source language mangle or discard whichever half does not match — this is the most common failure mode in multilingual comms, and it is why "supports 100 languages" and "works for your team" are different claims. ## Any-to-any, per listener Translation happens per listener, not per channel. Five players can read the same voice channel in five different languages simultaneously — each picks their own caption language in their own app. It is not 60 languages into English; it is any of the 60 into any other. Transcription and speaker diarization reach wider at 125+ languages; translation covers the 60+ subset. ## Latency Captions stream word by word at under 50ms rather than waiting for a sentence boundary. A game callout is over in roughly 200ms, so translation that waits for a full stop arrives after the fight is decided. This is the practical difference between translation built for conference calls and translation built for competitive comms. ## The double barrier — deaf and non-native CaptionsRush began as a sound-accessibility tool for the deaf and hard-of-hearing gaming community, and that community is not anglophone. A deaf player in São Paulo, Warsaw, or Seoul in an international lobby carries two barriers at once: they cannot hear the voice, and the voice is not in their language. Captions solve one, translation solves the other, and both end at the same overlay. Translation is not a separate product — it is the same one addressing the other half of why the call was unfollowable. ## Where it works On Windows, captions render as an overlay on top of fullscreen, windowed, and borderless games. System Audio mode captions and translates anything else playing — streams, calls, videos. On macOS everything works except the over-game overlay, which Apple blocks at the OS level. ## Cost Included on every cloud plan; there is no translation tier or add-on. Cloud plans start at $10/month, top-up is $0.02/minute, and every new account gets 60 free cloud minutes with no credit card. Translation requires cloud — the free local engines (Whisper, NVIDIA NeMo) transcribe but do not translate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "For Streamers — OBS Plugin" description: "Native OBS Studio plugin: live on-canvas captions, CEA-608 closed captions for viewers, real-time translation across 60+ languages." source: "https://captionsrush.com/streamers" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # For Streamers — OBS Plugin CaptionsRush ships a native OBS Studio plugin built specifically for streamers on Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and any RTMP destination. It lives natively in OBS — no extra app window, no browser source, no virtual audio routing. ## Why streamers add captions Captions aren't just accessibility. They're a retention and growth lever: - **85% of social video is watched without sound** (Digiday, 2016) - **92% of mobile viewers watch with sound off** (Verizon Media + Publicis, 2019) - **+12% watch-time lift** on captioned video (Verizon Media + Publicis, 2019) - **80% more likely to finish a video** with captions on (Verizon Media + Publicis, 2019) - **+7.32% YouTube view lift** from captioned content (Digital Discovery Networks) - **430 million people worldwide** have disabling hearing loss (WHO, 2024) - **YouTube indexes caption text** — captioned VODs and clips are more discoverable ## Features - **Live On-Canvas Captions** — Add a CaptionsRush source to your OBS scene. Captions render directly on your stream — no browser source, no extra window. - **CEA-608 Closed Captions for Viewers** — Embed CC into your stream output. YouTube and Twitch viewers toggle CC and read along, just like Netflix subtitles. - **Real-Time Translation** — Stream in your language, broadcast captions in another. Sidecar mode shows both at once. Real-time, context-aware translation across 60+ languages. - **Native-Speaker Accuracy in 60+ Languages** — Powered by the Valkyrie engine. Handles language-switching mid-sentence — speakers can drift between languages and captions keep up. - **Sub-200ms Latency** — Ultra-low-latency streaming with suffix-match smoothing. Captions feel synced, not chasing. - **Built for Messy, Live Speech** — Robust on alphanumerics, callsigns, names, and domain-specific terms in fast, multi-speaker, high-noise streams. - **Fully Customizable** — Font, size, color, outline, padding, rolling buffer (1–6 lines), word-wrap. - **Native, Lightweight** — Native C++ OBS plugin. No Electron, no browser source, no virtual audio routing. ## Setup 1. Install the CaptionsRush OBS plugin (OBS Studio on Windows; macOS coming very soon). 2. Open the CaptionsRush dock inside OBS, sign in with Google, Discord, or email. 3. Pick your audio source, source language, and (optionally) a translation target language. Click Start. 4. Add the CaptionsRush Captions source to your scene to render captions on canvas. 5. Toggle "Send as CC" in OBS output settings to embed CEA-608 closed captions in your stream. ## Relationship to the desktop client The OBS plugin is a **standalone product** — a separate native installation that lives inside OBS Studio, fully usable on its own without the desktop client running. Some streamers use only the OBS plugin (live captions on canvas + closed captions for viewers); others run it alongside the desktop client (which adds in-game overlay captions, system-audio capture, Discord voice integration, and richer customization for the streamer's own use). The two products are **bundled to a single CaptionsRush account and a single subscription**: one sign-in unlocks both, and they draw from the **same monthly minute pool**. No separate plan, no separate billing, no per-OBS-stream fee — once you're subscribed, the OBS plugin is included. ## Pricing The OBS plugin is **included at no extra cost with any active CaptionsRush cloud subscription** (or with top-up minutes on the same account). Stream-minutes count against the same minute pool the desktop client's cloud mode uses. There is **no free or standalone tier** for the OBS plugin itself. Unlike the desktop client — which has a free Community Edition powered by local Whisper / NVIDIA NeMo STT — the OBS plugin is cloud-only and requires an active subscription or available top-up minutes to operate. The plugin runs on the **same award-winning Valkyrie cloud engine** as the desktop client's cloud mode — identical native-speaker accuracy, identical language coverage, identical sub-second latency, identical real-time translation. Subscribing once unlocks both surfaces. ## Privacy Audio streams over TLS to our regional relay (US or EU) and into the Valkyrie engine for transcription. Audio is processed in real-time and never stored. The OBS plugin is cloud-only — for fully on-device captions, use the CaptionsRush desktop client. ## Platform support Windows 10+. macOS coming very soon — sign up to be notified the day it ships. ## Supported destinations The plugin works with any OBS output destination, including: Twitch, YouTube Live, Kick, Facebook Gaming, custom RTMP servers, recording to local file. CEA-608 closed captions ride along with the encoded video stream so any platform that exposes a CC toggle to viewers can surface them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Testimonials" description: "Real user testimonials from the CaptionsRush community." source: "https://captionsrush.com/#testimonials" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Testimonials > "I'm on the hunt for the 'golden goose' of live captioning. Your style is the best I seen so far." — Joy > "absolutely amazing app, crazy you managed to pull this off honestly. it works like a charm" — Sammy > "all i can say is thank you man. like genuinely i'm so grateful" — Madi These are real users from the CaptionsRush community. Join the Discord server (https://discord.gg/kS5R5RV6Rz) and ask them yourself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Features" description: "Per-speaker Discord captions, under 50ms latency, 125+ languages, audio description, community-powered AI models." source: "https://captionsrush.com/#features" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Features ## Discord Integration — Per-Speaker Each teammate gets their own caption stream. You see exactly who said what, in real time. Your teammates install nothing — just invite the bot to your Discord server and they talk normally. ## Under 50ms Latency Captions appear in under 50 milliseconds per word. Callout lands, caption appears — before you can blink. Fast enough for Valorant ranked, CS2 clutch rounds, and any split-second moment that matters. ## 125+ Languages Supports English, Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, French, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Italian, and 115+ more. Switch languages on the fly mid-session — no restart needed. ## Any Game, Any Audio System Audio mode captions any desktop audio — Twitch streams, YouTube videos, Zoom calls, WhatsApp voice messages, podcasts, and more. Built for gaming, works everywhere. ## Audio Description Beyond words — hear the whole room. AI detects non-speech sounds like [Laughter], [Footsteps], and [Music] and surfaces them alongside your captions in real time. ## Real-Time Translation All cloud plans include real-time any-to-any translation across 60+ languages. Your teammate speaks Spanish, you read English — word by word as they speak, mid-sentence, no waiting for the end of a sentence. No extra setup: pick your caption language and go. ## Code-Switching Teammates switching mid-sentence between English, Spanish, French, Japanese — every word transcribed in the correct language automatically. Language changes are detected on the fly. ## Speaker Diarization Cloud plans identify and separate speakers in real time across 125+ languages. Discord bot mode already delivers per-speaker streams; System Audio mode tags speakers via diarization even when voices overlap, interrupt, or switch rapidly. Transcripts stay organized and searchable — you always know who said what. ## Free Local STT — 100+ Languages The Community Edition runs Whisper (broad 100+ language coverage) and NVIDIA NeMo via sherpa-onnx (ultra-low-latency for fast languages) directly on your machine. Zero cloud dependency. Zero cost. Zero limits. Audio never leaves your device. ## Built for Messy Comms Every word right across accents, numbers, callsigns, and domain-specific terms — even in fast, overlapping, multi-speaker game chat. Cloud accuracy funded by community supporters so better models cost less for everyone. ## No Competitive Advantage CaptionsRush is a local accessibility tool. It does not modify game files, inject code, or provide any competitive advantage. It is functionally equivalent to using subtitles — you will never get banned for using it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Supported Games and Platforms" description: "Works with any game on Windows. Discord integration. System audio mode for universal captioning." source: "https://captionsrush.com/#games" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Supported Games and Platforms ## Games CaptionsRush works with **any game** running on Windows in fullscreen, windowed, or borderless mode. Popular titles include: - Valorant - Fortnite - Overwatch 2 - Apex Legends - League of Legends - CS2 (Counter-Strike 2) - Minecraft - Roblox - Dota 2 - Call of Duty - Rainbow Six Siege - Rocket League - Any other Windows game ## Platforms - **Discord** — Bot joins your voice channel and captions each speaker individually - **Any desktop audio** — System Audio mode captures and captions audio from any source ## Additional Use Cases - Twitch streams (live caption what streamers are saying) - YouTube videos - Zoom / Google Meet / Teams calls - WhatsApp voice messages - Podcasts and audiobooks - Any audio playing on your desktop ## System Requirements - Windows 10 or Windows 11 - macOS 12+ on Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) - Discord (for voice chat integration) - Internet connection (for speech-to-text processing) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Pricing" description: "Community-funded pricing. Free forever for local captions. Cloud plans support the mission." source: "https://captionsrush.com/purchase" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Pricing ## Philosophy CaptionsRush is free. The desktop client's local mode runs on your machine with no cloud dependency and no hidden limits. Cloud-powered accuracy (used by both the desktop client's cloud mode and the OBS plugin) costs real money to run — supporters fund that pool for the whole community. We charge only what it costs to operate our infrastructure plus the upstream STT spend. As supporter volume grows, the per-minute rate drops for everyone. ## Free Forever — Community Edition (desktop client) Every desktop-client user gets CaptionsRush for free. No credit card, no time limit. Includes: - Real-time voice captions — runs offline - Whisper STT — 100+ languages supported (broad coverage) - NVIDIA NeMo via sherpa-onnx — ultra-low-latency English and fast languages - Discord & game overlay - Audio never leaves your device Every new account also gets **60 free cloud minutes** to try cloud-powered accuracy with real-time translation and speaker diarization. ## Support the Mission — Cloud Plans Community supporters fund cloud infrastructure. More supporters = higher volume = lower per-minute costs for everyone. When our costs drop, your price drops too. | Plan | Effective rate | |-----------------|--------------------| | Backer | ~$0.011/min | | Champion | ~$0.010/min | | Power Supporter | ~$0.0097/min | *Exact prices and monthly-minute allotments are set dynamically. Check captionsrush.com/purchase for current rates.* ## Community Cost Milestones As community volume grows, the underlying per-minute cost drops and we pass the savings on: - **500K minutes/month (~500 supporters):** ~25% cheaper per minute for everyone - **1M minutes/month (~1,000 supporters):** ~40% cheaper per minute for everyone - **2M minutes/month (~2,000 supporters):** ~70% cheaper per minute for everyone ## Top-Up Need more cloud minutes? Top up anytime at the package rate ($0.0097–$0.011/min). Top-up minutes never expire. Subscription minutes refresh each billing cycle. ## How the Balance Works - Minutes are deducted only while actively captioning - Subscription minutes refresh each billing cycle; top-up minutes carry over and never expire - Track your usage and remaining balance in the dashboard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Technical Specifications" description: "Word-by-word streaming under 50ms, 92-95% accuracy, 125+ transcription languages, real-time translation across 60+, diarization, gRPC streaming architecture." source: "https://captionsrush.com" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Technical Specifications ## Speech-to-Text Engine - **Provider:** Best-in-class cloud STT (paid tier); Whisper and NVIDIA NeMo via sherpa-onnx (free tier, runs locally) - **Accuracy:** 92-95% in optimal conditions - **Latency:** Word-by-word streaming under 50ms - **Languages:** 125+ on cloud, 100+ on free local captions - **Cloud features:** Real-time any-to-any translation (60+ languages), speaker diarization, code-switching, audio event descriptions - **Streaming:** Real-time bidirectional gRPC streaming ## Architecture CaptionsRush uses a microservices architecture: 1. **Desktop App** — Electron-based client with in-game overlay (built on Overwolf's ow-electron) 2. **Discord Bot** — Joins voice channels, captures per-speaker Opus audio, decodes to PCM 3. **Audio Relay** — Stateless gRPC service that streams audio to the cloud STT backend and returns transcripts 4. **Orchestrator** — Manages bot pool, session routing, and Discord account linking ## Audio Pipeline **Cloud mode (paid tier):** 1. Audio captured from Discord voice channel (per-speaker, clean audio) or system audio (WASAPI loopback) 2. Voice Activity Detection (WebRTC VAD) filters silence to reduce costs 3. PCM audio chunks streamed to Audio Relay via gRPC bidirectional stream 4. Audio Relay forwards to our cloud STT backend 5. Transcripts returned in real-time to desktop overlay (with live translation + speaker diarization) 6. Usage tracked and deducted from user's minute balance **Local mode (free tier):** 1. Audio captured from Discord voice channel or system audio 2. Voice Activity Detection (WebRTC VAD) filters silence 3. Audio goes directly to on-device Whisper or NVIDIA NeMo (via sherpa-onnx) — **no cloud hop**, no audio leaves your machine 4. Transcripts surfaced to the overlay instantly 5. Zero cost, no minute deduction ## Desktop App - **Framework:** Overwolf Electron (ow-electron) with in-game overlay support - **OS Support:** Windows 10/11, macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon only — M1 or newer) - **Audio Modes:** Discord bot (per-speaker) and System Audio (WASAPI loopback via C# native module) - **Overlay:** Hardware-accelerated overlay that works in fullscreen, windowed, and borderless modes - **Shortcuts:** Ctrl+Shift+A (toggle transcription), Ctrl+Shift+P (toggle overlay), Ctrl+Shift+1-9 (position presets) - **Languages:** UI available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese ## Security - JWT-based authentication with token refresh - Supabase OAuth (Google, Discord) for login - All API communication over HTTPS/TLS - gRPC streams authenticated with JWT - No audio data persisted — real-time processing only -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Privacy and Security" description: "GDPR compliant. No recordings stored. Enterprise-grade infrastructure security." source: "https://captionsrush.com/privacy" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Privacy and Security ## Privacy-First Design CaptionsRush was built with privacy as a core principle, not an afterthought. - **No recordings stored** — Voice audio is processed in real-time and immediately discarded - **No transcription content retained** — Transcript text is delivered to your screen and not saved anywhere - **No data sold** — Your data is never shared with third parties for advertising or any other purpose - **Minimal data collection** — Only account info and usage metrics (duration, not content) are stored ## GDPR Compliance CaptionsRush is fully GDPR compliant: - Right to access your data - Right to delete your account and all associated data - Data Processing Agreement available upon request - No data transfers outside of GDPR-compliant infrastructure ## Infrastructure Security - Privacy-first design — GDPR-compliant per our Privacy Policy - No audio recordings stored; all transcription processed in real-time and discarded immediately - All data in transit encrypted via TLS/HTTPS - JWT authentication with short-lived tokens - No credentials stored on disk in the desktop app -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Frequently Asked Questions" description: "Common questions about CaptionsRush — setup, compatibility, privacy, pricing, and more." source: "https://captionsrush.com/#faq" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Frequently Asked Questions ## How do I get live captions for Discord voice chat? Download CaptionsRush and set up the Discord bot to join your voice channels. The bot captures clean audio from each speaker and displays real-time captions as a customizable overlay on your screen. Setup takes about 5 minutes. ## Does CaptionsRush work with Valorant, Fortnite, and Overwatch 2? Yes. CaptionsRush works with any game in fullscreen, windowed, or borderless mode. The overlay is designed to stay on top during gameplay. Valorant, Fortnite, Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, League of Legends, CS2, Minecraft, Roblox, and any other game running on Windows. ## Can deaf gamers use voice chat with captions? Absolutely. CaptionsRush was built specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing gamers to participate in voice chat. Real-time captions with under 50ms latency are fast enough for competitive gaming. No one on your team needs to install anything — only you need CaptionsRush. ## Is CaptionsRush better than in-game speech-to-text? CaptionsRush has several advantages over built-in game STT: it works with any game (not just those with built-in STT), it captions Discord voice chat (which most games don't support), it provides per-speaker identification so you know who said what, and it has under 50ms latency. Most in-game STT systems are limited to single-player dialogue or have significant delays that make them unusable for competitive play. ## Does CaptionsRush work on Mac? Yes — CaptionsRush ships native builds for Windows 10/11 and macOS 12+ on Apple Silicon (M1 or newer). The dashboard download flow detects your OS automatically and serves the matching build. Intel Macs are not supported. **Important caveat:** macOS does NOT support a caption overlay rendered on top of games. macOS captions work great for general content (Discord, browsers, video calls, streams, podcasts, system audio) but not over gameplay. See the next FAQ for the technical reason. ## Why is there no game overlay on macOS? Apple blocks any direct rendering intervention over other apps at the OS level for security and sandboxing reasons. On Windows, CaptionsRush uses a graphics-pipeline overlay to draw captions on top of fullscreen and borderless games. macOS has no equivalent API, and the workarounds Apple does allow (screen recording, accessibility overlays) do not compose over GPU-accelerated game surfaces. Until Apple opens this up, the macOS app supports captioning any content audio — Discord voice calls, streams, video conferences, browser tabs, podcasts — but cannot place captions on top of an actively-running game. For competitive gaming with in-game captions, use the Windows build. ## Can I use CaptionsRush for Twitch streams and YouTube? Yes. Beyond gaming, CaptionsRush can caption any audio on your desktop using System Audio mode. This includes Twitch streams, YouTube videos, Zoom calls, Google Meet, WhatsApp voice messages, and more. While built for gamers, it works as a general-purpose live caption tool for any desktop audio. ## I'm a Twitch / YouTube streamer. Is there a version for OBS? Yes. CaptionsRush ships a native OBS Studio plugin that puts live captions directly on your stream canvas and lets you embed CEA-608 closed captions in your output for viewers. Sub-200ms latency, real-time translation across 60+ languages, fully customizable styling. Windows for now, macOS coming very soon. See https://captionsrush.com/streamers for details. ## How accurate are captions during fast-paced competitive games? CaptionsRush achieves 92-95% accuracy in optimal conditions using best-in-class cloud STT. Accuracy is highest with clear microphones and minimal background noise. Discord bot mode provides the cleanest audio by capturing each speaker's voice directly from Discord — this is especially important for fast callouts in games like Valorant or CS2. ## How much does CaptionsRush cost? CaptionsRush is free forever. The Community Edition runs Whisper and NVIDIA NeMo (via sherpa-onnx) locally on your machine — 100+ languages, no cloud dependency, no time limit, no credit card. Cloud plans start at $10/month and add real-time any-to-any translation across 60+ languages, speaker diarization, code-switching, and word-by-word streaming under 50ms. Every new account gets 60 free cloud minutes to try cloud-powered accuracy. Top up anytime at the package rate. Subscription minutes refresh each billing cycle; top-up minutes never expire. Zero profit margin — we charge only what it costs to run. ## Can I translate captions in real time? Yes. All cloud plans include real-time any-to-any translation across 60+ languages. Your teammate speaks Spanish, you read English — word by word as they speak, mid-sentence, no waiting for the end of a sentence. Teammates can even switch languages mid-sentence (code-switching) and every word is transcribed in the correct language automatically. No extra setup — just pick your caption language. ## Does CaptionsRush work offline? Yes. The free Community Edition runs Whisper and NVIDIA NeMo (via sherpa-onnx) entirely on your machine — no internet required once installed. Great for privacy, travel, LAN parties, or when your connection is unreliable. ## What's the difference between free and cloud captions? Free Community Edition runs Whisper (100+ languages, broad coverage) and NVIDIA NeMo (low-latency English and a few fast languages) locally on your CPU/GPU — zero cost, zero limits, audio never leaves your device. Cloud plans add: (1) word-by-word streaming under 50ms even on noisy audio, (2) 125+ languages for transcription, (3) real-time any-to-any translation across 60+ languages, (4) speaker diarization so you know who said what even when voices overlap, (5) code-switching across mid-sentence language changes, and (6) rock-solid accuracy on accents, numbers, callsigns, and domain-specific terms — exactly the messy conditions competitive games produce. ## Does my team need to install anything? No. Only you need CaptionsRush installed. If using the Discord bot, invite it to your server and make sure it has permissions to join voice channels. Your teammates don't need to change anything — they just talk normally in Discord and their voice is captioned for you. ## Will CaptionsRush get me banned from games? No. CaptionsRush is a local accessibility tool that does not modify game files, inject code, or provide any competitive advantage. It is functionally equivalent to using subtitles or closed captions. It will not trigger any anti-cheat systems. ## What about privacy? Is my voice recorded? For the free Community Edition, audio never leaves your device — Whisper and NVIDIA NeMo run locally. For cloud plans, audio is streamed over TLS to our cloud STT backend, processed in real-time, and immediately discarded — no recordings stored, no transcription content retained. Our privacy practices are GDPR-compliant by design. ## Can I customize the caption appearance? Yes. You can customize font size, color, font family, background opacity, and position on screen. Save multiple presets for different games and scenarios. Use keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+1-9) to instantly switch between position presets during gameplay. ## What platforms does CaptionsRush support? Windows 10/11 and macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon and Intel). CaptionsRush integrates with Discord via a bot that joins your voice channel, and also supports System Audio mode for captioning any desktop audio. The overlay works in fullscreen, windowed, and borderless modes with any game. ## How do I get started? Visit https://captionsrush.com and download the app for free — no credit card required. You get 120 free cloud minutes to try cloud-powered accuracy. The core app works forever for free with local STT. If you want to keep using cloud accuracy, support the mission with a subscription plan or top up as needed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Getting Started" description: "Download CaptionsRush, set up Discord bot integration, and start captioning." source: "https://captionsrush.com/guides/discord-bot-guide" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Getting Started ## 1. Download CaptionsRush Visit https://captionsrush.com and download the installer for Windows. Run the installer — setup takes under a minute. ## 2. Create an Account Open CaptionsRush and create an account using Google or Discord OAuth. Your account manages your minute balance and settings. ## 3. Set Up Discord Bot (Recommended) For the best captioning experience with Discord voice chat: 1. Open CaptionsRush settings 2. Follow the Discord Bot Guide to create and add a bot to your server 3. The bot will join your voice channel and capture each speaker's audio individually 4. This provides the cleanest audio and per-speaker identification ## 4. Start Captioning - Join a Discord voice channel - Press Ctrl+Shift+A to start transcription - Captions appear as an overlay on your screen - Press Ctrl+Shift+P to toggle overlay visibility - Use Ctrl+Shift+1-9 to switch position presets ## Alternative: System Audio Mode If you don't use Discord, or want to caption other audio sources: 1. Select "System Audio" mode in CaptionsRush settings 2. CaptionsRush will caption any audio playing on your desktop 3. Works with Twitch, YouTube, Zoom, and any other audio source ## Keyboard Shortcuts | Shortcut | Action | |------------------|--------------------------------| | Ctrl+Shift+A | Toggle transcription on/off | | Ctrl+Shift+P | Toggle overlay visibility | | Ctrl+Shift+1-9 | Switch position presets | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Contact and Community" description: "Join the CaptionsRush Discord community, get support, and connect with other gamers." source: "https://captionsrush.com" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Contact and Community ## Discord Community Join the CaptionsRush Discord server to connect with other deaf and hard-of-hearing gamers, get support, share feedback, and stay updated on new features. **Discord:** https://discord.gg/kS5R5RV6Rz ## Contact - **Email:** contact@captionsrush.com - **Website:** https://captionsrush.com ## Social - **Twitter/X:** @captionsrush ## Support For technical support, bug reports, or feature requests: 1. Join the Discord server and post in the support channel 2. Email contact@captionsrush.com 3. Use the contact form on the website ## About EqualGaming CaptionsRush is developed by EqualGaming — a mission-driven project founded by a deaf gamer to make competitive gaming accessible to everyone. The goal is simple: no gamer should be left out of voice chat because of a hearing disability. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Creator Affiliate Program" description: "Two-track creator program — free cloud hours by default for every referral, optional cash revshare via Tebex Wallet on top." source: "https://captionsrush.com/affiliate" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Creator Affiliate Program CaptionsRush runs a creator affiliate program for streamers, YouTubers, podcasters, and other content creators who want to share CaptionsRush with their audience. It is intentionally not surfaced in the top navbar; you can find it linked from the site footer under "Resources → Affiliate Program" or directly at https://captionsrush.com/affiliate. The program has two reward tracks that work together. The default track pays in **free cloud hours** credited to the creator's CaptionsRush account; the optional track pays **cash via Tebex Wallet** on top. Setting up Tebex Wallet is not required to participate. ## Why it exists CaptionsRush ships free local models anyone can run on their own machine. Cloud subscriptions fund the heavier models — translation, real-time streaming, the engine that actually keeps up with multi-speaker game comms. The bigger the cloud-supporter pool gets, the cheaper we can keep top-tier captioning for the deaf and hard-of-hearing players who lean on it the hardest. Creators who help us grow that pool share in what subscribers pay. ## Track 1 — Free cloud hours (default, no setup) - Every approved affiliate is issued a unique Creator Code on their dashboard. - Every signup from a person who used the code credits free cloud hours to the affiliate's CaptionsRush balance. - Every first paid cloud purchase from a referred user credits more cloud hours. - All rewards are reviewed manually per referral to prevent bot signups, fake traffic, and incentivized fake conversions. - No Tebex account required. No W-8/W-9 paperwork. No withdrawal threshold. Cloud hours do not expire. - Available to every approved affiliate automatically. ## Track 2 — Cash revshare via Tebex Wallet (optional, opt-in any time) - Stacks on top of the cloud hours, not instead of them. - The affiliate registers a Tebex Wallet at https://wallet.tebex.io/register (roughly a 5-minute signup), submits the Wallet Reference, and gets vetted on the CaptionsRush Discord. - Once approved for cash, every cloud subscription tied to the Creator Code earns the affiliate a percentage — on the initial purchase and on every renewal for as long as the customer stays subscribed. - Tebex pays the affiliate's share directly into their Tebex Wallet. CaptionsRush never touches the money. - The creator withdraws from Tebex Wallet to PayPal or a bank account on Tebex's normal payout schedule. - The creator can add Tebex Wallet during the initial application, or come back and add it any time later. Doesn't block earning cloud hours. ## Cash payout tiers The percentage is configured per-creator in our Tebex Control Panel: - **Starter — 10%**: every paid cloud subscription tied to the Creator Code earns 10% every month it renews. Example: one $9.90/mo subscriber earns the affiliate $0.99/month — $11.88 the first year, $23.76 over two years. - **Pro — 15%**: unlocked after the affiliate has driven $100 in cumulative cloud revenue. Applies to every code already sent out, not just new ones — old subscribers come with you. Example: same subscriber at Pro earns $1.49/month — $17.85 the first year, $35.70 over two years. - **Custom — Negotiated**: after $1,000 in driven revenue we reach out about a custom deal. Some creators want a higher base, some want a flat monthly contribution. We work it out on Discord. ## Vetting requirements We approve creators who have: - **Real content** — a channel, stream, page, or social account where they regularly post their own work. There is no minimum follower count; quality matters more than size. - **An active Discord identity** — we vet via real Discord conversation. First-day accounts and anonymous handles do not pass. - **An audience that overlaps with ours** — gaming, accessibility, language learning, deaf/HoH community, anywhere captions actually help. Automatic hard pass (zero tolerance, permanent blacklist): - Hateful, racist, or sexually-exploitative content. Anything sexual involving minors. - Fake traffic — bots, click farms, paid brand-keyword bidding against the CaptionsRush brand. - Misrepresentation — inventing features, lying about pricing, falsely claiming partnership status, or impersonating CaptionsRush staff. ## How to apply 1. Sign up or log in at https://captionsrush.com. 2. Go to Dashboard → Affiliate → Cash tab. 3. Provide your channel link, Discord handle, and (optionally) your Tebex Wallet Reference. 4. Read and accept the Creator Affiliate Agreement. 5. Introduce yourself in the CaptionsRush Discord at https://discord.gg/kS5R5RV6Rz — we vet humans, not handles. Review usually takes 24–48 hours. 6. Once approved, your Creator Code goes live and you start earning on the next referral. You can apply for the cloud-hours track only by skipping the Tebex Wallet field, and add Tebex Wallet later if you decide you want cash too. ## The Creator Affiliate Agreement The full agreement is published at https://captionsrush.com/legal/creator-affiliate-agreement and managed in our CMS so admins can update it without code changes. Key terms: - **30 days' written notice** required before any material reduction to your revshare %. Increases take effect immediately. - **Immediate termination for cause** on content-policy violations, fraud, fake traffic, or breaches of the agreement. - **Independent contractor relationship** — you are not an employee or partner; you are responsible for your own taxes (W-8/W-9 handled by Tebex if applicable). - **Free cloud hours can be revoked** along with cash privileges if you violate the agreement; past attributions remain in our audit log either way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "Creator Affiliate Program — Frequently Asked Questions" description: "Common questions about the CaptionsRush affiliate program — dual track rewards, Tebex Wallet, payouts, vetting." source: "https://captionsrush.com/affiliate#faq" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # Creator Affiliate Program — Frequently Asked Questions ## Do I have to set up Tebex Wallet to participate? No. The default reward is free cloud hours — they credit straight to your CaptionsRush balance for every signup and every first purchase from people you refer, no Tebex setup required. Tebex Wallet is only for the optional cash track. Plenty of creators stick with cloud hours and never bother with cash. ## Can I earn cloud hours and cash at the same time? Yes. Once you're vetted for the cash track, both tracks pay simultaneously — the cloud hours hit your CaptionsRush balance, the cash hits your Tebex Wallet. Cash is additive, not a replacement. You don't lose anything by adding Tebex; you just unlock the second income stream. ## When does the cash hit my account? Tebex settles your cut into your Tebex Wallet as soon as the customer's payment clears — usually within the same week. From there, you withdraw to PayPal or your bank on Tebex's normal payout schedule. CaptionsRush is not in the loop between those two events. ## Do I need a minimum follower count? No. A 200-viewer stream where the host actually talks about captions is more valuable to us than a 50,000-follower account that posts nothing relevant. What we evaluate is whether the content is yours and whether your audience would actually use the product. ## Where can I be based? Anywhere Tebex Wallet operates. Tebex handles cross-border payouts and the tax paperwork (W-8/W-9 if applicable). You provide your Wallet Reference; Tebex handles the rest. ## Can my revshare % change after I'm approved? Yes. It can move up or down. If we're reducing your share, we must give you at least 30 days' written notice before the change takes effect — usually via your dashboard or email. The full mechanics are in the Creator Affiliate Agreement. ## What happens if I lose access to my Tebex Wallet? Your cash payouts pause until you restore access with Tebex. The Wallet Reference is what we use to route earnings — updating it on our side takes a couple of minutes. Message us on Discord and we'll re-route to the new one. ## Can I promote my Creator Code anywhere, or only on my own channel? Anywhere that complies with the agreement. No spam, no incentivized signups, no buying ads against the CaptionsRush brand keywords. Genuine promotion on whatever platforms you legitimately use is welcome. ## What gets me banned from the program? Hateful, racist, or sexually-exploitative content. Anything sexual involving minors (zero tolerance, permanent blacklist). Fake traffic — bots, click farms, brand-keyword bidding. Misrepresenting what CaptionsRush does, costs, or supports. All of these result in immediate revocation; cash privileges can also be clawed back for past attributions in fraud cases. ## I was approved, then revoked. Can I get reinstated? Possibly. If your revocation was a misunderstanding or you've materially addressed the underlying issue, contact us on Discord — the CaptionsRush team can un-revoke approved creators from the admin side. We do not re-enable revocations through the application form; it's a Discord conversation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- title: "CaptionsNow — Voice Note Transcription" description: "CaptionsNow is the sister product from the same team: it turns WhatsApp voice notes into readable text. Included free with any paid CaptionsRush plan." source: "https://captions-now.com" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # CaptionsNow — Voice Note Transcription **CaptionsNow** (https://captions-now.com) is a second product from the CaptionsRush team. Where CaptionsRush captions live voice — Discord calls, games, streams — CaptionsNow handles the other half of the problem: **voice notes you were sent and would rather read than listen to.** Forward a WhatsApp voice message to CaptionsNow and a clean, searchable transcript comes back in the same conversation within seconds — accurate on accents and fast talkers, in 60+ languages, and translated into your language automatically if you want it. ## Who it is for Busy parents catching a school-run voice note, people in meetings who cannot step out, deaf and hard-of-hearing users who want full access to voice messages, language learners reading along, and commuters without earbuds. ## One account, one balance CaptionsRush and CaptionsNow share a single account and a single minute balance: - Sign in to either product with the same credentials. - The 60 free welcome minutes are granted once per person, on the first account created — not once per product. - **An active CaptionsRush subscription already includes CaptionsNow at no extra cost.** There is nothing separate to buy. - Minutes spent transcribing voice notes come from the same balance as minutes spent captioning Discord calls. CaptionsNow plans and CaptionsRush plans are sold separately and only on their own sites — a CaptionsNow plan never appears on captionsrush.com, and vice versa. ## Channel support WhatsApp is live today. Facebook Messenger and Apple Messages are announced as coming soon and are not yet connectable. ## Links - Website: https://captions-now.com - Full documentation for LLMs: https://captions-now.com/llms-full.txt - Sign up: https://captions-now.com/signup