Captions and Subtitles with Final Cut Pro 7 & Pro X

 

Adding Closed Captions to Video with Final Cut Pro 7

Final Cut Pro 7 is a video editing software that allows you to create and add closed caption and subtitle tracks to video projects.

How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Final Cut Pro Videos

This step-by-step guide will show you the best way to add captions to your video in Final Cut Pro 7 with 3Play Media.

sketch of little people with cinema symbols

Step 1: Submit Your Video File for Transcription & Captioning

Log into your 3Play Media account. From the Upload tab at the top of the screen, select From Computer, choose your video, and follow the onscreen prompts to specify turnaround. You’ll receive an email when your captions are ready.

 

For additional details, read the support article on uploading videos for captioning.

Upload Media, and Choose files are highlighted

Step 2: Download Your Caption File in SCC Format

Go to the My Files page in your 3Play Media account and select your recording. Click Download and select the SCC format. Specify any advanced settings and save the .scc caption file to your computer.

 

You can also download your captions as a Quicktime (QT) file, but we’ll use SCC for this example.

Download window with SCC selected under Caption Format

Step 3: Add Caption File to Your Project in Final Cut Pro

Open your video project file in Final Cut Pro. In the top navigation bar, go to File > Edit to Tape. This launched the Edit to Tape pop-up window. Click on the Master Settings tab. In the bottom of the window check off both boxes in the Closed Captions section.

 

Next, click on the folder icon [How to Add Closed Captions and Subtitles to Video with Final Cut Pro Pro] and select your .scc caption file for that video.

Once your caption file is added, drag and drop your video file into the Edit to Tape window.

Screenshot of Project in Final Cut Pro with Closed Captions section highlighted. Insert closed captioning date from file and Offset closed captioning data start by media in time are checked off

How to Add Translated Subtitles to Video in Final Cut Pro

If you want to add subtitles in other languages to your video, submit your transcript for translation. In your 3Play Media account, click on your video file. Click on Order > Translation. Select your desired language and style of translation.

 

Once you receive your translated transcript, follow the same steps 1-3 above to upload a caption file in the new language.

Screenshot with Order and Translation selected

How to Add Captions & Subtitles Manually in Final Cut Pro

Instead of uploading a caption file to your video, you can choose to enter subtitles or captions manually, one frame at a time. This method is more tedious, but you can customize the display of individual caption frames in greater detail. Here’s a helpful video tutorial on manually adding subtitles to video in Final Cut Pro.

Adding Closed Captions to Video with Final Cut Pro X

 

Final Cut Pro X is a video editing software that allows you to create and add closed caption and subtitle tracks by exporting to Apple Compressor.

How to Add Captions & Subtitles to Final Cut Pro Videos

This step-by-step guide will show you the best way to add captions to your video in Final Cut Pro X with 3Play Media.

sketch of little people with cinema symbols

Submit Your Video File for Transcription & Captioning and Download Captions in SCC Format

Follow steps 1 and 2 above to submit your video file for captioning. Make sure to download the SCC caption format.

Add Captions to Your Final Cut Pro X Project

Open your video project in Final Cut Pro X, then navigate to File > Send to Compressor. Your file will open in Apple Compressor, where you can add captions to your video by selecting your SCC caption file in the metadata section of the inspector pane.

 

For more details on adding captions in Apple Compressor, please view our how-to guide.

Screenshot in Final Cut Pro X Project. File menu selected, with Send to Compressor highlighted