Captioning & subtitling

English Closed Captions (CEA-608 & CEA-708)

Broadcast and streaming closed captions have to decode cleanly on a real decoder, not just look right in an editor. I author pop-on CEA-608 and CEA-708 captions, embed true 608 and 708 in an MXF OP1A wrapper, and deliver an SCC sidecar, a SMPTE ST 2052-1 Timed Text XML and a burned-in preview MP4, all independently QC-verified with caption-inspector.

✓ True CEA-608 + CEA-708✓ QC-verified with caption-inspector✓ 23.976 / 24 / 29.97 DF
Dao Huy (Lucas)

Dao Huy (Lucas)

Subtitle & caption specialist, Da Nang, Vietnam

BA in EnglishIELTS 7.0HSK 5Upwork Top-Rated Plus4.99/5 from 80 reviewsTop 1%7+ years, 200+ projects
Recently delivered English SDH for six episodes (around 160 minutes) with true CEA-608 and CEA-708 embedded and independently QC-verified, for a US media-localization agency.
CEA-608CEA-708EDM>> Pop-on00:0000:1000:2000:30timecode (29.97 DF)
CEA-608 and CEA-708 caption events on one timeline, cleared by an EDM pulse on the first frame.
[engine revving]>> DRIVER: We need to move, now.

SDH adds the speaker ID and the sound cue plain captions drop.

What you receive

SCC sidecar (Scenarist Closed Captions, CEA-608)
MXF OP1A with embedded CEA-608 and CEA-708
SMPTE ST 2052-1 Timed Text (708) XML sidecar
SRT and WebVTT export for web players
Burned-in preview MP4 for sign-off

Spec checklist

✓Pop-on captions, up to 32 characters per line
✓>> for speaker changes, [MUSIC] for music cues
✓EDM (Erase Displayed Memory) written on the first frame
✓Positioning raised to clear on-screen names and lower-thirds
✓23.976, 24 and 29.97 drop-frame timecode
✓Independently decoded and checked with caption-inspector

How it works

1

Scope and spec

You send the video and target profile. I confirm frame rate, timecode, caption style and the delivery formats you need.

2

Author

I time and write the captions or subtitles to the reading-speed, line-length and positioning rules for the target.

3

Encode and wrap

I produce the deliverables: SCC, MXF OP1A embed, SMPTE ST 2052-1 or DCP XML, plus a burned-in preview.

4

QC and deliver

I decode the result independently with caption-inspector, fix anything that drifts, and deliver with a report.

Three-layer QC before anything ships

Broadcast and cinema files fail on decoders, not in an editor preview. Every delivery goes through three passes and an independent decode.

1. Rough pass

Spot and draft every caption against the script, source audio and shot changes.

2. Alignment and timing

Tune reading speed, line breaks and positioning; align to shot changes and clear names and lower-thirds.

3. Independent senior QC

Decode the result on a separate decoder, check conformance to the target spec, and sign it off.

✓Characters-per-second held to spec on every event
✓Safe-title and safe-area violation check per caption
✓Multi-device and projection playback testing
✓Independent CEA-608 and CEA-708 decode with caption-inspector
NDA and secure handling for unreleased films and pre-air episodes; screeners are deleted on delivery.

Indicative rate

$2.5–5 / minute

✉ Request a quote

Related captioning services

Captioning & subtitling →SDH Captions →DCP Subtitles →Subtitle Translation →Caption QC →Vertical Subtitles →Vietnamese translation →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CEA-608 and CEA-708?

CEA-608 is the legacy line-21 caption standard; CEA-708 is the modern digital standard for HD and streaming. I author both and embed true 608 and 708 together in the MXF OP1A wrapper, so the file plays correctly on old and new decoders.

How do I know the captions decode correctly?

Every file is decoded independently with caption-inspector (the Comcast open-source QC tool), so you can see the exact 608 and 708 output and positioning before you air it.

How much do closed captions cost?

Indicative rates are $2.5–5 per minute depending on turnaround and source quality. Send the video and I send an exact quote within 10 minutes.

✉ Request a quote

⏱ Typical response within 10 minutes

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