Caption conversion

Convert SCC to MCC

Scenarist Closed Caption (SCC) to MacCaption 608/708 (MCC). Convert in the web app, automate with the REST API, or run it offline with the CLI.

Convert SCC to MCC free How to convert

Converting SCC to MCC wraps your CEA-608 captions in caption distribution packets, the structure used to embed captions in the VANC of broadcast video. MCC is the usual next step when a deliverable needs embedded 608/708 captions, or when the master runs at a frame rate other than 29.97.

What carries over

All CEA-608 caption data: text, positioning, styling and caption modes
Timing, re-expressed at the MCC frame rate you choose

What changes

You choose the MCC frame rate to match the video master, for example 23.976 or 59.94 fps
CEA-708 service data is generated according to the target profile’s 708 options
An MCC header (format version, UUID, creation program, time code rate) is written

How to convert SCC to MCC

The same conversion engine powers all three, so a job you set up in the web app produces identical output from the API or CLI.

In the web app

Sign in to the web app, or start a free trial.
Upload your .scc file and select Scenarist V1.0 as the source profile.
Select MacCaption 608/708 as the target profile.
Review the recommended settings for this conversion.
Run the conversion and download your .mcc file.

With the API

POST /jobs

curl -X POST https://api.closedcaptionconverter.com/jobs \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "source=@input.scc" \
  -F 'config={
    "job_type": "convert",
    "source_profile": "Scenarist V1.0",
    "target_profile": "MacCaption 608/708",
    "target_frameRate": 23.976
  }'

See API Getting Started for authentication and response handling.

With the CLI

Command line

ccconverter \
  --source input.scc \
  --target output.mcc \
  --source_profile "Scenarist V1.0" \
  --target_profile "MacCaption 608/708" \
  --target_frameRate 23.976

The CLI runs fully offline on macOS, Windows and Linux. See the CLI docs for every flag.

Recommended settings

Target frame rate	Match the video master the captions will be embedded into.
MCC version	V1.0 or V2.0, depending on what your encoder or delivery spec expects.
608/708 options	Choose which caption services to write.

Format-specific options are covered in Encoding & Decoding Options and Profiles & Formats.

SCC to MCC questions

MCC can carry CEA-708 data and can be timed at the master’s native frame rate. Many broadcast and OTT specs require both for embedded captions.

The frame rate of the video you are embedding into. The converter re-times captions from 29.97 fps SCC timecode so they stay aligned with the picture.

Telestream Vantage and MacCaption/CaptionMaker, many broadcast encoders and video servers, and editing tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro.

Learn more about these formats

Source

Scenarist Closed Caption (SCC)

What an SCC (.scc) caption file is, how CEA-608 hex codes, 29.97 drop-frame timecode and pop-on/roll-up modes work, and how to convert SCC files.

Target

MacCaption 608/708 (MCC)

What an MCC (.mcc) caption file is, how it carries CEA-608 and CEA-708 data at any broadcast frame rate, and how to convert MCC to SCC, SRT and more.

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