Captioning The Word

Basic Captioning 

For basic church captioning you will need the following list of equipment:

• Steno Writer 
• Computer with Captioning Software
• Video Source (Video Camera, VHS/DVD Player, Video Switcher)
• Captioning Character Generator or Encoder
• Television Monitor
• Cables

The set-up for captioning is a rather straight-forward one as you can see from the diagram below. The steno writer is hooked up to the computer which has the captioning software loaded onto it. Your video source, which can come directly from a video camera, VHS/DVD player, or video switcher goes into the caption character generator or encoder. The serial output of the computer also goes into the caption CG/encoder. The caption CG/encoder then embeds the captions from the computer into line 21 of the video source. From there the output of the Caption CG/encoder goes into your television monitor which results in a captioned image being broadcast on your television.

Remote Captioning

For remotely captioned events or services the set-up is a little more complex, but it will allow the captioner to caption from their home or office. What is different from the basic church set-up is that we must now use an Encoder that accepts a phone line input, we'll need an additional piece of equipment that will allow the captioner to hear the live event or service without needing to be there. We will also need a modem for the captioner's computer, and we'll need the event/service location as well as the captioner's home or business to both have two separate phone lines.

The set-up at the event/service location will remain the same, the video source will go into the encoder and the encoder will go into the television monitor. The event/service location will now need an Auto-Coupler which will take the audio from the sound board and play it over a phone line. The other change from the basic church set-up is that the event/service location will now be accepting the captions through a second phone line and will need to connect that phone line to the back of the encoder.

From the captioner's perspective they will be listening to the event/service audio through one phone line(which could be their cell phone depending on the reception and any long-distance charges). They will also need a modem that will take the captioned signal out of their computer and it will go through the phone line to the event/service location where they will take their phone line and connect it to the encoder. From the diagram below you will see the proper set-up for the captioner.