SDH Captions (for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) carries more than dialogue: speaker changes, music and sound cues, and positioning that never hides who is on screen. I delivered English SDH for six episodes of a US streaming series, around 160 minutes, for a US media-localization agency, with >> speaker changes, [MUSIC] cues and captions raised to clear on-screen names and lower-thirds.
The speaker ID and sound cue only appear with SDH on.
SDH in the CEA-608 and CEA-708 broadcast standards is authored in English, the language I have delivered. Vietnamese is my native language for subtitle and SDH work.
SDH, closed captions, or plain subtitles?
They all put words on screen, but they carry different information and travel differently. Here is how to choose.
| Type | Track | Carries | Toggle | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDH | Subtitle-style | Dialogue, speaker, sound cues | Soft, player | Streaming, disc |
| Closed captions | 608 / 708 data | Dialogue, cues | Player | US broadcast |
| Plain subtitles | Subtitle-style | Dialogue only | Soft | Translation |
| Open captions | Burned-in | Whatever is burned | Always on | Social, guaranteed |
What broadcast-grade SDH adds
SDH is more than subtitles with the sound off. These are the things a deaf or hard-of-hearing viewer needs, and the shortcut that drops them.
English SDH for six episodes of a US streaming series, delivered to a US media-localization agency. Speaker changes marked with >>, non-speech sound cued, and captions raised to clear on-screen names, delivered as SCC with MXF and WebVTT on request and independently QC-verified.
Client and title withheld under NDA.
What you receive
Spec checklist
Toolchain
Author
Built withSubtitle Edit · AegisubCompatible withEZTitles · OOONAConform
Built withSubtitle EditQC decode
Built withcaption-inspectorCompatible withInterra BATON Captions
How it works
Scope and spec
You send the video and target profile. I confirm frame rate, timecode, caption style and the delivery formats you need.
Author
I time and write the captions or subtitles to the reading-speed, line-length and positioning rules for the target.
Encode and wrap
I produce the deliverables: SCC, MXF OP1A embed, SMPTE ST 2052-1 or DCP XML, plus a burned-in preview.
QC and deliver
I decode the result independently with caption-inspector, fix anything that drifts, and deliver with a report.
Three-layer QC before anything ships
Broadcast and cinema files fail on decoders, not in an editor preview. Every delivery goes through three passes and an independent decode.
1. Rough pass
Spot and draft every caption against the script, source audio and shot changes.
2. Alignment and timing
Tune reading speed, line breaks and positioning; align to shot changes and clear names and lower-thirds.
3. Independent senior QC
Decode the result on a separate decoder, check conformance to the target spec, and sign it off.
Indicative rate
$2.5–5 / minute
Related captioning services
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SDH and closed captions?
Both serve deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. Closed captions are a broadcast data track (608/708) toggled by the player; SDH is usually a subtitle-style track that also carries speaker IDs and sound cues, and travels well on streaming and disc. I deliver either, or both from the same script.
Do you add music and sound descriptions?
Yes. SDH marks non-speech audio that matters to the story, such as [MUSIC], [PHONE RINGS] or [APPLAUSE], and identifies speakers with >> when the speaker changes, so nothing important is lost without the audio.
Have you delivered SDH professionally?
Yes. I delivered English SDH for six episodes, around 160 minutes, of a US streaming series for a US media-localization agency, positioned to clear on-screen names and independently QC-verified.
⏱ Typical response within 10 minutes