Relay PublishThe short answer
Separate the post caption, subtitles visible in the file and tracks added by a network. Inspect the actual file being sent, then the final playback. Relay does not promise automatic transfer of subtitle tracks.
1. Separate three kinds of text
A post caption introduces the subject, credits or a call to action. Subtitles reproduce speech at the relevant moment. Graphic headings within the image may summarize an idea without transcribing the voice. A long post caption therefore does not replace accessible speech while someone watches the video.
Before publishing elsewhere, open your export in Photos with the sound off. If the words are no longer visible, Instagram may have added them separately from your edit. Check the actual available file rather than assuming its content matches the source post preview.
2. Choose a version that serves your goal
Subtitles burned into the edit remain visible within the file, but viewers cannot turn them off. A separate track may offer more choices where the destination supports it. YouTube provides several ways to add and edit subtitles; that does not mean every method is available through your cross-posting tool.
For a short tutorial, keep an export that works without sound and a corrected transcript if you have one. For multilingual content, name versions clearly. Transcribing speech in its original language does not automatically provide a translation or make the video understandable to every audience.
3. Correct mistakes that change meaning
Review proper names, numbers, units and negative statements carefully. An automatic transcript can reverse advice or introduce the wrong product name. Listen to each relevant sentence while reviewing its text: reading the transcript alone may not reveal a convincing but inaccurate phrase.
In a fitness tip, “do not hold your breath” must not become “hold your breath.” Correcting it matters even when the generated sentence is grammatically plausible.
Describe an important sound when spoken words alone do not explain the scene. The goal is to communicate the content, not decorate every second with additional text.
4. Check readability in the actual frame
Watch on your phone at a normal playback size. Prefer short phrases, reliable contrast and a position that does not cover the action you are showing. Network controls and post text can obscure edges. There is no universal margin that guarantees the same appearance across every destination and viewing context.
Subtitles and covers serve different purposes. A good opening image does not make speech readable during the video. Use the cover guide to prepare that asset separately, and the caption guide for text accompanying the post. Check those elements without treating any one of them as a substitute for the others.
5. Review the cross-posted result
Open the final link and check a passage at the beginning, middle and end. Look for readable words, a second track overlapping the existing text and audio that matches the intended version. An accepted file is not a guarantee of accurate transcription or correct presentation.
Relay prepares available media, captions and compatible supporting assets. That is not a promise to generate subtitles or transfer tracks universally. Keep your reference file and useful corrections. Join the waitlist to discover the iPhone workflow and its limits: a method for reducing repetition while leaving the creator in control of the message.
Put this into practice with Relay
Choose an authorized Instagram source, your destinations and whether to approve each video before publishing. Check compatibility before joining: the public iPhone app is in preparation.
Before you move on
- Watch the export without sound.
- Distinguish post captions from subtitles.
- Correct names, numbers and negative statements.
- Check final playback on each destination.
Official references
Platform rules can change. Check these sources for eligibility and technical constraints.
Practical guidance, not a promise of reach. Examples are illustrative. The Relay Publish public app is in preparation; platform access and permissions remain required.