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How to Order

NCI’s requirements to begin captioning are very simple:

1) Schedule your program(s) to be captioned by

2) Send your master and/or an identical work tape, DVD or digital media file(MPEG-1 or QuickTime) of the program with time code matched to the master to NCI’s Production Department. NCI can accommodate any size job provided in NTSC or PAL formats. We can handle any tape format, including Betacam SP (BetaSP), DigiBeta, DV, DVCAM, DVCPRO, DVCPRO 50, MiniDV, Super VHS, VHS, HDV, HDCAM, HDCAM SR, DVCPRO HD and D-5. See Receivable Media Specs for more details. For work copies that will not be used for encoding or layback, MPEG-1, QuickTime, DVD and VHS media with visible time code are preferred. If you are arranging your own encoding, NCI does not need to receive your master.

3) Include an accurate script, if available. NCI accepts script information on diskette, via email or as a hard copy.

4) Include a Federal Express or UPS account number for shipping. Caption files can also be sent by email or other means of electronic data transfer.

NCI makes the captioning process virtually transparent to the client by providing a very efficient and accurate service. We represent that our captions are a true depiction of the audio. The caption files for every program we caption are saved and archived. Reformats and transcripts are readily available.

What about Encoding?

Encoding is the process of inserting the caption data into the vertical-blanking interval (VBI) on Line 21 of the television signal. The client may arrange for encoding, or NCI can handle this process.