DV Hardware

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After you caption a 720x480 DV video sitting on your hard drive, using Windows or Mac CPC software, you need to dump the video to a tape format via Firewire using any DV or mini-DV deck.

Caption data sits in the VAUX Data area of a 720x480 DV video. On the other hand, caption data sits in Line 21 of NTSC (525 lines) video.  When you transfer the DV video to NTSC, you must use a deck which can transfer the caption data from the DV VAUX data area to the NTSC Line 21.

We have tested the following decks and media converters, which do the job successfully. If your deck is not listed below, you can use the compatibility check below to test your deck.

DV Decks - Caption Compatible (partial list)

Media Converters - Caption Compatible

• DVMC-DA2

The following video decks and video cameras do not do the proper transfer of caption data onto NTSC video. But you can still record closed captioned DV video using any DV video deck, including the ones below, even though you can not play back the video with captions from these decks. This is a subtle, but important distinction.

DV Decks  - Not Caption Compatible (partial list)

• CANON XL-1 camcorder
• SONY DSR-PD100
• SONY DSR-85
• Panasonic AG-DV1000

Compatibility Check 1

There are many other DV hardware devices which work with CPC CaptionMaker and MacCaption/CCaption. To check whether your specific hardware is caption compatible or not, you can do the following test.

Take a commercial video with closed captions and save it via Firewire on your hard drive. Now print the video out of your computer via Firewire to your DV hardware and then finally to a TV with its closed caption decoder turned on. If you see captions, your hardware is caption compatible.

Compatibility Check 2

Download one of the following videos (295 MB) with are already captioned using CPC software
Demo_DV_720x480_CC.mov  (QT mov)
CPCDemo_DV_720x480_CC.avi (avi)
and open the video in your NLE system or any software which allows you to dump the video via Firewire to your deck. Now connect the deck to a TV with its closed caption decoder turned on and output the video. If you see captions, your hardware is caption compatible.

Sony DVMC-DA2 Media Converter - $395 This is the only converter we are aware of, that does retain closed caption information during video conversion. Sony discontinued this product for a while. We buy these units from different sources and test them out before we sell them. These units are in good conditions. If you find it not working within 15 days of purchase, you can return it for a full refund.

 

Converts Analog Video to Digital Video, or Digital Video to Analog with timecode information. Sony brings a new media converter that allows to convert analog signal, such as 8mm or VHS to a digital video signal that is output to i.LINK/FireWire interface.

Selectable Switch for Analog or Digital: Two buttons on top of the media converter allow you to easily select between analog in or digital in, depending on whether you are using an analog or digital video source. Lan-C connector is included for converting timecode information and device control commands between FireWire and LANC/Control-L devices. 

Digital Audio Transfer: Easily convert analog audio signal to digital audio 12 or 16 bit (PCM). Select from 12 or 16 bit audio mode on the DVMC-DA2 media converter box by pushing the "Analog In" key for 2 seconds until green colored light (12 bit mode) or red colored light (16 bit mode) appears. 

Specifications: Video System NTSC, 1 x DV interface (IEEE-1394), 1 x S-Video input, 1 x Composite Video In, 1 x S-Video Out, 1 x Composite Video Out, Audio Inputs Stereo Phono Jacks, Audio Outputs Stereo Phono Jacks, Lan-C interface, Audio Mode 12 Bit/16 Bit, Power Consumption DC 6V, Weight .49 lbs, Dimensions 4.9" x 3.6" x 1.78". Requires: 4 pin Firewire cable, 6v power cord/supply.