XDCAM MXF Closed Captioning

Encode and Decode Closed Captions to XDCAM MXF

No additional CC hardware required. No generation loss!!!

MXF Closed Captioning Workflow

Sony HD Deck Settings

Sample XDCAM HD (1080i) MXF file with CC and AFD

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Closed Captioning Sony XDCAM HD MXF

May 1, 2009 Rockville, MD. CPC's MacCaption HD Enterprise system has been optimized to work directly with Sony XDCAM HD MXF files for caption retrieval and encoding. Demonstrations of our MacCaption XDCAM HD MXF workflow were on exhibit at the 2009 NAB convention in Las Vegas both in the CPC and Sony booths.

As of 12/1/2010, CPC's CaptionMaker-HD Enterprise (Windows) software version 5.08 can also read and write Sony XDCAM HD .MXF files with closed captions and AFD.

XDCAM HD MXF files can be generated by the Sony XDCAM HD deck and through a non-linear editing system like Avid or Final Cut Pro with the free Sony Transfer tool. MacCaption-HD Enterprise can then add captions directly to the MXF file without any rendering or recompression of the video or audio essence data.

Captioners looking for an affordable MXF CC workflow can use the Sony PDW-U1 drive, which costs about $2500 and allows you to read & write MXF files to XDCAM discs using your Mac or PC.

To print to an HDCAM (SR) or XDCAM HD deck via HD-SDI from Final Cut Pro, please see the Matrox MXO2, Blackmagic or AJA closed captioning workflows.

Sony XDCAM EX and HDV decks currently do not support HD closed captioning.

MXF Closed Captioning Workflow

1. First, you need to start with a Sony XDCAM MXF file. This file can be copied from a Sony XDCAM HD deck, or generated by the Sony XDCAM Transfer Tool plug-in for Final Cut Pro, or generated by newer Avid systems or some compression programs (e.g. Rhozet, Agility, etc.). If your source movie is a QuickTime or another format, you can convert it to XDCAM MXF using any available tools (for Final Cut Pro users, the Sony XDCAM Transfer Tool is a free download.)
2. To generate a proxy movie for use in your caption preparation, you can optionally use the Sony XDCAM Transfer Tool for Final Cut Pro to re-wrap the MXF file into a QuickTime movie for playback. This QuickTime is used only as a reference for the captioner to prepare the captions, so it is not strictly necessary if you already have a proxy movie or a completed timed & formatted caption file.
   Note: The time code of this proxy should either match the actual MXF time code, or start at 00:00:00:00 being the first frame of the MXF file.
3. If you want to use the original MXF file instead of a proxy movie as your video reference, you need a MXF codec for QuickTime (such as Calibrated{Q} MXF Import, MXF4Mac, Sony Cinemon!), or for DirectShow on Windows.
4. In MacCaption/CaptionMaker-HD Enterprise, once the captions are ready, go to File > Export > HD > Sony Material Exchange Format (.mxf).
5. CPC software will export a new MXF file, containing the original video/audio data unchanged (no recompression), plus the closed captions. This file can then be copied to an XDCAM disc, or to other systems which support Sony XDCAM MXF files with closed captions (e.g. Seachange, Omneon, DMDS, etc.).
6. Note for Omneon server users: The Omneon must be set to decode "SMPTE 436M" VANC data (this is the spec for closed captions within MXF files). Please see: Omneon MXF playback for more information.

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Sony HD Deck Settings

To record an HD-SDI signal with closed captions (for example, from a AJA/Blackmagic/Matrox card, Avid Mojo/Nitris DX, or coming from another HD deck), your HDCAM (SR) or XDCAM HD deck must be configured to record closed caption packets on VANC Line 9, DID 61, SDID 01. We have the settings for some Sony decks posted below. If your deck is not listed or you have any questions about configuring your Sony deck, please contact Sony directly for assistance.

PDW-HD1500:

1. Holding PAGE/HOME and SHIFT simultaneously, press MENU.
2. Turn PUSH SET(S.SEL) knob to select "M3 OTHERS", then press PUSH SET(S.SEL).
3. Turn PUSH SET(S.SEL) knob to select "M3B: VANC RX PARAMETER", then press PUSH SET(S.SEL).
4. Turn PUSH SET(S.SEL) knob to select "M3B1: LINE1 SEL" , then press PUSH SET(S.SEL).
5. Turn PUSH SET(S.SEL) knob to select "9LINE" , then press PUSH SET(S.SEL).
6. Press SAVE (F5). Deck should display "NOW SAVING..."

PDW-F70/F75:

1. Press the MENU button. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the SETUP menu, then to Metadata > HD VANC INPUT.
2. In the HD VANC INPUT area, set 'Line' to 9, 'DID' to 61 and 'SDID' to 01. While you can use both the arrow keys and the jog/shuttle wheel to make these selections, it's best to use the arrow keys to move from field to field, then the inner jog wheel to select the values.
3. Press the SET button to save the changes. "Now Saving" will be displayed on the LCD. While the deck does not force you to power off/on at this point, it is recommended that you cycle power before attempting to record captions.

HDW-2000:

1. Enter the maintenance menu by pressing Home and Menu.
2. Enter Menu M3 select "B".
3. Enter VANC RX.
4. Enter ANC1.
5. Line 1 enter data 09.
6. DID Data set to 61. SDID Data set to 01.
7. Hold the Home key while making the changes.
8. Press Set Button to save new settings.

HDW-1800:

1. Alt - f9
2. MAINT MODE/OTHERS/VANC RX PARAMETER (For 708 Compliant CC): Line 1: 009, Line 2: 572, DID: 61, SDID: 01
3. Don't blank any lines

Sony PDW-U1 XDCAM desktop drive:

(for .MXF file-based captioning workflow)
Enable the DATA ITEM OUT checkbox (Setup > User Settings) in the PDW-U1 Utility Software.

Not caption compatible:

PDW-700 or PDWF-800 XDCAM camcorders
XDCAM EX devices (e.g. PMW-EX30)
HDV devices (e.g. HVR-1500)