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manual:subtitles

Subtitles

The SL NEO platform allows automatic generation and multiplexing of closed and open captions. Information is relevant for the 2.5.52 version and later. Closed captions require a special decoder for viewing, while open captions are inserted over the image.

In EU and Russia, the following technologies for captioning are used: Teletext, IP (DVB) and Open Captions.

Supported Captioning Technologies

TechnologyDescription
CEA-608The standard was developed in 70s for captioning in the NTSC format. The standard supports 7-bit encoding, thus does not support Russian language. Data is encoded in a b&w series of impulses transmitted in the 21th line of the first field and 284th line of the second field in the video signal. Each field allowed transmitting up to 2 caption channels: CC1+CC2 and CC3+CC4. Due to bandwidth limitations, transmitting only 2 channels is usually supported (CC1 and CC3): the first channel is used for transmitting captions, second one – for EPG. Total bandwidth is 960 bps.
CEA-708Closed captions in the NTSC standard. This one is a modern type of captions transmitted via VANC; it supports encoding in UTF8 with transmitting up to 16 services. Data transfer rate is 9600 bps.
CEA-708 with 608 Compatibility BitsClosed captions in the NTSC standard. When broadcasting 708 captions in this mode, 608 data is added as 608 compatibility bits to the CEA-708 data packet. If an analogue signal is used for channel distribution, only the part with 608 captions is transmitted: in all other cases, 708 packets are transmitted fully.
TeletextThe transfer system for digital data within an analogue TV signal, HD/SD SDI signals and DVB IP/ASI transport streams; can be used for distribution of closed captions. The SL NEO platform supports the following specifications:
  • OP-42 – captioning in PAL systems (PAL16x9). Important! If the option Administrator Control Panel→Video IO Boards→Playout_N→General→Use VANC is activated in SD Playout, generation will be implemented by the OP-47 standard. This must be considered when configuring receiving and encoding equipment.
  • OP-47 (SMPTE RDD-08) is a European standard for transmitting closed captions in an HD signal, based on limited characteristics from a broader WST (World System Teletext) specification.

Teletext supports transmitting 40 symbols per line, but first 2 symbols are used to open a visible line, so there are 38 symbols available for displaying captions. Every color change adds a necessary space.

Open CaptionsOpen captions are inserted over the image at the moment of forming the Program Channel or Playout service output signal.
IP (DVB/ATSC)When forming a transport stream in the PAL format, captions packets are sent by the DVB standard, while NTSC uses the ATSC data transfer standard.

Selecting Captions Processor

Depending on a task, captions may be overlayed in different software modules:

  • Overlaying in Program Channel – for captioning local broadcasting or at the moment of a regional insert.
  • Overlaying in Playout – for local captioning of the passing signal with no inserts.
  • Overlaying in IP Playout – for forming DVB captions.

Loading Captions

Rules for Renaming Files

The structure of naming captions files is the following: MediaID_N_LANG.ext, where:

  • MediaID – MediaID of the video file,
  • N – number of the caption track (optional),
  • LANG – language code in the format ISO-639-2.
  • ext – extensions of a file with captions (described in the table “Supported Input Formats”).

Example:

  • Mr_Popper_Penguins.mp4 – video-clip,
  • Mr_Popper_Penguins_rus.srt – captions in Russian,
  • Mr_Popper_Penguins_eng.srt – captions in English.

 or 

  • Mr_Popper_Penguins_1_rus.srt – captions in Russian, placed to the first track,
  • Mr_Popper_Penguins_2_eng.srt – captions in English, placed to the second track.

Supports Input Formats

ExtensionDescription
SRTThe text format of captions, used in the SubRip application.
SMIText format of captions by Microsoft, used for formatting text similarly to HTML and CSS.
TTMLTimed Text Markup Language – format of captions developed by W3C on the XML basis.
STLFormat of exchange the captions data according to EBU Tech 3264

Import to Database

Captions may be added to the file at the stage of import to the media database. Files with captions must be located in the folder with the video-clip at the moment of import.

OptionDescription
Process CaptionsActivates import of captions
Output Options – selecting the output technology
Output ProtocolSelecting the technology for saving captions to the database:
  • SRT File – SRT files will be placed to the media database.
  • CEA-608 – captions will be encoded to the VANC area.
  • CEA-708 – captions will be encoded to the VANC area.
  • CEA-708 with 608 Compatibility Bits – captions will be encoded to the VANC area.
Number ChannelsThe number of output caption tracks.
Caption Parameters – displaying settings for 608 and 708 captions
Display ModeDisplaying mode
Number of LinesThe number of simultaneously displayed lines.
Number of ColumnsFIXME
708 Anchor PositionFIXME
708 Vertical PositionFIXME
708 Horisontal PositionFIXME
Output Stream N – settings of output tracks with captions
Input SourceThe source of captions for the output track. Possible values:
  • Caption Stream – from an SRT file
  • CEA-XXX – from a VANC area of the video file with CEA-608/CEA-708 captions. Setting “Output Protocol=SRT File” during import for a file containing CEA-608/CEA-708 captions in VANC will lead to Caption Extraction: an srt file with captions will be created at the output.
Input LanguageSelecting an output track with captions by language.
Input Stream #Selecting an output track with captions by index. The option is available if Input Language=Any. (Possible values: None, 1-8)

This option may be used in cases, when captions are played via Program Channel. If displaying captions is implemented through the Playout service, you must use the dynamic load of captions.

Dynamic Loading

If files with captions are loaded dynamically, they are placed in a file folder on the disk. For example: Z:\Subtitles. A path to the folder is specified in services settings:

ServiceSettingDescription
Program ChannelAdministrator Control Panel→Manage→Program Outputs→Program_N→Playout Parameters→General→External Captions Dir
PlayoutAdministrator Control Panel→Manage→Video IO Boards→Playout_N→General→External Captions Dir
StorageAdministrator Control Panel→Manage→Storages→Storage_N→External Captions DirReading is implemented during execution of a request for displaying captions from a corresponding service. Preview of captions is supported in the Filemonitor window of AirManager/MediaConnect.

If language settings coincide, files with captions from the folder have a priority over embedded captions and the ones in the media database.

Configuring Generation of Captions

Closed Captions

To start configuring closed captions, activate generation of captions and select an output protocol in the configuration of Program Channel or Playout services.

ParameterDescription
Render CaptionsActivates generation of closed captions.

The feature requires additional licensing. Make sure your license provides this feature. Activating the option without an appropriate license will switch the server to the demo-mode.

Output ProtocolProtocol of displaying captions:
  • CEA-608
  • CEA-708
  • CEA-708 with 608 Compatibility Bits
  • Teletext
Insert CaptionsThe order of displaying captions:
  • Never – displaying captions is off,
  • Always – data on availability of captions is always displayed,
  • Only When Captions Exist – data on captions is displayed only in case of availability of files with captions.
Display ModeA variant of visualization of captions displaying:
  • Scroll
  • Popup
Number of LinesThe number of simultaneously displayed lines.
Number of ColumnsThe number of symbols in a line (do not exceed the number of symbols defined by the selected Output Protocol standard).
Vertical PositionSetting the vertical position of displaying captions; value is set in rows 1-24. Added in version 2.5.48.
Horizontal JustificationSetting the horizontal position of displaying captions. If captions already have alignment parameters, use the Default value. Possible values:
  • Default – by default,
  • Right – right-aligned,
  • Center – center-aligned,
  • Left – left-aligned.

Added in version 2.5.48.

Teletext

If teletext was used as the output protocol, the Caption streams area will be available for adding/editing captions output tracks. One track equals one teletext page (one language).

The dialogue for adding a caption output track.

ParameterDescription
Input LanguageSelecting an input caption track by the language.
Input LanguageSelecting an input caption track by the index. The option is available if Input Language=Any.
Output PageThe number of the output teletext page for the given captions language.
Output Language (Encoding)Defines encoding of displayed symbols: Latin or Cyrillic.
Service HeaderSetting text of a header displayed during teletext output.
Display HeaderActivates displaying Service Header

If the system of displaying captions in teletext is used autonomously (the channel doesn't have teletext), it is necessary to turn on output of service packets and generation of the 100th page in the window Administrator Control Panel→Manage→Video IO Boards→Playout_N→General→Teletext Options… or Administrator Control Panel→Manage→Program Channels→Program_N→General→Teletext Options….

ParameterDescription
Teletext PassThroughActivating teletext data pass-through from the source in the background layer. More details on configuring Teletext PassThrough.
Teletext Passthrough ExclusionsSpecifying numbers of pages to be excluded from sending to the program channel output. More details on configuring Teletext Passthrough Exclusions.
Generate Broadcast Service Data
Initial PageSpecifying the teletext start page number (must be equal to 100).
Network Identification CodeThe identification code assigned to the broadcaster by regulatory authorities.
Generate Page 100Activate generating an image placeholder for the 100th page. The start page is necessary for correct work of decoding equipment. This option must be active, if pages with teletext captions are formed in the channel with no teletext output.
Page TitleText displayed at the 100th page.
Page LanguageSelecting the page language.

Besides, you can define VBI Lines to be used to transmit teletext in Teletext Options of the Playout service. Number sof lines must be comma-separated. If the value is empty, the service will define lines automatically.

Teletext in IP

If teletext is displayed in the IP format (transcoding an SDI signal containing teletext or direct IP broadcasting), you must define settings of conversion to DVB Teletext in IP Playout service settings: Administrator Control Panel→Manage→Video IO Boards→Playout_N→MPEG2 TS Parameters→Teletext.

ParameterDescription
DVB TeletextActivates encoding teletext to an IP stream.
Teletex PIDIdentifier of the stream with teletext captions.
Subtitle LangFIXME
Subtitle PageFIXME
Non-Subtitle LangFIXME
Non-Subtitle PageFIXME

Open Captions

ParameterDescription
Display Open CaptionsTurn on generating and displaying open captions.

The feature does not require additional licensing.

Roll up bufferSetting the number of simultaneously displayed lines.
Font faceSelecting a font for displaying captions.
Font sizeFont size
Font colorFont color
Font opacityFont opacity. 100 – completely opaque.
BoldMaking the selected font bold.
ItalicMaking the selected font italic.
Background colorThe backing color under captions.
Background opacityBacking opacity under captions. 100 – completely opaque.
OutlineOutline font, color selected from the drop-down list.
Outline widthSetting the outline width.
H AlignmentSetting horizontal alignment of text: Left, Center, or Right.
V AlignmentSetting vertical alignment of text: Top, Center, or Bottom.
Horizontal adjustmentHorizontal adjustment of text: positive values – right, negative values – left.
Vertical adjustmentVertical adjustment of text: positive values – bottom, negative values – top.
Line spacing %Setting the line spacing.
Character spacing %Setting the character spacing.
Display ModeSelecting the variant of text appearing:
  • Scroll – new captions appear by bottom-up scrolling,
  • Popup – new captions replace old ones on screen.
Caption streams – configuring captions tracks. Switching output is implemented by the program channel action Set Open Captions Stream
Source stream LangSelecting an input track with captions by language.
Source stream IdxSelecting an input track with captions by index. The option is available, if Source stream Lang=Any (possible values: None, 1-16).

IP DVB

Configuring is described in the article: Configuring Generation of Closed Captions in DVB Transport Streams.

Editing Captions

Creating and editing captions can be implemented by both third-party editing apps and client software NewsCut that includes all necessary instruments.

Methods of Control

Control of Teletext in Output Signal

Oscilloscope

Control of Teletext closed captions in the SDI signal can be implemented by a TV oscilloscope (Tektronix WFM2300 was used as an example).

Control of Teletext packets in the ANC Data Inspector mode. Select the displaying mode: MEAS→Menu→Display Type→ANC Data Disp.→ANC Data Disp.

Visual control of Teletext is implemented in the window for image output (PICT).

Activate displaying closed captions in the window menu (PICT→Menu→CC/Teletext Sel.→Auto) and select the number of a Teletext page containing captions (PICT→Menu→TtxtB Page→Page number).

Multiscreen Client Application

Viewing Teletext closed captions in server output signals may be implemented by the Multiscreen client application. Captions displaying settings are similar to the ones in the Airmanager app.

Multiscreen Processors

Displaying closed captions for SDI and IP streams is supported in multiscreen processors SL NEO 8000.

VLC Player

Viewing Teletext closed captions in IP streams is possible in the VLC player.

Select Teletext in “Menu→Subtitle→Sub Track”.

After this, you will see a panel to select a teletext page: enter 888.

Control of Teletext in Output Signal

Open captions can be managed by the Multiscreen client application. In the list of services, select the service that outputs open captions.

Control of DVB in Output IP Stream

Open the IP stream in the VLC player. Select: ‘'VLC→Subtitle→Sub Track→DVB Subtitle- [language]. ==== Control of Subtitles for Database Clips ==== Airmanager and Media Connect applications allow ANC data control in File Monitor and Clip matherial Sheet windows, and viewing captions loaded to the media database, embedded to a video-file and connected via “External Captions Dir” of the media database service in the FileMonitor window. Managing captions in external SRT files of the media database is also implemented in the Clip Material Sheet→Caption Fields'' window.

Control of captions is also available in the playlist window: the Captions column displays available subtitle tracks.

Materials

manual/subtitles.txt · Last modified: 2020/01/14 08:38 by Dmitriy Sazhin

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