Captioning/Subtitling 101

Captioning

In today’s world of ever-changing technology, it is important to understand that there is a vast difference in captioning standard definition (SD) formats than high definition (HD) formats.  We did the best we could explaining the various options for each.  Here we talk about SD, however to review our services offered for HD, please go to HD Services heading under New Media tab.

A caption file is prepared by importing a script into our caption software.  Either you will supply us a verbatim script, or we can offer you our transcription services.  Our team of caption experts prepares the caption file by ‘breaking’ the script into sentences or partial sentences, making sure that the captions are prepared properly with grammar and punctuation and places them on the screen as not to interfere with graphics, such as lower thirds, titles or bullet points.  A caption may consist of 1 – 3 lines of text.  A caption can be a pop-on style of caption or a roll-up style of caption. 

Once the caption file is prepared, the question remains, how will it be exported to accommodate your requirements for your project.  For example, do you need a video master recorded with captions that are embedded on line 21 of the vertical interval?  Do you need captions for a non-linear edit system, such as Final Cut, Avid or Premiere?  Do you need captions for a DVD only?  Or will you need a caption file for HD digital files or tape format?  Read below for some of the options and the workflows for each. 

Captioning for SD video formats

After the caption file is prepared by our highly skilled captionists, we will encode the caption signal onto a video master through our caption encoder. We will need to confirm what format is needed.  For example, is the format BCSP, DVCam, Digibeta, mini DV, etc.  This process involves you sending us a video source, which can be on a video master, DVD or high resolution digital file, if no video master is available.  (We can then lay it to tape for you.  Call to discuss the details.)

Basically, the encoding process is very similar to a duplication process in that the original video goes through a caption encoder and is merged with the caption signal and this captioned signal gets recorded onto line 21 of the vertical interval of the new video master. This process involves an encoding process, tape stock and shipping costs. 

However, to save time and money, technology allows us to export a caption file that is compatible with non-linear editing systems.  This file becomes an element in the editing process.  Read on to understand this workflow…

Captioning for NLE systems (tapeless delivery)

Obviously, without an encoding fee, tape stock or shipping costs this process is much more cost-effective and efficient for your project.  For your convenience, we would receive a proxy video (320 x 280 w/ H.264) uploaded to our FTP site.  The timing and placement of the caption file is referenced from this digital file. We can export the caption file (as opposed to encoding it to video tape) into a format that is compatible with your non-linear editing systems, choosing specific codecs accordingly.  This allows you to be able to ‘drop in’ the exported caption file into your edit system so when you lay to tape through a break-out box or video card, viola, the tape already has captions embedded on line 21 of the vertical interval-- first generation master is captioned!  This saves time and money since there is no encoding fee, tape stock, shipping fees and you can control the turnaround time and quality. 

Captioning for SD digital video

There may be times when your digital video will need to have captioned embedded in them.  For example, we can caption MPEG-2, QT, DV, DVC Pro or .mov files, when needed.  You would send a high resolution file with a DV codec to us (external hard drive, FTP site, thumb drive, etc) and we would caption the digital video accordingly.  Actually, you can take a captioned video file (DV, DVC Pro) and firewire it and record the captioned video to a DVCam or DVC Pro deck.  The CC will remain.  MPEG-2 can have embedded captions, however you cannot firewire it to a DV deck and retain the captions.  Please review the MPEG-2 options under New Media tab.

Captioning for DVD projects

We start out with the caption file that has been prepared as either a pop-on style or roll-up style of captions.  The caption file exported for DVD is either going to be an .scc or .cc file for your DVD authoring system.  The .scc or .cc file is a hexidecimal file and basically looks like ‘code’.  Some DVD authoring systems may require a text formatted file with time code in and out values.  We can offset the TC to reflect an 01: or :00 start time to accommodate your timeline.  The caption file would be used in the DVD authoring process and the DVD master would be captioned.  Keep in mind the captions on a DVD are turned on and off via a TV remote as they are for a TV program. 

Extracting Captions

Did you know that you can use your captioned video and have us extract the captioned signal for repurposing it for another format?  For example, if you have a program you already captioned and want to put the program on DVD or a digital video with captions and/or subtitles, we can help you accomplish that without needing the original file. In addition, you save money because you do not have to start all over again by creating a caption/subtitle file. Call and ask us how we can help you accomplish this goal while saving you money!

High Definition Captioning Services

This is very involved and somewhat complex….please visit the heading Captioning for HD formats.