How to add a second text track for a remote course

You have captions on your remote course video, but you also want to show a speaker name, a key term, or a short translation. Adding that information on a separate text track lets you edit its timing and position without changing the captions.

Video editors use different names for these layers. Some call them text tracks, title tracks, or overlays. The general process is the same: create another text item, place it above the existing text in the timeline, and set when it appears.

Add and time the second text track

Open the project in your video editor and look at the timeline. Find the existing caption or text layer, then save a copy of the project before editing.
Create a new text or title item using the editor's text tool. Put the new item on a separate track or layer above the current captions. If the editor creates the item at the playhead, move the playhead to the first moment the new text should appear.
Enter one short piece of information, such as the presenter's name or a technical term. Keep it brief enough to read while listening and watching the lesson.
Move the text to a different part of the frame from the captions. For example, place a speaker label near the top corner and leave the lower area clear for subtitles.
Set the item's start and end points on the timeline. Preview the video around both points to check that the text appears and disappears when you expect.

If you cannot find a control called a text track, look for a way to add a title, text clip, or overlay. A text item on its own layer can serve the same purpose, even if the editor does not use the word track.

Choose what the extra text should do

Show who is speaking

A name label can help learners follow a panel discussion or interview. Keep it on screen long enough to read, then remove it when the speaker changes. If the speaker is already identified in the captions, avoid repeating the same label every time they talk.

Highlight a key term

A short definition or spelling can help when a lesson introduces unfamiliar vocabulary. Show it near the relevant spoken explanation, but do not leave a paragraph on screen while the instructor continues teaching. Learners need time to look back at the video and at their notes.

Provide a translation

A second visible text layer can show a translation, but it is not always a substitute for a proper caption track. If learners need to turn captions on, off, or switch languages, use the editor's caption or subtitle features and export the relevant caption files where available. Text burned into the picture is always visible and cannot usually be selected or hidden by the viewer.

Fix common text track problems

Move the new text to its own layer. If the new words replace your existing captions, you may have edited the original text item rather than creating another one. Undo the change, make a separate text item, and confirm that it appears on a different timeline row.
Change the layer order. If one text item covers another, adjust which layer appears above the other. Keep important text from overlapping, even if both items remain readable in the preview.
Set the duration directly on the timeline. A text item may inherit a default length that is too short or too long. Drag its beginning or end to match the section where the information is useful, then preview the transition.
Move text away from captions and controls. Put labels where they do not collide with subtitles, a presenter's face, or important diagrams. Leave space around the edges because some players and screens may crop or cover the outer area.
Check the text size on a small screen. A label that looks clear on a large editing display may be hard to read on a phone. Preview at the video size learners will use, and shorten the wording rather than shrinking it until it becomes difficult to see.
Keep captions separate when possible. If you need accessible, switchable captions, export them through the editor's caption workflow. A second graphic text layer can add context, but it does not automatically create captions that a player can turn on or a screen reader can read.

Keep the two tracks easy to follow

Use a consistent role for each track. For example, keep captions near the bottom and use the second layer only for names or key terms. Give the second layer a distinct but restrained style, such as a solid background behind a short label, so learners can tell it apart without confusing it with the captions.

Review the lesson in short sections after editing. Check moments where a speaker changes, a new term appears, or captions take up more space than usual. If the two text layers compete for attention, remove repeated information or show the extra text only when it adds something useful.

Keep the project editable until you have checked the exported video, because text that is flattened into the picture is harder to correct later.