Please guide me: closed-captioning from FCP into DVDSP
by Mark Suszko
on
Aug 11, 2009 at 10:09:08 pm
Tomorrow I get handed a 40-minute DVCpro25 tape and a finalized DVD-R that have been closed-captioned for me. I get to make a DVD out of this tape, breaking it up into about 13 short chapters,which I will make just by cutting up the master timeline and exporting each chapter stand-alone thru quicktime conversion>mpeg2 then dropping/importing into the assets folder of DVDSP.
As far as that goes, I think I know what I'm doing, have done something like it before. And you can tell me a better way to do it in DVDsp if you feel compelled.
But my actual question is, will the captioning carry over into DVDsp, and how do I make SURE it does? I plan to capture the source tape into my timeline using 8-bit uncompressed setting, we're playing the tape SDI in thru an AJA IO. Then I'm fuzzy about what if anything I need to export the video and audio mpeg 2 files and keep the cc intact as I bring these into DVDSP. Is there a better workflow, using what I have on hand? Any and all help appreciated. I looked thru recent threads before asking, but am looking for an answer even more specific to my situation.
Re: Please guide me: closed-captioning from FCP into DVDSP by Michael Sacci on Aug 12, 2009 at 8:21:23 pm
Capturing does not carry over you need to bring it in as a file, scc. There are post from people that have software that I believe that can do it, try doing a search. I don't believe the software is free. I have never need to do this so I have never looked. Anytime a client needs CC on a DVD I require a scc from them. I also try to talk them out of using CC and go with subtitles but you still need a file for that.
Re: Please guide me: closed-captioning from FCP into DVDSP by Mark Suszko on Aug 12, 2009 at 9:14:57 pm
Thanks for that, let's try this another way. When importing assets there is a dialog box you can select from the top of the screen that says "import line21 file".
What format is that file specifically? I tried importing just any random text file for grins, the import grayed out, it was looking for a specific file format. What is that, what file extension? Sorry to be asking a RTFM question, but apprently this is not something most people deal with. I'll RTFM tonight at home, but was hoping for a quick hint here.
Re: Please guide me: closed-captioning from FCP into DVDSP by Michael Sacci on Aug 13, 2009 at 4:56:10 am
if you can read it it is not right. the file type is .scc
this is what a line of captioning looks like in the file.
05:01:03:26 9420 13f4 5bd0 c1d5 4c45 5454 4520 d3c1 c44c 4552 5d80 9452 97a1 942c 4ad5 d354 20c2 4543 c1d5 d345 20d9 4fd5 a752 4520 ce4f 5480 94f2 9723 c84f 4fcb 45c4 20d5 d020 544f 2054 c845 2049 d680 942c 8080 8080 942f
So you will need to find software that would convert a text file to the closed caption file.
Is there a reason you are wanting CC, client says they have to have CC? Subtitling is a much easier thing to produce (still really need software) and is some much better for the viewer. IMO
Re: Please guide me: closed-captioning from FCP into DVDSP by Mark Suszko on Aug 13, 2009 at 1:53:42 pm
Yeah, I have reasons. The DVD might be played anywhere, including local broadcast cable.
(I know, you're going to say: "Broadcasting off a DVD is wrong/stupid/etc." but it HAPPENS in the real world, and that's really for another topic thread)
There may be situations where the viewers are watching on a TV but don't have access to the player controls, so the optimal situation is a "belt and suspenders" type setup, where they can use standard TV closed captioning or choose subtitles. I don't have the bucks right now for stand-alone captioning or subtitling apps unless they are freeware or built into the suite of apps I already have.
Re: Please guide me: closed-captioning from FCP into DVDSP by Bouke Vahl on Aug 15, 2009 at 8:59:34 am
Michael,
Were you referring to me?
Anyways, you are right. There is no freeware that does this.
But my subtitle / CC tool can do the job. And now with FCP 7, you can also output CC info to tape.
(and it is a fraction of the price of other tools)
Re: Please guide me: closed-captioning from FCP into DVDSP by Jason Livingston on Aug 14, 2009 at 10:54:24 pm
Hi Mark,
Uncompressed video, DV/DVCPRO, and DVDs all use a different kind of metadata to store closed captions, so unfortunately the caption data usually will not carry over automatically.
If this is a one-shot deal, there are caption service companies such as CPC who can, for a one time fee, decode the captions off of your DV tape and give you .SCC files which will allow you to caption your DVD in DVD Studio Pro.
If you will be doing this kind of thing often, it might be more cost effective to purchase the MacCaption software so you can do it yourself.
Please call or e-mail us if you'd like to talk about the different options.
