Discover how RTÉ uses Yella's Stellar Suite to streamline Audio Description production through workflow automation, integrated tools and human expertise. From media ingest and AD scripting to recording, audio mixing and delivery, explore how connected workflows support efficient, high-quality accessibility production while keeping human creativity at the core.
For public service broadcasters, delivering accessible content efficiently while maintaining editorial quality is an ongoing priority.
The collaboration between RTÉ and Yella Umbrella demonstrates how an integrated, automated Audio Description (AD) workflow can streamline production while keeping human creativity and editorial expertise at its core.
Using The Stellar Suite, RTÉ brings together media preparation, task management, AD scripting, recording, quality control, audio mixing and delivery within one connected environment.
The workflow is designed around human-led creative processes supported by workflow automation, reducing repetitive tasks and simplifying collaboration without compromising editorial control.
Beyond this approach, The Stellar Suite also offers opportunities to introduce additional AI capabilities, such as automated gap detection, AI-assisted script drafting and synthetic voicing, allowing broadcasters to evolve their workflows according to their production needs and evolving technologies.
Audio Description plays an essential role in making audiovisual content accessible to blind and partially sighted audiences.
Traditional AD production can involve multiple tools, manual handovers and coordination between writers, voice artists, reviewers and technical teams.
RTÉ’s approach demonstrates how these activities can be brought together into a more streamlined production process.
Rather than changing the creative nature of Audio Description, the objective is to automate the processes surrounding creative work, allowing specialists to focus on the quality of the description itself.
RTÉ’s workflow combines automated technical processes with human-led scripting, recording and editorial review.
Media ingest – Automated
Source media is ingested into The Stellar Suite, creating a centralised starting point for the production workflow from an MXF master.
Task distribution – Automated
Task is assigned to the AD specialist
AD scripting – Human-led
AD professional creates the descriptions, applying narrative judgement, contextual understanding and editorial expertise.
AD recording – Human-led
AD professional records the approved descriptions, ensuring appropriate tone, pacing and expression.
Quality control – Human-led and automated
Technical checks support consistency, while human reviewers assess accuracy, timing and editorial quality.
Audio mixing – Automated
The recorded descriptions are mixed with the original audio, using the appropriate timing and audio levels.
Delivery – Automated
Final audio outputs are prepared in the required formats for broadcast and distribution by mixing the AD audio back into the MXF master.
The result: A connected Audio Description workflow in which automation handles repetitive and technical processes while human specialists retain control over the creative output.
The Stellar Suite is designed to accommodate different approaches to Audio Description production.
While RTÉ’s workflow demonstrates the value of automation without generative AI, the same workflow can be extended with additional capabilities where they offer value.
| Workflow stage | RTÉ’s current workflow | Optional enhanced workflow |
| Media ingest | Automated | Automated |
| Gap detection | Not part of current workflow | Automated |
| AD script drafting | Human AD specialist | AI-assisted first draft |
| Script review | Human | Human |
| Task distribution | Automated | Automated |
| AD voicing | Human AD specialist | Human or AI-generated voice |
| Quality control | Human + automated checks | Human + automated checks |
| Audio mixing | Automated | Automated |
| Delivery | Automated | Automated |
Both approaches use the same underlying workflow orchestration, project management and creative environment.
Whether a broadcaster chooses traditional scripting and recording or introduces AI-assisted capabilities, human expertise remains essential. AD professionals contribute narrative understanding, cultural context, emotional sensitivity and editorial judgement that go beyond technical processing.
The Stellar Suite is designed to support these specialists, giving them more flexibility in how they work while maintaining control over the final result. The goal is not to prescribe a single production method, but to provide the tools and flexibility to build the workflow that best fits each broadcaster’s needs.
The RTÉ example illustrates several advantages of bringing Audio Description production into one connected environment:
The RTÉ collaboration demonstrates that meaningful innovation in accessibility does not necessarily begin with generative AI. By connecting tools, automating repetitive processes and supporting human specialists, broadcasters can improve how Audio Description is produced.
Over time organisations may wish to go further with, automated gap detection, AI-assisted script drafting and synthetic voicing offer additional possibilities within the same platform. The future of Audio Description is not about choosing between humans and AI. It is about creating flexible workflows that bring together the right technology, automation and human expertise for every production. With The Stellar Suite, organizations can choose their own approach and evolve it over time.
