Is there any way to add Closed Captioning directly in the Avid (maybe with the subcap tool?). And additionally I wonder if an output of a Quicktime file with that Closed Captioning can be output directly from the Avid.  If none of this is possible.  How can a Quicktime be created with Closed Captioning?

What version of AVID?  Sd or HD timeline?  Will you have a Caption Data file or are you simply ttying to apply generic text to a track to create captions?

MC 5.0.3, HD timeline and there's very little copy to generate so it would be just typing out a couple of lines on V.O. and syncing it up to the correct place in the spot.  The main question is, is it possible directly in the Avid to do this.  Or can it be added to a Quicktime file later?

Unfortunately, you can't use just straight typed in text.  You have to generate a time stamped caption file first, both fo SD and for HD.

For HD, that caption file will have to be converted to an AAF file that can be imported into to AVID to place on a data track.  The only file exports that I know of that support HD closed captioning are the Op1a MXF exports tha MC 6 can do.

We use a captioning service to create the caption files for our shows.  We then use MacCaption to create an AVID AAF file from the caption file we receive from the captioning service.  That conversion makes the 608 captions we get into 708 captions and we can include V-Chip data and AFD data.

Next is the import into AVID, place the imported clip onto a DATA track in the timeline and print to HDCam tape through our NitrisDX.

If we had MC 6 installed, we could export to an Op1a MXF XDCAM file.

What might work for you, if you can get MacCaption, is to export the file to DVCProHD and use MacCaption to insert the captions into the file.  Or maybe see if you can get a reasonble quote from a captioning company to do that for you.

I think the subcap effect is only a subtitling tool.

Thanks Ben.  I was going to run a short test of this but I don't seem to have DVCProHD codecs on my system.  I thought they were standard.  I guess I have to search them down.

I think the DVCPro HD codecs get installed with FCP.

These guys have them but it is a purchase Calibrated Software

Yeah.  You have DVCProHD codecs for use within AVID but not as a Quicktime plugin.  I installed a demo of FCP on my MacCaption workstation to get them.  At least I think I got them.  Don't know if they disable after the trial expired though.  I haven't checked as I was testing some workflow possibilities.

Calibrated sells codecs that are QT plugins.  DVFilm has a line of products called Raylight that do decoding and encoding of DVCProHD as well. 

http://dvfilm.com/raylight/EncoderPro/index.htm

I ran into these guys researching CatDV.  Either will work.

The way I have exported DVCProHD Quicktimes in AVID before is Making sure I have imported/transcoded my media into DVCProHD and exported Same as Source.

If you are going to buy your own caption authoring software, check it's requirements and capabilities first.  MacCaption will run on you Mac and offer some workflow efficiencies that I don't have here.  IMO, it's the best caption authoring product out there.  But it's not cheap.

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to setup a Closed Captioning workflow with SD footage.  I've successfully integrated a workflow in HD, but we still have a few SD services that require the same/similar workflow.

Here is our HD CC workflow that I'd like to replicate in SD:

Caption exported from MacCaption as AAF

AAF is imported into Avid Media Composer (currently running v6.0)

AAF is added to clip(s) on timeline

Edits are made while maintaining sync with DATA track

Export as OP1a MXF XDCAM file. 

MXF file (with embedded captions) is imported back into MacCaption.

Caption is ripped and re-saved as an .SCC and sent to playout server for broadcast.

Is there any SD file format that I can export from Avid that will preserve the CC info in SD?  If so, what is the process?

Thanks!

Sal Fabbri:

Is there any SD file format that I can export from Avid that will preserve the CC info in SD?  If so, what is the process?

 

Thanks!

Our workflow with SD and MacCaption is as follows (since AFAIK the AAF data format is for HD only):

Output a Line 21 Quicktime file from MacCaption using the Meridien 2:1 codec, setting the color space to RGB.  In the MacCaption options we check the Small file option.

Import that file into AVID with the 601 colorspace option (telling it not to change anything).  It will import in seconds.

Plop that file onto a video track above everything applying a 3d Warp effect.

Turn OFF the border and set the bottom crop to 990.

From there we output to tape.

I have experemented with using the IMX codecs in a Quicktime wrapper to preserve the Line 21 captions.

If an SD MXF Op1a file is an option, you should be able to use one of the SD XDCam options with v6 for export.

My $.02

Just figured out a workflow on Avid Media Composer 7 PC + Caption Maker Pro

We need to send XDCAM mxf files with CC to DMDS, that sends it to broadcast tv stations.

So export sequence via Output - Export to device - XDCAM (settings : 50mb, 24bits)

then on Caption Maker Pro : open the mxf file

import a notepad txt script 

synchronize it manually or be a pro and make it be the best CC job of your life

export to .aaf, keep fps options at 29.97 from the beginning process of Caption maker to the end

In MC, in your bin, import aaf file.

it will show you its a .mxf in you bin

Clip - New Data Track

at the mxf CC file on it

make sur you respect in and out timing

export, again via the export to device option - to xdcam 

send it to DMDS

I just looked at Telestream's website.  According to the blurb on the Caption Maker page, you should be able to use Caption Maker to insert the captions directly into the MXF file.  That will save you some time and a transcode step.

If the menus are the same in your version, choose EXPORT | HD | Sony Material eXchange Format.  The very last prompt will be to choose an MXF Input file.

I have done that with an older version of MacCaption on numerous occasions.

Cheers,

ben

I've been doing this workflow pretty extensivley now for several clients and I'm running into an issue with MacCaption regarding the V-Chip.

I'm creating XDCAM MXF Op1a files with the captioning, AFD and V-Chip embedded into the data track.

For some reason, MacCaption wont include the V-chip information in some AAF's while others are fine.  All the cap files are the same and from the same captioning company, so I'm confused as to why some AAF's have the V-chip information and others don't.

Do you have any advice you can give? I'm going to have the captioning people re-create the cap files to see if that makes a difference.  I'll update this thread if it works.