Caption Max

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Most Commonly-Asked Questions:

• How do I turn off closed captions?
• I can't get captions on my HDTV.

  • You may need to inspect your cable/satellite receiver box or your cabling system. If you use satellite or cable TV, the most common HD cable connecting your network box to the TV is called an HDMI cable. The HDMI cable cannot transfer closed caption data. Usually this is not a problem because you're managing the TV through a cable or satellite box, which should decode the captions before it goes through the cable to the TV. Check to make sure that the cable or satellite box enables closed captions. If you cannot turn on captions on the cable/satellite box then call your service provider and ask them to replace the box with one that will enable closed captions.

• What file formats can I deliver to you?

  • We can accept anything: master tapes, mpeg-1 reference videos, .mov reference videos, or even VHS worktapes. The easiest way to send us what you have is by uploading your video on our website. A member of our production team will handle your media personally. They have the experience and education required to make sure everything turns out just like you imagined! Please be sure to contact us if you have any questions at all.

    Even though we prefer master tapes or mpeg-1 reference videos, we have the latest in software and technology so we can open just about any file type out there.

    See our master video specs or our reference video specs for more information.

    If the type of file you have doesn't appear in our PDFs, just send what you have, and we'll do our very best to make it work!




Producer Questions:

• What is offline captioning?

  • "Offline" is the common term for captioning that isn't live. It's used for prerecorded, taped TV shows like sitcoms and dramas, as well as for DVD movies and most internet video.

• What's the difference between subtitles and closed captions?

  • Closed captions are hidden in the video signal and have to be turned on, or "opened" to be seen, while subtitles are always visible.

    Well, except for DVD and Blu-ray discs. DVD and BD subtitles can be turned on and off, and a DVD can have both closed captions and subtitles. Which type of file is right for you? We can help you decide.

• What are open captions?

  • Open captions are closed captions that have already been turned on and are burned onto your tape. Open captions will be burned into the video itself and cannot be turned off. They are often used for videos that will be shown to a group or where the viewers won't have the ability to turn the captions on themselves.

• I have an old caption file. Can you reformat it to match my revised video?

  • CaptionMax can accept almost all CC file formats, as well as many text-based subtitle formats.

• I have an old tape that has captions on it. Can you reformat these captions?

  • Yes. Send us your tape, and we can pull the caption data off of it.

• Can you burn subtitles on my video file?

  • Sure. Give us your video and tell us your desired specs, and we can add subtitles in any language and transcode into any format.

• I have a video that has subtitles burned in. Can you edit them?

  • No. Burned-in subtitles are not editable, since they're part of the image itself. We can copy the subtitle text and timing and create a new subtitle file for you.

• What languages can you translate?

  • We can translate to or from virtually any language spoken by more than two people. The most common requests are for Latin American Spanish, European and Canadian French, Italian, German, and Simplified Mandarin Chinese, but we've provided translations for all over the world. Do you need Wolof subtitles? Will your company's annual video be shown in your Dubai office? Are you screening your film at a festival in Estonia? Are there Somali and Hmong viewers that will be downloading your web clips? We've done that.

• I already have a translation, but I need subtitles.

  • We can break your translation into subtitles and time it to your video (a process sometimes known as "spotting"). We can also take an existing frame-accurate spotting list and export it as a subtitle file.

• Can my PAL video be captioned?

  • PAL video uses a different kind of captioning than the NTSC video that's used for standard definition broadcast television in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, and elsewhere. PAL captions are called Teletext, and, yes, we can provide Teletext files for use with PAL programs.



• What does encoding mean?

  • The word "encoding" has many meanings. Here, we use encoding to refer to the process of marrying closed caption data to a video. To avoid confusion, we use the term "compression" for the creation of digital video files.

• How are captions encoded onto standard definition tapes?

  • Standard Definition (SD) captions, also called 608 captions or line 21, are part of the video signal. They are a series of white pulses on line 21. For CC1 and CC2, they are in field 1. For CC3 and CC4, they are in field 2. The process of inserting these pulses into the video signal is called encoding. Most commonly, one sends video through an SD closed captioning encoder and records the output on another deck. This can be done at CaptionMax or at some post houses.

• Can I edit new video into my SD captioned master without affecting the captions?

  • Yes! Caption data on SD is contained within the video of each frame. Line 21 (out of 525 lines) is reserved for caption data, which can be seen as a series of white dashes when the monitor is in underscan.

    In a linear edit suite you can insert a new video scene in pre-read mode with the switcher's wipe capability. Set a horizontal wipe of the existing master itself from the top down through line 21, and then the new video from line 22 on down to 525. This preserves the existing line 21 video but allows new video for the rest of the frame. You will be able to preview this through a CC-equipped monitor in order to verify that the captions will appear before committing to the edit. Non-linear editing systems can also be set up to do this similarly.

• How are captions encoded onto high definition tapes?

  • High Definition (HD) captions, also called 708 captions, are a part of the Vertical Ancillary Data (VANC). They aren't part of the video signal as SD captions are. To encode, one sends the video signal through an HD closed captioning encoder and records the signal on another deck.

• How are captions encoded onto high definition digital files?

  • Just like a tape's video signal passes through an encoder to add closed captioning, HD files need an application to merge the caption data and the video data together. Let us know what equipment you have, and we'll see what we can do for you.

• What is a downconversion?

  • Downconversion is changing video from high definition to standard definition. Since the aspect ratios change, we normally add black bars to the top and bottom of the video (letterbox) to fill out the SD image. You can also request anamorphic or cropped downconversions.

• When I copy a closed captioned tape to another tape, will the captions still be there?

  • Yes. The closed captions are part of the video. Unless you interfere with line 21, any dubs will have closed captioning information. Be aware that some decks, like DV and HDCam, may need you to enable captions. Consult your manual to find the exact settings. Downconversion may also cause loss of captioning information.

• Why are there incorrect characters or dropped letters in the captions?

  • Data corruption could be a caused by a number of factors. Here are some possibilities in order of most likely to least likely:

    - Decoder issues. Some decoders are better than others. Some are much worse. If possible, view the signal on two different decoders that you know work.
    - Edits to the original master.
    - Downconversion problems.
    - Transmission error / noise in the lines / signal degradation.
    - Recompression of signal.
    - Tape / media error. Glitches here can cause small losses of captions.
    - Problems in the original file.

• Why are the captions out of sync with the audio?

  • If captions are out of sync, there's really only one reason: The master you're working with doesn't match the proxy we're working with. The quickest way to resolve this problem is to send us a new proxy.

    How does this happen? Well, perhaps the master was re-edited after we got our copy. Or the timecode base changed from non-drop-frame to drop-frame. Or it was a new downconvert. Or our file is based on an air master and your master has the commercial blacks taken out.

• Why can't you encode from a DVD?

  • A DVD is intended to be an end format, ready for the consumer, not an editable master format. A true master format has minimal compression, and it has a timecode signal. Plus, DVD closed captions aren't embedded into the video signal the same way they are on a tape. If you need a captioned master and all you have is a DVD, contact us to arrange something that works for you.

• How can I put V-chip information on my program?

  • V-chip is another kind of data on line 21 that lets users restrict access to programs by rating. To create this data, a software application sends the rating information to the closed captioning encoder, and the encoder adds it to the video signal. If you need V-chip encoding, please let us know what your program rating is.

• Can I send my program to you on hard drive?

  • Yes, we can accept some types of video on hard drive. Contact us, and we can give you a quote and more information.

• Can captions be added in my editing software (non-linear editor)?

  • We can create a standard definition 720x486 video file with line 21 on it. The editor can bring this into their NLE and add it to their program.

• How can captions be added to my high definition program in my non-linear editor(NLE)?

  • For certain high-definition workflows, we can send a small data file which is imported into the NLE. During playout, the video card uses this track to create captions. This works with Matrox MXO2 or AJA KONA 3/LHi cards.

• How do I add timecode windowburn in Final Cut Pro before I export a proxy?

  • Timecode windowburn is a filter that is applied over your master sequence. See our handy how-to PDF and follow the instructions to add burned-in timecode quickly and easily.

• We have a closed-circuit TV system and need captions. Can you do that?

  • Most likely. Let's talk about what system you are using and what file type we can provide for you.



• Can you make my DVD for me?

  • Yes, we can. We can design your menus, create assets, and add closed captions and up to 32 subtitle streams. We can even provide you with advanced features such as spoken menus, annotated subtitles, slideshows, or interactive quizzes and easter eggs.

• What's an .scc file, and how do I use it?

  • An .scc file is the most common format used for DVD closed captions and is now being used for other captioning applications as well. It's a small data file that can be brought into many DVD authoring systems. Here are instructions for importing a .scc file into DVD Studio Pro.

• Why doesn't this .scc work?

  • It could be a monitoring problem (the captions are there, but your player won't play them), or it could be a discrepancy between the timecode of your M2V and the timing of the .scc file. We have a detailed explanation here.

• Can you open caption my DVD?

  • The DVD spec doesn't permit that, but we can provide you with a DVD subtitle file instead. In your DVD authoring system, you can tell the subtitles to stay on all the time rather than allowing the user to turn them on and off. It will be the same idea as open captions but will look prettier.

• Can you subtitle my DVD?

  • Yes. We will need to know what authoring system will be used to put your DVD together so we can give you the appropriate type of subtitle file.

• What do I do with this DVD subtitle file?

  • Different DVD authoring systems use different types of files. In general, if you have a subtitle script file, which is a simple text file that contains the subtitle words and times, you set the subtitle formatting (such as font size and the position of the titles on the screen) within the authoring software before you import the file.

    If you are using a set of graphic subtitles - an image file for each subtitle plus one timing file – all you have to set is the color mapping. Here's our quick guide to using subtitle graphics in DVD Studio Pro.

• Can I get Spanish captions on my DVD?

  • We recommend using subtitles to put Spanish text on your DVD instead of closed captions. Few DVD players can display multiple streams of closed captions.

• Why can't I see captions on the DVD I'm authoring?

  • The previewing function in DVD authoring software does not have a closed caption decoder. You'll need to build the project and play it in a player that you know can handle captions. Try a commercial DVD that you know has CC first.

• Why can't I see captions on the DVD I'm playing?

  • Some DVD players cannot handle closed captions. Cheaper or older hardware players sometimes strip out the closed caption data. Players that have a progressive scan mode sometimes block captions when in this mode. And anything that's connected with an HDMI cable can't pass through captions.

    Most software players that you use when you play a DVD on your computer don't have any way to decode the captions. Windows Media Player can display DVD captions, and Apple DVD Player can display pop-on captions but not roll-up style captions. Certain paid versions of WinDVD and PowerDVD have CC capability. Look in your player's preferences to see if there are any closed caption options.

• Can I have captions on my Blu-ray disc?

  • The Blu-ray spec does not include closed captioning capabilities. We can give you a Blu-ray subtitle file instead that provides the same information to the deaf and hard of hearing audience that CC would.

• Can you make me a Blu-ray?

  • Shazam, you're a Blu-ray! Actually, we don't do Blu-ray Disc authoring here, but we do provide subtitles for users of the Sony Blu-print and Sonic Scenarist systems.



• Can you caption my web video?

  • All signs point to yes. Let's talk about what player you're using and what your options are.

• How do I caption my Flash movie?

  • We will send you an XML caption file that you can incorporate into your Flash project.

• What do I do with this SAMI file?

  • A SAMI file (pronounced "Sammy") is a caption file for use with Windows Media Player. To test your captions locally, make sure the video and the .smi file have the same name and are both in the same directory. Open the video in Windows Media Player, and you should be able to turn captions on and off using ctrl+shift+C. For more information on playing captions in Windows Media Player, look here.

• What do I do with a SMIL file?

  • A SMIL file (pronounced "smile") is a metafile used by Quicktime and RealPlayer to combine the video file and the caption text file. When putting the video on your web page, link to the .smil file instead of directly to the .mov or .rm, and the video will open with a black box underneath it that displays captions.

• Can you make video files I can use on my website?

  • Yes. Just give us the details about what kind of video you need. We'll ask you about codecs, resolutions, bit rate... but if you don't know what we're talking about, we're happy to make suggestions.

• Can you caption my YouTube video?

  • Yes. If you can give us a copy of your YouTube video or permission to download it, we can provide you with a caption file you can upload to YouTube. For more information, see YouTube's captioning overview.

• I'm putting my program on Hulu. Can you caption it?

  • Yes, we can provide caption files for Hulu. We can create the video files for you too.

• Can you caption for iPod or iTunes?

  • Yes. If you give us your mpeg-4, we can embed captions into the video that can be played by Quicktime version 7.1.6 or higher, iTunes v7.4+, and AppleTV.

• What's the difference between hot dish and casserole?

  • With our world headquarters in Minnesota, CaptionMax is uniquely qualified to answer that question. "Hot dish" is what we call a baked pile of canned soup and other stuff here in the frozen north. People in our California, New York, and Washington, D.C. offices would call this same dish a "casserole"... if they ate things like this in their fancy coastal cities.

• Can you send my captions as an .mov file?

  • We can create a standard definition 720x486 .mov file with line 21 on it. The editor can bring this into their NLE and add it to their program.

• How do I import this subtitle file into Final Cut Pro?

  • First you'll have to update it with the correct location of the subtitle images, then use Final Cut Pro's Import XML dialogue. Please see this guide.



• What is realtime captioning?

  • Realtime captions are typed live as a program is airing. Yes, realtime writers do have to type very fast! No, their fingers don't generally catch fire.

• What equipment do I need if I want to hire CaptionMax for realtime captioning?

  • You will need an SD and/or HD caption encoder with a phone line connected to the encoder's modem. You will also need an audio coupler to provide program audio over a phone line. We recommend encoders manufactured by EEG and Evertz.

• Why am I?

  • Because media accessibility.

• Do you provide live captioning for meetings and classrooms?

  • Live classroom captioning is known as Computer Assisted Real Time, or CART. A stenotypist or court reporter provides a live transcript of a meeting or event that can be viewed on a monitor or projector. The National Court Reporters Association can help you locate a CART provider in your area.



• What is audio description?

  • Audio description uses precisely-timed voiceover narration to convey visual information that the blind and low vision television audience needs to fully understand and appreciate a program. Also known as video description, descriptive video, descriptive narration, DVS, AD, and probably several other terms we haven't come across yet.

• How do I put audio description on my DVD?

  • We can provide you or your DVD author with a described master. Channels 1 and 2 are the main program audio, and Channel 3 will contain a mix of both the program audio and the audio description. Channel 3 should be captured separately from 1 and 2 and exported as a separate Dolby Digital or LPCM audio file. We can also provide you with such a file, but in that scenario, there can be synchronization issues with your other DVD assets.

    In the DVD authoring software, set this audio asset as the A2 audio stream. Be sure to include buttons on the DVD menu that allow the user to choose the second audio stream. For true accessibility for blind and low vision users, we suggest including spoken menus (the menu buttons should be read aloud as they are selected).

• How do blind people turn on the description on a DVD?

  • One of the services we can provide is Spoken Menus. As the user selects each button in a DVD menu with their remote control or keyboard, the button text is read aloud. Handy!

    If a DVD does not have spoken menus but does have audio description, you can try pressing the "Audio" key on your remote, which will cycle through the different audio tracks. Not all DVD players have an audio key, however, and it can be difficult to determine which audio stream you are listening to. So ask for spoken menus!

• I have a document with pictures in it. How can I make sure it's accessible?

  • Our professional describers can write alt-text that concisely describes your still images (photos, drawings, graphs, maps, or slideshows) in your PDF documents, web pages, or Digital Talking Books.



• My show isn't finished. Can I send you a rough cut?

  • Sure. Please speak with your project manager to arrange this.

• Do you archive caption files?

  • Yes. We can reformat your old captions to your new video or convert them to a different caption or subtitle format.

• Why does it take so much longer to produce an as-broadcast script if you're already producing a caption file?

  • As-broadcast scripts are a lot more detailed and complex than caption files and we use different software to create them. We also must wait until we have the final, locked video before we start working on an as-broadcast script, though we can start captioning as soon as the audio is locked.

• How do I use FTP?

  • CaptionMax now has an interactive upload & download feature through our website! If you still need FTP, we recommend using the FileZilla client. We have a detailed instruction sheet here.

• Where can I find the CC and AD symbols?

  • Right here.




Viewer Questions:

• What programs do you caption or describe?

  • Lots of programs that you watch! Please see our client list.

• A program I want to watch is not captioned. What do I do?

  • Contact the network and local affiliate on which the program airs. There's strength in numbers, so be sure to enlist your friends to help. And let us know what series you're interested in so we can help too.

• Why are there missing or totally wrong letters in the captions?

  • Our captions travel a long way to get to your television. They are first added to the video in a process called encoding. The video is then sent out to your local broadcaster or cable affiliate. This can be by tape, satellite, or electronically. The video then gets transmitted to you over the air or through cable. Your receiver picks up the signal and sends it to your television. At each point in this chain, problems can occur.

    If the equipment at any of these points isn't working properly or isn't configured properly, then captions could be lost. If you see problems, you'll want to follow that chain back to the source, checking each step: television, receiver, local distributor, national distributor.

    Often the broadcaster is unaware that anything is wrong. Help them resolve the issue by giving them specific information, including the show's air-date and time, whether you were watching over cable, satellite, or off-air, what city and time zone you are viewing the show, and the exact nature of the problem.

    If you've tried everything else, you can file a complaint with the FCC.

• Why do the captions appear after the words are spoken?

  • Realtime captions will always be delayed a few seconds. The network sends a live feed out to the caption writer, who creates the captions using stenography machines and sophisticated software. The captions are then sent back to the network to be added to the video signal and broadcast to the viewer. Because the writer is listening and then typing, there is an inevitable delay.

    Offline captions for pre-recorded TV shows are created with frame accuracy and should be synchronized with the dialogue as it is spoken. However, the video signal passes through many devices on its way to your eyeballs, and each one is capable of delaying the captions a few frames. And if the program is edited before the captions are synchronized with the master tape, that can throw off the caption timing. If there is a repeated issue, contact the network or cable provider and ask them to look into it.

• Why do captions sometimes stay on the screen through a commercial break?

  • At a commercial break, the captioner places a signal in the file to clear the captions off the screen, but sometimes the network will start the commercial before the "clear captions" signal gets transmitted.

• Why does the font look so bad?

  • The font used for closed captions is determined by the decoder built into the TV set, receiver, or player. Different manufacturers use different fonts, though most standard definition sets use a fixed-width font and a black box around the caption text. Digital televisions can have more options, allowing the user to select from several fonts and remove the black box or make it semitransparent. Check your TV's settings menu.

• Why are there mistakes in live captioning?

  • TV programs that are broadcast live are also captioned live, which is called realtime captioning. In order to keep up with the speed of speech, realtime captioners use a stenotype machine rather than a regular keyboard. They type in shorthand, using combinations of keystrokes that represent sounds rather than individual letters. Computer software then translates the keystrokes into full words.

    This software references a huge dictionary of both general words and specific terms such as proper names, sports vocabulary, and vocabulary related to current events. Realtime writers constantly update their dictionaries with new words, but there will always be new names that must be spelled out phonetically.

    If a keystroke is entered incorrectly, the software will expand it out into a different word. More often, though, the sound was typed in correctly, but the software mistranslates it into a homophone, such as "reign" instead of "rain."

    These mistranslations, while sometimes humorous, are comparatively uncommon. Realtime captions get it right far more often than they get it wrong, which is why you don't see captions like this: Reel thyme righters our vary skilled at what they due.

• Why is my local news captioning so bad or nonexistent?

  • The FCC requires national news produced by ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as local news in the top 25 markets, to use standard realtime captioning. Other local newscasts, however, are permitted to use Electronic Newsroom Technique (ENT), which creates captions automatically from the prompter. Unscripted content - such as breaking news, weather updates, live field reports, and the newscasters' banter - will not be captioned at all using this method. If the captions on your local news are bad, contact the station to complain.

• Are there movies with captions in the movie theater?

  • Many theaters have special showings of closed captioned movies. Check the website of your local theater for times, or try the search engine Fomdi to find captioned movies.

• Why are my DVDs not captioned?

  • There are several possible reasons why you would not be able to see captions when playing a DVD. Not all producers caption their DVDs. Be sure to check for the "CC" symbol on the box.

    Some DVDs use subtitles instead of captions. Sometimes these are just English subtitles of the dialogue, but on other DVDs you can find "SDH" subtitles, which are optimized for the deaf and hard of hearing audience. These subtitles will include sound effects, music descriptions, and speaker identification, just like captions.

    Even if a DVD has closed captions, not all DVD players can display them. Some older players and cheaper players strip out the CC signal. Players connected with an HDMI cable will not pass through captions.

    And most software players do not have closed caption decoders. Windows Media Player and Apple DVD Player, as well as certain versions of WinDVD and PowerDVD, can decode some types of DVD closed captions. Test your player by playing a DVD that you are certain has closed captions.

• I bought a DVD, and it's not captioned. Can you caption it for me?

  • Unfortunately, no. Only the distributor or the producer has the rights to make modifications to the product. Your best bet is to contact the companies involved in releasing the DVD and inform them that their lack of captioning has lost a customer.

• Can you caption my wedding video or home movies?

  • We usually work with professionally produced television and corporate video, but we might be able to help you out. Please contact us for a cost request.



• How do I turn on captions on my digital TV?

  • Look for the "Services" menu. In digital television, the "Services" options replace the old "CC" choices:

    - Service 1: Captioning in the program's language, such as English. This was called CC1 in analog televisions
    - Service 2: Captioning in Spanish (previously CC2 or CC3)
    - Services 3 through 6: Captions in other languages, edited captions, and other uses to be determined later.

• Does HDMI carry closed captioning?

  • No, HDMI cables strip out closed caption data. We recommend using a different type of connection. However, your cable box might be able to decode and display your captions before they are sent to your television through an HDMI cable.

• Do any DVD recorders or DVRs record closed captioning?

  • Some models of recorder can, and others can't. The issue exists for both consumer and professional quality recorders. Usually the owner's manual will not address this question, and the folks at the big-box stores typically will not know either. The best thing to do is to contact the manufacturer directly, or go to an electronics store that is willing to work with you and test it out before you buy.

• Do small portable DVD players display closed captioning?

  • A few players can, but most do not. We recommend renting the player or testing it before you buy.

• My TV is too old to display closed captions. What can I do?

  • If your TV is that old, you have probably purchased a digital converter box in order to keep watching over-the-air television after 2009's digital conversion. The converter boxes have caption decoders built in. Look for the "CC" button on the front.

    You may be able to find old closed caption decoder boxes on eBay or Craigslist, or look in TV repair shops for low-cost TV sets. TVs made after 1993 with screens of 13 inches or larger are required by law to have closed captioning capabilities built in.

• How do I turn on Spanish captions?

  • Captioning is conventionally broadcast in the CC1 channel. If a show is broadcasting both English and Spanish captions, the alternate language is usually placed in the channel called CC3, although you will occasionally find it on CC2. Unfortunately, some televisions only display CC1 and CC2. If you tend to watch a lot of Spanish captioning, be sure to test that your TV supports CC3 before you buy.

• What is CC3? What is Service 2?

  • Many TVs can display multiple streams of captions, though you can only watch one caption channel at a time. Captioning is conventionally broadcast in the CC1 or Service 1 channel. Other channels might be used for captions in a different language or edited captions. Unfortunately, some televisions do not offer CC3 or CC4.

    You can change the caption stream by going to the caption menu settings on your television set, TV receiver, or cable/satellite box.

• What if I want Spanish AND English closed captions at the same time?

  • Most TVs do not let you watch multiple caption channels at the same time.

• How do I turn on the captions in Windows Media Player?

  • Ctrl+Shift+C toggles the captions on and off in Windows Media Player. For more information, see these handy instructions.

• How can I find captioned videos on YouTube?

  • When you search, choose "Closed Captions" under "Type" to filter out uncaptioned videos. If you are using the Advanced Options for your YouTube search, check the "Closed Captions" option under "Show only videos with these features." For more information, see YouTube's captioning overview.



• How do I turn on audio description?

  • In general, audio description will be in the audio setup menu of your TV and called "MTS" or "SAP." Only stereo TVs can have SAP. Since televisions vary widely, it's best to consult the owner's manual for more information.

    If you have a cable or satellite receiver, you will probably need to turn on the description using the audio settings in your receiver rather than your television. Look for "alternate audio" or "audio 2." On some receiver boxes, you might need to change the audio language to Spanish to access the SAP.

• How can I find described programs?

  • It can be difficult to know which TV shows are described because that information is generally not included in the listings. Most programs on PBS stations are described. We also describe a great deal of the children's programming on Nick Jr.

• Are there movies or plays with description?

  • Many movie theaters and live theaters, and even some museums, have special showings that are described. The theater will loan you special headphones that play either prerecorded or live description. Check the website of your local theater for showtimes, or give the theater a call.

• What do I do when a program is supposed to be described but it isn't?

  • Occasionally, even though audio description is included in a program by the network, the cable/satellite company or local broadcast affiliate lacks the technical capabilities to pass through the secondary audio (SAP), or can only pass through one additional digital audio channel and is using it to transmit Spanish audio instead of audio description. The FCC recommends that you contact your TV service provider and let them know you wish to use SAP.



• How can I become a captioner?

  • We look for people who demonstrate competency in spelling, punctuation, and grammar; have excellent typing skills (50 wpm or faster); are proficient with computers; and have research abilities. Our offline captioners are trained in-house to work with our specialized software and to conform to our house style.

    Due to the nature of the equipment we use and the need for confidentiality, offline caption editors must work in our Minneapolis or Burbank offices. Our offline captioners work in either English or Spanish or both. Spanish caption writers must be native Spanish speakers and have an excellent command of the English language as well.

    All job openings for offline captioning and realtime captioning positions will be posted on our website. You can send us your resume here if you see a job opening listed.

• Do you work with foreign language translators or subtitlers?

  • We do sometimes hire foreign language translators and subtitlers. Please look here for potential job openings.

• How can I become a realtime caption writer? What are the qualifications I need?

  • Realtime writers should attend a court reporting school. Like court reporters, realtime captioners use a steno machine. CaptionMax looks for realtime writers with a minimum of an A.A. or B.S. in Court and Conference Reporting or satisfactory completion of other 2-year equivalent program. They must be certified as a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) or Certified Broadcast Captioner (CBC). Independent contractors must possess their own equipment, preferably Total Eclipse Accucap or CATalyst BCS. Our independent realtime writers are usually contractors working via satellite or modem uplink. Realtime captioners work in the language of their expertise.

    All job openings for offline captioning and realtime captioning positions will be posted on our website. You can send us your resume here if you see a job opening listed.

• Is Max a real person?

  • Yes. Shown here. Gerald, on the other hand, is an android.