Closed captioning, how to?

[Dennis Lisonbee]

What format?

Dennis Lisonbee

[Shane Ross]

You need to take it to a company that specializes in closed captioning. And I think that you need to provide them with a transscription of the show as well, and a show master, as they embed the CC in the video when they dub it.

But it has been a while since I had to deal with that. things might have changed.

[Chris Poisson]

Hey Dennis

They want a bunch of DVDs, VHS and Betas.

[Dennis Lisonbee]

Yes, the master is sent to a Closed Caption House. Since my masters are digital I take them to a house that can do Digibeta. Most Closed Caption Houses want a Beta master. The problem with that is the generation loss.

I use Caption Max. They have an office in Los Angeles. There are other houses that do this work.

Dennis

[Chris Poisson]

Dennis,

Thanks you, that is most helpfull.

[David Bogie]

Let me add…
Google Closed Captioning and you will find several hours of fascinating reading. Your clients may or may not understand the differences between providing ADA compliance for viewer-activated captioning on home televisions and the more sophisticated subtitling systems built into DVD players. It’s all quite confusing. And there are several different competing standards.

I’ll echo the others’ advice: Hire it done. Subtitling and captioning is a remarkable pain in the ass without dedicated hardware and a solid background in the tools.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[Chuck Reti]

Some useful info and links in Terry Thomas’ article “Legal Aspects of Captioned Media” in Jan. 05 Screen Magazine.
https://www.screenmag.tv/shorttake.aspx?stid=399

[Chris Poisson]

Hey David,

I will Google that and check it out. In the meantime, I have arranged for a subcontractor to handle this, but I am still wondering about DVD production and how this gets done. My supplier mentioned that the CC file has the extension .scc, is this something that I would apply in DVDSP?

BTW, I am still just bidding this job, and have PLENTY of time on it.

[Debe]

According to Neil Worthingham at CaptionMax, the CC on a DVD is actually a specially prepared file that is put on the DVD. They would supply you with the file, and you would put it in your DVDSP project and assign it the function of being a CC file.

I’ve not yet tested this, but all the folks at CaptionMax are very helpful and knowledgeable, and at least one makes a mean guacamole!

debe