In this article we will walk through setting up a closed caption session. There are 3 main steps involved. 1) Scheduling the Captioning Session. 2) Routing the Sources. 3) Verifying & Recording the Captioning Session.
1. Scheduling the Captioning Session
This step should be done well in advance of the Captioning Session (days to weeks before). Below are two companies that we contract for captioning services:
For Live government (State of the State, State of the Judiciary) we use:
Nancy Epstein, RMR, FCRR (Captivision@charter.net)
tel: +1.775.267.5108
Realtime Captioning | Teleperformance Rapidtext (For pre-recorded events like AARP, Courts, etc)
111 North First Street, Suite 201
T +1.818-848-6500 Ext 11701 I +1.800.234.0323 Ext 11701
Once scheduled, the following information should be provided to the captioner:
- Model of the encoder: evertz 8084 AD
- Data modem number to dial into: 907.586.2326 (to send captioning data)
- Phone number of ECR to communicate in case of any difficulties: 907.463.6462
- Phone number to dail into: 907.463.6464
- Scripts or specific spellings of places or names
Once that has been scheduled on the day of captioning (or day before if possible) it is time to route the sources as necessary.
2) Routing the Sources
Below is a diagram of how our captioning system works and how one might go about setting up the system (though noting that this is not the only way to accomplish this task because so much of the system can be routed to so many different sources).
Because all captioning data is sent through the SD Captioning Encoder (which then feeds the HD encoder), if the source video is HD the system must take a path that downconverts the source HD video to SD. If it is SD only, the route can be much more direct (bypassing the HD components on the top of the chart). Both route settings are listed below:
Routing if Source Video is HD
- Route the HD Source Video (which in this case is from POST A but could be anything on the router) into PCR SW 13 this is so that the HD source can be downconverted and fed into CC 1 SD (which then feeds CC 2 HD)
- Take PCR SW13 on the PCR Router to Program
- Turn on and bring up the sound for PCR SW 13 on the PCR Sound Board
- Route PCR PGM SD into CC 1 SD to feed the video stream into the everts to encode the closed captioned data into it (which is then sent to CC 2 HD)
- Route PCR PGM HD into CC 2 HD to send an HD video stream into the everts to encode the closed captioned data (which it is getting from CC 1 SD) into it
- Route PCR PGM SD into the Dub Bay (DUB SD), because this is how the captioner is getting the source audio over the phone (discussed in more detail later)
- Route CC 1 SD into an unused SD Media Port (in this case MP 1 SD) to record an SD captioned version to the Harmonic Server for broadcast
- Route CC 2 HD into an unused HD Media Port (in this case MP 8) to record an HD captioned version to the Harmonic Server for broadcast
- Route CC 2 HD into VTR 7 HD (which feeds the XDCam for recording an offline archive/master)
- Route MP 8-B HD into the shading monitor (PCR QC HD) to verify captions are being embedded
- Route MP-1 -A SD into Prep1Mon S to verify captions are being embedded
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- In the Dub Bay “Room 110C Tape Duplication Center” Set the Grass Valley Router to HR1 by pressing that button.
Routing if Source Video is SD
- Route the SD Source Video (which in this case is Edit Suite A) into CC 1 SD
- Route SD Source Video into the Dub Bay (as this is how the audio is sent to the captioner over the phone)
- Route CC 1 SD into any SD Media Port (in this case MP 1 SD)
- Route CC 1 SD into VTR7-SD (the XDCam) for offline archiving/mastering
- Route MP-1 into Prep Monitor 1 to verify the recorded stream contains embedded captions
- In the Dub Bay “Room 110C Tape Duplication Center” Set the Grass Valley Router to HR1 by pressing that button.
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3) Verifying & Recording the Captioning Session
A. Verify Captioning Data Prior to Recording
About 15 minutes prior to the captioning session, the captioner will call into ECR to discuss any details or for questions and to send some test data into the captioning system. You can ask the captioner to send you some test data, to verify that everything is set up right before any captioning begins. You will want to turn on Prep Monitor 1 and Port B pressed, then watch for TEST TEST TEST TEST to come across the screen. Ask the captioner to call into the Dub Bay (907.463.6464) to be sure that they can hear audio being sent from there.
B. Verify that the Captioner Can Hear Dub Bay Audio
After you answer the phone in the Dub Bay, start a test piece that contains audio from your video source, toggle the switch to the ON position for a few seconds. Toggle the switch position back to OFF and pick up the receiver and ask the captioner if they heard the audio that you sent. If they successfully heard the audio, verify that they are ready to go and if so, toggle the switch back to ON.
C. Start your Recordings and Start the Source Video/Production
Now that all the sources have been routed and tested, you can start your recordings and then begin your production or source video / live captioning session.
- Start Clip Tool (on any station but if you use the PCR station, it tends to make it easier to start the recording for this and for the XDCam at the same time)
- Enter the Media Director ip address 192.168.1.156 and click List Players
- Select the appropriate media port that you assigned earlier (in this case we will do this for MP1-SD and MP8-HD).
- For each media port you’ll be recording on, press the New button and enter an appropriate name for the recording.
- Press the REC button to begin recording for each media port.
- Start recording on the XDCam (by pressing the Play+Record buttons).
- Start the production or show for live captioning.
- While the show is happening be sure to monitor the captioning data on both Prep 1 Monitor and the PCR Shading monitor, as well as be listening for any calls on ECR’s phone (which is where the captioner will call if they run into any difficulties).