Welcome to Custom Captions!
Your premier provider
of a full range of post-production closed captioning services
for video production and broadcast media.
Price Comparison Chart - Price List - Contact us
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Paying too much for Closed Captioning?
Is $6 per minute a good price? Is $8? How about $10? $15? $20?
It all depends on what you actually get! Paying extra for transcription?
Is the tape included? How about mailing?
Set-up fees? Minimum amounts?
At Custom Captions we provide closed captions and subtitles at LOW, easy-to-understand rates. We charge a flat rate-per-minute of video time, which INCLUDES ALL COSTS. Simply multiply our rate by the number of minutes in your video to determine your final cost.
No Minimums!
No Set-Up Fees!
No Hassles!
Until now, only the major closed captioning houses
have included all services in truly flat-rate fees!
(Those rates are in the $30 to $35 range.)
Don't pay too much for closed captioning again!
Custom Captions is a premier provider of a full range of post-production captioning services for video production and broadcast media. Our captioning and subtitling services provide an easy and cost-effective way to help you achieve greater exposure and send a positive message about your organization.
The chart below compares Custom Captions rates with other captioning
providers.
You will love our rates!
Price Comparison Chart
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ACTUAL COSTS FOR POP-UP CAPTIONING |
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Custom Captions
NAD Approved |
Competitor #1 |
Competitor #2 |
Five
National Leaders |
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| Captioning |
$15-20/minute
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8/minute
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$10-15/minute
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$30-35/min
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| Transcription |
*
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$3/minute
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$3/minute
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*
|
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| Set-up Fee |
*
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$150
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*
|
*
|
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| Minimum |
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$300
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|
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| Encoding |
*
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*
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$75 - 150
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*
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| Proof VHS |
*
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*
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*
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*
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| Mailing Proof |
*
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$20
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$20
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*
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| Betacam Tape |
*
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$20-45
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$20-45
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*
|
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| Mailing Betacam |
*
|
$20
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$20
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*
|
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Video Length 15 minute 20 minute 30 minute 45 minute 60 minute |
Total $300 400 450 675 900 |
Actual cost/min $20 20 15 15 15 |
Total $375 430 555 730 895 |
Actual cost/min $25.00 21.50 18.50 16.23 14.91 |
Total $ 480 495 540-600 830-910 1,015-1,135 |
Actual cost/min $32.00 24.75 18.00-20.00 18.22-20.23 16.92-18.92 |
Total $450 - 525 500 - 700 900-2,050 1,350-1,575 1,800-2,100 |
Actual cost/min $30-35 30-35 30-35 30-35 30-35 |
*service included without additional charge
We want to be your captioning and subtitling provider.
We provide the highest quality captioning and subtitling at easy-to-understand low rates.
Many captioning services quote enticingly low price-per-minute rates then tack on additional fees. Total costs escalate as charges are added for transcriptions, set-up fees, tape costs, and mailing fees.
We charge a flat rate per minute of video time, which includes all costs. Multiply our rate by the number of minutes in your video to calculate your final cost.
Why such low prices?
We want your repeat business and referrals.
Our overhead is low.
Currently working on a project?
Contact
us now!
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Isn't all captioning the same?
Similar-Yes, Equal-No
Test it by turning off the sound.
Post-production captioning should be error-free, easy to read, properly
punctuated, checked for reading speed, and located on the screen
without conflicting with the visual message. Real-time captioning can't
always meet that standard. And we don't expect it to.
Professional videos deserve professional captioning.
Who determines the standard of quality
in the captioning industry?
The National Association of the Deaf has established
captioning standards
for those who caption programs for their loan library.
These are the highest standards in the industry.
Most captioning services are aware of these standards
However, less than 10% have passed the test and become certified.
Custom Captions is a
regular captioning vendor
for the National Association of the Deaf
and an approved vendor for the U.S. Dept. of Education.*
What is the generally accepted standard
for captioning?
Post-production captioning typically includes:
Correct spelling and punctuation
Proper placement on screen
Speaker identification
Synchronized timing
Up to 32 characters per line
(computer-generated line breaks)
How does the National Association of the Deaf standard differ?
Primarily in the readability and flow that are similar to the way we speak.
Personal attention to phrasing and punctuation
No computer-generated line breaks
Reduced distraction for hearing viewers
because captions match more closely with the audio
Requires human editing
More expensive to meet the NAD standard
Results in easy-reading, narrative captions
Premium quality!
Open or closed captions?
Open captions are always visible.
Closed captions are a selected option from TV menus.
We can do either, you choose.
Do you want roll-up or pop-on formatting?
Roll-up captions show individual lines coming onto
the screen,
then rolling up, making room for new text.
Roll-up captions are typically used for real-time
news,
sports, and distance-learning educational programs.
Roll-up line breaks are machine-generated, leading to lower costs.
Pop-up formatting shows individual captions popping
onto the screen
and off again, making room for new ones.
Using pop-up captions, line breaks can be generated
by machine
(short-cut and cheaper)
or hand-edited, creating an easy-to-read and a more preferred finished
product.
Timing and synchronization are more controlled when
hand edited.
Editor can place captions on-screen so graphics can still be seen
Hand editing creates premium captioning!!
Why should your captioning service
pay any less attention to details than you do?
Your script has been carefully written to be heard
clearly.
It should be captioned with the same detail.
We think line breaks are best determined by a human
editor
and not computer-generated according to the number of characters in a
line.
Focusing on small details makes reading your message
almost as easy as hearing it.
These are examples of pop-on captioning
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COMPUTER-GENERATED
CAPTION BREAKS Your script has been carefully written to be heard clearly. It should be captioned with the same detail. We think line breaks are best determined by a human editor and not computer generated according to the number of characters in a line. Focusing on small details makes reading your message almost as easy as hearing it. |
FORMATTED BY
CUSTOM CAPTIONS Your script has been carefully written to be heard clearly. It should be captioned with the same detail. We think line breaks | are best determined by a human editor and not computer generated according to the number of characters in a line. Focusing on small details makes reading your message almost as easy as hearing it. |
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ROLL-UP FORMATTING SAMPLE Your script has been carefully written to be heard clearly. It should be captioned with the same detail. We think line breaks are best determined by a editor and not computer generated according to the number of characters in a line. Focusing on small details makes reading your message almost as easy as hearing it |
Done correctly, post-production captioning is an art,
not simply adding text to a video.
Skillful captioning enhances rather than detracts from the program.
Do you need to choose
between good quality and low prices?
Your audience will always choose quality,
easy-to-read captions.
Your accountant will always choose low prices.
With Custom Captions, you can have both!
You can afford great captioning.
Should you caption?
One in ten Americans is hearing impaired. (22 million)
25% of American television sets use the closed caption feature daily.
Who uses closed captioning?
Deaf and hearing-impaired individuals
People learning English
Improving reading skills
People in difficult listening environments
The law requires captions in more and more
applications.
The FCC requires captions in most broadcast and cablecast situations.
(www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/caption.html)
The Americans with Disability Act
requires captioning in many non-broadcast situations.
(www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm)
Are there any tax credits for captioning my project?
Yes
Small businesses may take an annual tax credit
for making their businesses accessible to persons with disabilities.
(50% of expenditures over $250 not to exceed $10,250)
(www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ek97/tax.htm)
What about convenience?
Across town or across the country,
we are as close as a telephone, post office, or the internet.
Our formats are compatible with most DVD-authoring systems.
BetaCam, DigiBeta, Media Files, VHS, SVHS
How long will it take?
Typically 3-5 working days for videos
Just a day for TV ads
We will meet your deadline!
Are you currently working on a project?
Send us your video, and we'll caption or subtitle it
for you.
Contact
us now!
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What about subtitles?
Verbatim or edited versions
We can subtitle a captioned program inexpensively
What other services do we offer?
Verbatim transcription
Spanish, French, German subtitles
Caption retrieval and conversion
Competitive rates
Creating TV ads?
FedEx is the key.
Allow one working day.
We can make all needed TV masters.
Shipping charges are extra.
Producing an infomercial?
We edit for reading speed.
We can caption verbatim or edited.
We identify speakers.
We assure proper screen placement.
Working on a documentary?
Captions should complement, not compete with your
message.
Easy-to-read, narrative captions
No hassle arrangements, just one call does it.
Are you doing educational
or distance-learning programs?
Custom Captions has great
rates for large projects.
Call for a consultation.
What do we need from you?
All tape formats are accepted
Your master tape or VHS copy
with continuous time code
What if there is a problem with your time code?
No problem
We can correct time code problems
But doing so adds another generation to your production
What do you receive from us?
Your original plus
BetaCam or DigiBeta encoded master or
Compatible authoring file or
SVHS or VHS captioned video
Complete customer satisfaction
Think you're too small?
Video productions are made to last.
Captions last as long as your video.
Apply the finishing touch of professional, easy-to-read captions.
The pain of poor quality remains
long after the thrill of a cheap price is gone.
How about converting from video to DVD?
Sure
One day turn-around time
Format of your choice
Can we change a segment of a production
without starting over?
Yes, usually at great savings.
Give us a call.
Can we fix someone else's error?
Yes
Let's visit.
There are a few variables that may save you money.
Who is Custom Captions?
Regular captioning provider for the National
Association of the Deaf*
Four-year-old company
Trained, customer-service oriented staff
Your new captioning provider
Currently working on a project?
*Custom Captions is an
approved captioning service vendor for the Captioned Media Program,
which is administered by the National Association of the Deaf. This
does not imply an endorsement by the Department of Education.