Both CART captioning and realtime reporting rely on the same core skill: a trained stenographer writing spoken words on a steno machine that instantly converts to readable English on a screen. But they serve different audiences and different goals, and the deliverables, certifications, and pricing aren't interchangeable. If you're booking the wrong one, you'll either overpay or end up without the record you actually needed.
Here's how to tell them apart and choose correctly.
The short version
- Realtime reporting produces a verbatim legal record. The stenographer's words stream live to attorneys' screens during a deposition, hearing, or trial, and that same writing becomes the official transcript afterward.
- CART captioning (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is an accessibility service. The captioner's words stream live to a screen so a deaf or hard-of-hearing person can follow what's being said in real time — a class, a meeting, a conference, a medical appointment, a courtroom proceeding for a party who needs access.
Same machine, same speed, very different purpose. Realtime is about creating a record. CART is about providing access.
What realtime reporting actually delivers
In a deposition or trial, a realtime reporter feeds the live text to laptops, tablets, or trial-presentation software so counsel can read testimony as it happens. The practical benefits:
- Instant readback and search. Attorneys can scroll back, flag testimony, and mark passages without interrupting.
- Rough drafts same day. Many reporters provide an unedited "rough ASCII" within hours, useful for prepping the next witness.
- A certified final transcript follows after the reporter edits, proofreads, and certifies it.
The realtime feed is a working tool. The official record is the proofed, certified transcript the reporter produces afterward, signed under their certification.
What CART captioning actually delivers
CART exists to give a person communication access. The captioner may sit in the room or work remotely over the internet, and the text appears on a laptop, a projected screen, or the consumer's own device. Two common modes:
- Onsite CART — the captioner is physically present.
- Remote CART — audio is sent to a captioner anywhere, who streams text back. This is now the dominant model for many settings.
CART transcripts may or may not be saved. The point is live access, not a certified legal record. If a saved file is provided, it's typically a courtesy text file, not a sworn transcript. (Note: CART is human-generated; it's distinct from the automated captions you see on video platforms, which are not reliable for legal or ADA-compliance purposes.)
Where the lines blur — and why it matters
Both services can happen in a courtroom. A deaf juror or party may receive CART while the official reporter simultaneously creates the realtime record for counsel. They look similar on a screen, but they are not the same job and usually not the same provider.
The biggest practical mistake attorneys make: assuming any realtime reporter can "just provide captions," or that a captioner can produce a certified transcript. The skills overlap, but the deliverable and the accountability differ.
Certification and credentials
Both demand high accuracy at conversational speed (roughly 180–225+ words per minute), so credentials matter.
- Realtime/legal reporters often hold the RPR (Registered Professional Reporter) and the RMR, with the CRR (Certified Realtime Reporter) being the key credential signaling true realtime competency. Many states also require a state license or CSR (Certified Shorthand Reporter).
- CART captioners frequently hold the CRC (Certified Realtime Captioner). Many CART providers are also certified court reporters who do both.
When booking, ask specifically about realtime/CART experience and the relevant certification — not just "do you do realtime?" An excellent transcript reporter isn't automatically a strong realtime writer; sustaining a clean live feed is its own discipline.
How pricing differs
Pricing varies widely by region, market, and provider, so treat any number as a ballpark and always get a written quote.
- Realtime reporting is usually billed as the standard deposition/proceeding setup — an appearance or per-diem fee plus a per-page transcript rate, with realtime added as a per-page or per-hour surcharge on top of the base. Rough/expedited drafts cost extra.
- CART captioning is typically billed hourly (often with a minimum, frequently two hours), because there's usually no certified transcript to price per page. Remote CART can run lower than onsite once travel is removed.
Regional variation is significant — urban and high-demand markets run higher, and rush, after-hours, and travel all add up. Ask what's included and what's billed separately before you book.
Which one do you need?
Use this quick test:
- Do you need a verbatim record you can certify and use as evidence? That's realtime reporting (with the certified transcript to follow).
- Do you need to provide live communication access to a deaf or hard-of-hearing person? That's CART captioning — and it may be an ADA obligation, not just a nicety.
- Do you need both in the same proceeding? Book both, and confirm whether one provider can cover both roles or whether you need two professionals.
A few booking tips that apply either way:
- Confirm the delivery method (in-room receiver, screen, remote link, trial software) and test it before the day-of.
- Ask for a glossary or witness/case-specific terms in advance — names, medical or technical jargon, and party names dramatically improve live accuracy.
- For remote work, verify the audio source quality. Bad audio is the number-one cause of poor realtime and CART output.
Finding the right professional
Because the same person may offer realtime, CART, or both, the fastest path is to filter by the specific service and credential you need. You can search and compare court reporters and captioners free on this directory, check their certifications and service areas, and contact them directly — no markup, no middle layer. Match the credential to the deliverable, confirm the tech, and you'll get the record (or the access) you actually came for.