Import closed captions into Final Cut Pro for Mac

You can import CEA-608, iTT, or SRT closed caption files directly into your project. Each closed caption has text content and formatting information, as well as start and end times that Final Cut Pro uses to place the closed caption at the correct point in the timeline.

You can also import source media files that have embedded CEA-608 closed captions and then extract the closed captions for use in your Final Cut Pro project.

Import closed captions directly into a project in the timeline

Open an existing project in the Final Cut Pro timeline.
Choose File > Import > Closed Captions.
In the dialog that appears, navigate to the file you want to import, and select the file.
The file must be a valid CEA-608, iTT, or SRT closed caption file. CEA-608 files have the filename extension .scc, iTT files have the filename extension .itt, and SRT files have the filename extension .srt.
In the Import as Role section, click the pop-up menu on the left and choose a closed caption role, then click the pop-up menu on the right and choose a language subrole.
In the Insertion Time section, select one of the following:
- Relative to Timeline: Positions closed captions in the timeline by adding the project’s start time to each closed caption’s start time.
- Absolute: Positions closed captions in the timeline at each closed caption’s start time, regardless of the project’s start time.
Click Import.
The imported closed captions appear in a closed caption lane at the top of the timeline.

Import a media file with embedded CEA-608 closed captions

In Final Cut Pro, import the media file that contains the embedded closed captions.
Clips with embedded closed captions have a closed caption icon in the browser and the timeline.
Add the clip to the timeline, and select the clip.
Do one of the following:
- Choose Edit > Closed Captions > Extract Captions.
- Control-click the clip and choose Extract Captions.
The extracted closed captions appear in a closed caption lane at the top of the timeline. They are assigned a CEA-608 closed caption role and a language subrole based on the preferred language setting in Language & Region settings (in macOS System Settings).

You can also use this method to extract closed captions from compound clips and multicam clips.

Download this guide: PDF

Helpful?

Final Cut Pro User Guide for Mac

Import closed captions into Final Cut Pro for Mac

Import closed captions directly into a project in the timeline

Import a media file with embedded CEA-608 closed captions