Thanks Bob,

There is Open Source software at: http://www.geocities.com/mcpoodle43/SCC_TOOLS/DOCS/SCC_TOOLS.HTML#subrip2scc

which provides utilities to place true CC into MPEG files and such. Has anyone used these tools with any success. I'm thinking of giving it a try. Mike

From what I can see, this can only be used to create captions on a DVD. Is that what you are trying to do?

Dave T2

I'm trying to create a commericial which is shown on TV with the closed captions. Without spending an arm and a leg, I'm try to create a MPEG-2 file which the station can read for play on TV. Is this possible or am I dreaming and have to spend $1000 plus for a Closed Caption solution. Let me know if I'm dreaming or if this can be a reality.

Mike

Vegas cannot read nor write anything in the DV data stream, including closed captions, date, time, camera settings, etc. (although it can display, in the project media area, the date and time).

I posted about some possible third-part solutions here:

CC 1

and here

CC 2

and many other times as well.

Unfortunately, I think it very unlikely that Sony will ever add this feature. We'll get "improved HDV editing" instead.

720x480 formats do not allow traditional line 21 CC in the VBI.
If you are working in 720x486 there is room to include the CC line.
I generate CC to an AVI using CCaption software then just use a wipe on the time line to allow line 21 to show through with the video content - works on most NLE's.
Paul

The whole CC issue has come up a bit here and I have been surpised it has not come up more because of the FCC mandates it now in the United States for broadcast. No version of Vegas allows for any sort of CC placement, could this change in Version 7? DVDA does not either, but Adobe Encore does allow for it.

In addition to links that are in the links below I have started playing with Stream SubText. But also this software is now "gone" and is now Lemony.

One of my favorite programs, and it is free, is Subtitle Workshop but it does not allow for CC encoding, but it can oputput , for example, files that can be used in a program such as Stream SubText and than output in the SCC format.

Here are some of my posts on the subject:

3/19/2005 - RE: OT: Can MPEG2 display Closed Captioning?

9/20/2005 - RE: Adding/placing closed captioning text

EDIT: Ok, some good news, so to speak, with a free solution for creating valid SCC files. I did some digging last night and some testing this morning. If you download the free Subtitle Workshop i link to above to create your subtitles and save it out in SubRip formating you can download SCC Tools, a set of free DOS/Command line utilitys, that will do nice things related to CC'ing. All you do is take your saved subtitle file (.srt extension) and drop it onto the "subrip2scc.exe" file and *poof* - you get a vaild SCC file that you can use. I tried it and droppped the SCC file into Adobe Encore and rendered and sure enough - there is now closed captions on theDVD file. Now all we need is for Vegas and DVDA to be able to ingest a SCC file.

Filmy,

I'm assuming that you had success with Vegas also ingesting the SCC file. I too was able to use Subtitle Workshop & subrip2scc to create the scc file now I need to render my DVD file. I know that Vegas won't digest the SCC file but what about DVDA for I don't have that product yet. I'm also assuming that MPEG-2 the CC will be displayed? Mike

I am not familiar with the operation of Adobe Encore, how do you load the SCC file into Encore? I see how to load text files & scripts but not the SCC file format and the help menu is not very helpful!

Filmy, thanks for the links - great info on CC.
Paul

720x480 formats do not allow traditional line 21 CC in the VBI.

That's not true of miniDV. Capture off the air, ten playback from tape to a TV that supports closed captioning (without putting it into Vegas first, of course).

my understanding is that DV formats take the CC content from line 21 and encode it in a data stream - some DVD decks can then re-encode to line 21 on output.

Ah, I think I see what you're saying. True enough, DV is digital, so there are no sync pulses or anything else that is part of the analog signal that isn't seen (i.e., the stuff in the blanking interval). However, DV does encode some of this information (CC for sure) and put it into its data stream. Now, I think there is potentially a boatload of other information (including program and station information) that is also broadcast. I don't know whether most DV encoders attempt to do anything with that or not. There is probably a spec somewhere that describes all this.

This might be of intrest on the topic - Caption Compatible Hardware for NLE and DV (720x486 NLE Video and 720x480 DV Video) with downloadable examples so you can test your NLE.

Example -

Compatibility Check 2