There is some clever code in Excalibur that might be able to address this issue. In general I believe scripts cannot access the Text Media Generator however with some coding magic there is a workaround. Create PNG files with the required test in them as bitmaps and add those PNG files onto their own track at the right place. I'm reasonably certain if enough people would make use of this then the author of Excaliber might add that as a feature.

Bob.

While I am all for good and creative solutions, my last captioned project had 1,242 subtitles. What do you think Vegas would do if I dropped in 1242 PNG files on the timeline?

I have a very good idea, and it's not pretty.

" What do you think Vegas would do if I dropped in 1242 PNG files on the timeline?"

I've dropped that many very high resolution jpegs onto a Vegas HD T/L. I wouldn't say it was a joy to navigate however you could save adding then until editing was finished. PNGs should be even easier for Vegas to cope with.

Bob.

Wouldn't nesting them in a sub project make it even easier to deal with as well.

Dave

Sounds like I have to move to a piece of software that can to it, too... Any tips?

Actually there is a way to create a generated text with provided text in scripting.
http://forums.digitalmedianet.com/cgi-bin/displaywwugpost.fcgi?forum=sonic-foundry_vegas&post=090718050519.htm
Pavelin created a script that changed the text of a preset.
So a script to load texts with TC can be written.

Udi

I assume you know that closed captions import just fine in .MXF files into VP9e.

Closed captions are not the same as open captions or sub titles.

I see what you are talking about. We comply with our obligations using CC. That is because the receiving TV's in our circuit, or if we deliver it to a broadcaster, have CC ability. I see from the discussions on the federal 508 site that the concern comes with needing subtitles for internet delivery and computer based documentation video etc.

I was not aware of the sweeping issues that the federal 508 has. I am glad I an not a federal purchasing agency. Ouch.

It would be an interesting scripting challenge to take imported CC's that can come on .mxf files from vendors and turn them into subtitles. I wish I had the time. That would give you the ability to take a timecode synchronized format and make it usable for your situation.

The problem down here at least, is that .mxf files aren't used for CCing. We're still using them embeded in line 21. There were / are some broadcasters using a system that carried them on a separate file but I believe that didn't garner much popularity as it required keeping track of a tape and a file on a CD.

Bob.

And in my case, I needed to deliver:

1. Open Caption files for web delivery
2. Subtitle files compliant with WMV spec for web delivery
3. Subtitle files for DVD delivery
4. Occasional option for Rec601 (line 21) delivery.


I was pulling my hear out trying to solve this with Vegas. For one project, I had to pull in almost 1500 subtitles into DVDA with my video, have subtitles play by default, create the mpeg2, then convert that Mpeg2 to WMV and Mpeg4 for web delivery. That was the last straw for me.

Our state adopted Federal rule 508 in whole, so I have to comply 100%. I've got years worth of filmed material in my library that will never see the light of day because we can't afford to caption it. If I try to replace any of the hundreds upon hundreds of hours of 15 year old training material that is now grandfathered in, with updated information, then I am subject to the rule.

Even in instances where I can demonstrate that the video will never be available to anyone without a visual or auditory disability, I still have to comply. it's been crushing to say the least. Especially in this economic climate. Fortunately, things have been getting better as demand increases. When I first started this process some years ago, we were looking at nearly $400/hr for captioning. Now we are at about $160. So we can get short form stuff done without too much issue. But those 8hr mandatory training tapes are going to stay old and outdated for the foreseeable future at my office.

Have you tried using Adobe's speech to text?

Bob.

No. We don't own it. We have tons of copies of Dragon Naturally speaking, but it's pretty useless for our needs. I dont think Adobe would be any better.

Don't know what could do it but I think there's a tool in something like AVISynth
or virtualdub.

Specifically, the request is just for a batch titler that creates titles that get burned into the rendered product. It's not an unreasonable request and it's *one way* to subtitle. Not a very *good* way to subtitle but a way.

I have a very big client who is pushing for more localization. They want their regional sections to be able to provide their own subtitles in local languages. You can't do that with burned in titles. You need external text files, and probably in XML. This client recently implemented a tool for vendors to use that helps us sync text to flash video. This is definitely a superior approach to burning text into the image itself, but I'm not sure how it complies with US section 508 rules.

Rob