First, we transcribe your entire program, including dialogue, music lyrics, and sound effects where applicable.
Then we go back through your program on a second pass to time the captions. Each caption is assigned a time to display and a time to erase, as well as a position on the screen. We time to the specific frame (also known as frame-accurate captioning) to make sure the captions display at the same time as any coincident shot changes.

If you have provided us with a shooting script, we use it as the basis for the transcription, but we update it to reflect the content of the actual finished show.

We take care in positioning captions on the screen so that viewers understand who's speaking. As we assign captions' positions on the screen, we also can ensure your supers are not obscured if we know where they are. (Big hint: tell us where your supers are! See other hints to ensuring your project goes smoothly in Hints.)
We then go through your show again to ensure the captions go by at an easily readable rate. Finally, we watch your program as it will appear at broadcast to make sure you get the best possible results. We'll watch for spelling, punctuation, and readable phrasing. Badly punctuated or phrased captions seriously impair your audience's ability to understand your show. On the other hand, a well-captioned show will come alive for your viewing audience and they'll enjoy it in the manner in which you intend.

After Line 21 is finished preparing the captioning file, we sent it to the encoding/authoring facility of your choice. Please contact us if you need a list of all possible file export types. 604-662-4600 line21@line21cc.com.

To caption your show, Line 21 needs:

1. a copy of your show. We can work with:
   1. DVD or downloadable digital file made to one of the following specs:
      • QuickTime file with a t/c burn
        • Sorenson 3 Compressor
        • 320 X 240
      OR
      
      • H.264 with a T/C burn
        • 640 x 480
   2. a hi-fi VHS dub of your master with timecode on audio channel 2 and a timecode burn
2. a copy of the script if we are also producing an as-broadcast script for you. A script is extremely helpful even if we are only performing the captioning, particularly for things like spelling of names. We prefer to get a digital file in any of the following formats
   • Final Draft .fdr
   • .rtf, .doc, .wps, .txt, .asc
   • .pdf

If it's absolutely impossible to provide a digital file, we'll take a hard copy of the script. If you have a script in another format, please contact the office to see if it's compatible with our software.

Note: we prefer to receive the electronic copy of your script in advance of the captioning date (this helps us to prepare so we can start your project once it arrives).

Ideally, we'd like to see the script two weeks in advance of media. At the very least, we must receive it one week prior to receiving the dub. Please do send the most recent script revision.

We need to be on the ball and completely understand your show so that our captions make sense and your viewers can follow it, as well. For example, if the action has characters dropping in and out of a time warp, it's important that we convey that accurately. Or, if your show is about biotechnology, we understand how important it is to get the names of the proteins and enzymes right.

Captioning well takes time and care. A half-hour show requires about eight hours of labor. We prefer to have at least two days to work on a half-hour program, longer for hour-long programs and feature-length movies. Please call or email us so we can put you on our schedule.
604.662.4600 (Vancouver, Canada)
line21@line21cc.com

We'll do whatever you want. "Centre" or "Center"... you decide.

We work in either English or French, and use experienced staff with flawless spelling and grammar.

Grâce à notre personnel spécialisé, nous produisons le sous-titrage en anglais ou en français dans une grammaire et une orthographe impeccables.

Captioning with Latin alphabet:
We are able to accept signed-off transcripts in any language represented with the Latin alphabet.

Subtitling in other alphabets:

We can subtitle with any true-type font you provide. Contact us for details.  line21@line21cc.com 604.662.4600

We've never missed a deadline and we're very proud of that. When required, we can work miracles. Talk to us and see how we can help you.
604.662.4600 (Vancouver, Canada)
line21@line21cc.com

We'd love to give you a quote on your project. Click here for more information.