Closed Captioning / Subtitling
Precision Transfer exceeds all closed captioning regulations and standards and is capable of closed captioning 17 languages and subtitling 50 languages with consideration for all special characters and accents. All closed caption encoding is achieved in the highest possible format whether that be digital, component, Y/C or composite.
Precision Transfer is also pleased to provide our host of closed captioning capabilities in high definition formats. We are one of a few select companies in the world which have the ability to closed captioning in the 24P format.
Please contact us if you have questions regarding closed captioning. We look forward to being a part of your next project!
Please see below for some more explanation of different types of closed captioning provided by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters:
Types of Closed Captioning
All closed captioning requires skilled people to prepare and perform it. There are two primary formats: off-line captioning and on-line captioning. Off-line captioning has two common styles: roll-up and pop-on. On-line captioning has three common styles: real-time, live-display, and Teleprompter.
Off-line Captioning
The term “off-line” refers to captions that are created for and applied to prerecorded programs.
Trained off-line caption writers watch and listen to videotaped programs and create a transcript of the audio, including descriptions of non-speech information. They use a specialized computer program to enter what they hear on a standard computer keyboard. They break up the transcript into phrases, which will either roll up on or pop on the video screen. The caption writer assigns a timecode address to each caption as well as a position code. The following three elements make up the closed captioned data file: the text, the timecode addresses, and the position codes.
This data is transferred to a captioned sub-master videotape by encoding while dubbing from the edited master. In the encoding process, caption data is permanently embedded in the video signal of the captioned sub-master. The playback tape will always remain unchanged, and the duplicate captioned submaster will contain the new caption data.
Because off-line captions are pre-produced, they can be edited to ensure clarity and accuracy. They are by far the most labour-intensive and expensive to create. It may take 18 hours or more to off-line caption a one-hour program, depending on the complexity of the program, speaking rate, rate of scene change, and difficulty of topic. In a general breakdown, captioning time includes the following:
- 1 hour to create a working copy tape from the master in real time
- 1 hour to capture the video onto the captioning system in real time
- 12 hours to transcribe, place, time, and edit the captions, creating the data file at a rate of approximately five minutes of video per person hour
- 1 hour research time
- 2 hours to screen the work
- 1 hour to transfer the data while dubbing in real time from the master tape to the closed captioned sub-master
Off-line caption writers must strive for accuracy, taking the time to carefully research all names and unfamiliar words or phrases.
They must also screen thoroughly. Proofing a hard copy printout of the caption transcription before encoding is an excellent method of screening for errors. Additionally, a second person should view the captions before encoding.
Pop-on Captions
With “pop-on captions”, a phrase or sentence appears on the screen all at once – not line by line – stays there for a few seconds and then disappears or is replaced by another full caption. The captions are timed to synchronize with the program and placed on the screen to help identify the speaker. Pop-on captions are used for prerecorded captioning.
Roll-up Captions*
“Roll-up captions” roll onto and off the screen in a continuous motion. Usually two or three lines of text appear at one time. As a new line comes along, it appears generally on the bottom (except for live sportscast), pushing the other lines on the screen up. Roll-up captions are used for all live captioning and can also be used for prerecorded captioning.
*Precision Transfer always provides Pop-on captions unless otherwise requested.
