ccConvert Suite for Closed Captioning
ccConvert Suite is a suite of tools for converting, verifying and visually displaying closed captions. The ccConvert suite consists of: ccEmbed/ccExtract, verifyCC and ccReview. It can read standalone caption formats like SCC, MCC and AAF as well as subtitle formats like STL, EBU, SRT, XML Final Cut, YouTube and iTune formats are supported as well as most media embedded captions in MXF (SMPTE 436, compression embedded), MOV/MP4 text track, MPEG-2/h.264 user data, transport stream SEI, Sony IMX embedded, LXF and GXF files. Cross conversion from any type to SCC, MCC and .N0 for use in editing programs is provided, as well as up convert from SD captions to HD MCC and 436 formats. Embed sidebar formats into MXF and MOV files for final distribution. Auto verify and visually check captions either in-stream, independently, or as a sidebar replacement of existing captions.
ccConvert Suite for Closed Captioning
ccConvert, verifyCC and ccReview
ccEmbed/ccExtract, verifyCC and ccReview
ccConvert - Extracting and Embedding
Extract captions from media files or other caption formats for editing
ccConvert can convert between various closed caption formats, and between closed caption standards like 608 and 708. Drag a video file containing closed captions onto the target area, and drop it. Select the output type. Set the location for the new closed caption file. To save into the same directory as the source file, click the Input checkbox. Press the Go button. A new closed caption file will be created within the specified location.
Embed captions back into an MXF, MOV or MP4 by re-wrapping or re-encoding
ccConvert also includes command line utilities for ccExtract and ccEmbed, so that closed caption workflows can be controlled by external controllers. This includes integrating that functionality into internal web sites, like we have with www.convertcc.com.
Here is a list of supported closed caption format types:
| Format | Read | Write |
| AJA KiPro Mov/ProRes | X | X |
| Avid AAF CC Data Track (708 for Avid Editors) | X | |
| Avid Caption - txt | X | X |
| Belle Nuit - stp | X | X |
| CaptionMaker - cap | X | |
| Cheetah - cap | X | |
| Comma Separated - csv | X | X |
| Digital Cinema 2007/2010 - xml | X | X |
| EBU Sub Titles - stl | X | X |
| Final Cut Pro - xml | X | X |
| Final Cut Pro X - xml | X | X |
| Flash - xml | X | X |
| GV XML/N0 data anc | X | X |
| GXF SMPTE 360 CC | X | |
| h.264/MPEG-4/AVC1 'user' CC | X | |
| iTunes Timed Text - txt | X | X |
| JSON (various) - json | X | X |
| LXF Leitch/Harris CC | X | |
| MCC 708 (MacCaption/PC-Caption/Adobe/etc) | X | X |
| MOV SD/HD CC tracks | X | X |
| MP4 SD/HD CC tracks | X | X |
| MPEG-2 'user' CC | X | |
| MXF Avid embedded CC | X | X |
| MXF SMPTE 436M | X | X |
| Netflix Timed Text | X | X |
| ProRes embedded | X | X |
| QuickTime Text - txt | X | X |
| SAMI - smi | X | X |
| SCC Scenarist (608 SD with 708 up convert) | X | X |
| SMPTE TT-2052 | X | X |
| SoftNI - sub | X | X |
| Sony DVD - txt | X | X |
| Sony DVD Architect - sub | X | |
| Sub Station Alpha - ssa | X | X |
| SubRip - srt | X | X |
| Swift - sif | X | X |
| Timed Text - ttml, dxfp, xml | X | X |
| WebVTT/VTT - vtt | X | X |
| YouTube - sbv | X | X |
| YouTube Annotations - xml | X | X |
| YouTube Transcript - txt | X | X |
verifyCC
verifyCC will check and verify all supported closed caption types (MXF, MPEG, MOV, MP4, etc), including external pure CC files like SCC, MCC and AAF. The overall formatting and each CC line/entry is checked, and any errors are displayed in the output text box. Checks include, but are not limited to, header information, time code validity, preface, size, count and count matching, checksum, valid 708, valid 608, and many more. The output can be saved or copied for further investigation.
ccReview
ccReview is a closed caption and video/audio file preview and output system which supports a wide variety of broadcast and post production file formats, as well as all the closed caption sources listed above. The audio and video can be displayed on the VGA/DVI screen as well as out through an AJA video board, if available. The AJA board also supports insertion of the closed captions as 608 line 21 or 708 ANC captioning.
ccReview Interface
ccReview supports all the major closed caption types as well as all major video codecs, containers, time code and multi-channel audio with selection. Clicking on the CC button selects the caption channel to view, but all channels are decoded and saved simultaneously so switching is instantaneous and show the text that would be present if that channel had been on for the entire play. Attributes like bold, italic and underline are respected, as are font sizing, positioning and colors. A seek control allows quick access to any part of the file, and the captions are decoded in sync with the current video based on absolute frame or time code.
ccReview can view the captions a number of ways:
- playing captions embedded within the video file
- playing sidebar MCC/SCC/AAF/STP/XML/CSV/STL/JSON/SMI/SUB/SRT/SBV/SSA/SIF/TXT/etc. captions with the same name as the main file
- playing all supported caption/subtitle files over black, without the original video file
- load arbitrary caption files (both broadcast and subtitle formats) over a video, for checking different languages on one file
In the case of playing a caption file standalone, the captions are automatically moved to the start of play, and the duration is set to cover the total time covered by the captions. This makes checking the file as fast and efficient as possible.
Typical Workflows
- Command line automation is available for Windows, MacOS 10.13 / High Sierra and greater (Mojave), and Linux 64
- Command line can be driven by external application, watch/batch or web services
- SubTitle Edit saved to SCC/SRT/STP/SSA/SIF/SBV ccConverted to AAF (Media Composer), MCC (Premiere) or re inserted into an MXF
- MXF, GXF, LXF, MCC or AAF to SCC or a subtitle format for re-edit in SubTitle Edit
- Extraction of unsupported user data, SEI, h.264 captions for MacCaption/PC caption
- Embedding different language audio and/or caption tracks to make different MXF versions for distribution
- Pre-air checks of embedded MXF, GXF, LXF or transport stream closed captioning
- Pre-server checks of sidebar SCC and MCC files
For more information on Drastic's closed captioning support, please click here.
ccExtract Command Line
There is a command line tool included in ccConvert called ccExtract.exe. You can get the command line with
https://www.drastic.tv/support-59/supporttipstechnical/294-ccextract-captions-conversion
ccEmbed Command Line
There is also a command line tool included in ccConvert called ccEmbed.exe. You can get the command line parameters here:
https://www.drastic.tv/support-59/supporttipstechnical/293-ccembed-embed-captions-mxf-mov
Download a free trial
End User License Agreement: International Canadian
Download CCConvert 6.1 for Windows installer
Windows 7 or greater
Download ccConvert 6.1 OS-X Installer
Minimum MacOS 10.13 / High Sierra and greater (Mojave).
Download ccConvert 6.1 RedHat/Centos Linux Installer
RedHat/Centos 7.4 or greater
ccConvert installs in demo mode, with limited functionality including a 10 second limit on output. If you try to use ccConvert with no license, and your source file has no captions in the first 10 seconds, the resulting output file will have no captions.
You will need at least a temporary license to unlock the full feature set of the software. Please generate a site code and send it to us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will send back a site key which will remove the demo limitations. Prior to purchase, the key will be temporary. There is more information on the licensing process here: http://license.drastictech.com