Need soft/hardware selection help, goal is CC Closed Caption

[ajhuff]

Hello everyone, I am such a newbie, I don't even have the computer built yet, but have have done a lot of research, sifting through the forums and other areas of this website (and others). I'm still looking for a little more info or some confirmation.

I am building a new computer with the goal of video editing (and some gaming). It will be an Intel 875 base (already purchased) with probably a 3.x P4, windows XP.

Both of my In-laws are deaf. I would like to COPY onto DVD and add captioning. Source will be:
1) homevideo from VHS or DV,
2) some commercial VHS
3) some commercial DVD

The commerical VHS/DVD are either before captioning was mandatory, so cheap it does not have it (like the stuff you see in the check out lanes at the grocery) or I would like to copy the bonus features, like director commentary, bonus scenes, etc, that are typically not captioned.

I would definitely prefer CC rather than subtitles. I do know that they are not the same. CC will have the advantage of it generally looks better and no special instructions are needed to play the disc. Hit play, CC comes on.

Originally I was looking at the ASUS Redeon 9800XT as it supports video in. Then I looked at the ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 and it may be better suited to my needs. Any comments? Any others I should consider or is the wrong approach for a video board?

As far as software it seems like this TMPGenc is what I need or am I wrong? Do I need a series of packages? What about Nero? Could someone point me in the right direction becasue this is where I am most confused.

Looking forward to your replies. Having searched through old posts, I see there is a lot of brain power out there. Thanks in advance.

-AJ

[ajhuff]

Anybody? Anybody? Buehler?

Did I stump everyone?

How about I simplify.

I want to add closed captioning. I searched and really only found discussion on copying cc, but I want to add cc where it wasn't there before.

Can anybody point me in a direction?

Thanks.

[dreary79]

I was wondering the same thing... can anyone help? I have and xvid file that I wanted to convert to DVD but I want to include Captioning.

[SLK001]

Okay, I'll believe you when you said that you "did the research". I suggest that you go to http://www.geocities.com/mcpoodle43/SCC_TOOLS/DOCS/SCC_TOOLS.HTML and read through McPoodle's stuff. It might move you further along to achieving your stated goals.

Closed captioning has been discussed here for years. Also check out the Doom9.org site. It too, has useful info on CC'ing.

Not many people bother with CCs, mainly because they are a royal pain-in-the-ass to do. You also have to have an authoring program that will even let you import CC data for inclusion onto the DVD.

[Nelson37]

Not many tools to ADD closed captions, or author with them. For DVD, subtitles are effectively the same thing, with some slight differences. Would suggest you convert CC type files to subtitles for use on the DVD, lots of info on this in the links given.

Most movies you can download the subs from various sites. Captions not nearly so available.
The main difference is that the CC file includes sound effects, where the subtitles are dialog only. A CC file converted to a subtitle file gives the extra sound effects in a more usable file. There also tools like Subtitle Workshop and others that let you write your own subtitles.

For capturing captions, the linked methods work pretty well. Particularly for the ATI card, from a captured source, there is an easier method.

[BobT]

Maybe I can give you a little insight about the Closed Captions. I have a hearing problem and was searching for a solution for quite a while. I used an ATI All in Wonder 7500 video card for several years. The video capture using the 7500 does not include line 21 Closed Captions. In fact I don't believe any of the ATI cards will do this. You can capture the Closed Captions to a separate text file and then attempt to put them back in the video but it is cumbersome timeconsuming and has a very long learning curve.
The problem is that the vast majority of reviews on any hardware product are not concerned with closed captions so it is difficult (nearly impossible) to find out anything! Most DVD players (Again not all) will play closed captions as will most DVD recorders. Downlaoding manuals sometimes helps but the Pioneer series of DVD recorders does not even mention closed captions in the manual. The Pioneer series of DVD recorders (I have a Pioneer DVR220 and DVR531) will record and playback closed captions if they are present in the video. This is what I currently use. I record all video to the Pioneer harddrive then place on a DVD-RW and then put on the computer to process into a final DVD. If you choose to go this route get a DVD recorder with a harddrive!
If you are going to use software to process the captured video with closed caption information, again, you could run into problems because some software will REMOVE any line 21 closed caption information which is present. I use the following software and it retains the closed captions in the final DVD product. MPEG-VCR V3.14 to remove commercials etc. CloneDVD1 V2.0.0.4 to trim the size down if necessary, Tmpgenc DVD Author V1.5.15 to author the DVD file, and Nero 6 to burn the DVD.
Hope this info give you some help. Good Luck!