Closed Caption for Broadcast Question

[Tom Matthies]

Closed Captioning is a digital code inserted into a program file Oor tape) that can be read by a caption capable receiver. In the old days, it was a binary code that was inserted into the vertical interval of an analog broadcast signal. It “hid” just off the top of the screen on programming. Today, it’s most often a digital coded file that is inserted into a program file before distribution. The easiest way to do this is to simply send your project file off to a captioning service and let them deal with it. You can do it your self with the proper software and hardware, but this usually isn’t cost efficient for one or two projects. The software is not cheap and it takes a fair amount of knowledge to use it. In between the two there is a simi-do-it-yourself solution. You can still use a captioning service, but rather than having them do it all, you can just have then generate the captioning file, usually a .scc file, and insert it into your program yourself. This will work under the right circumstances. You send then a reference file, often a low quality Quicktime or Windows Media file and they will use it to generate the .scc file. That file can be easily emailed since it is basically a simple text file and is normally fairly small. Once you have the file, you can insert it onto your program. The process depends on what software you are using for editing or compressing. Compressor can do it in most cases. This will result in a file that can be read by most of the TV stations and the captioning info on your file will be used to generate both 601 and 701 type captioning at the station, depending on their equipment and workflow. Each facility is different so check with them as to what they can handle when they generate their file for broadcast. When in doubt, ask someone at the station where the spot will be airing. They should be able to answer your questions.
It’s not too difficult to do but is is tricky with lots of places for it to go bad. When in doubt, hand the job off to a professional.

E=MC2+/-2db

[Travis Wine]

Thanks Tom – taking your advice and getting another to do it.

[Kevin Varnell]

Hi there,

I am using a Telestream Pipeline HD Dual to output SD video to digital/analog tape (Beta SP UVW-1800, DVCPRO SD-930, Digi Beta DVW-A500), and can’t see the captions/caption data on output.

– My source file is a 486i Pro Res SQ with embedded 608/708 captions.
– Output from Pipeline Control to Decimator 2 SDI to Analog converter (advised the 608 captions are retained in composite output).
– Blackmagic Smartview 4K H/V delay to see interval data.
– Link IEC-788 caption decoder, passing video from tape only/Pipeline via Decimator, but no captions seen on NTSC monitor.
– One last thing, all SDI I/Os goes through a BM Videohub.

I’ve been dealing with Telestream support to verify that my Pipeline output contains the proper caption data, but I wanted to rule out the issue being with the Decimator or deck.

Any help would be greatly, GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!