How to Add Captions to Videos in Final Cut Pro

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Create a caption role

   Open your project in the Timeline. Navigate to the Edit menu and select Captions, then choose Add Caption to create an initial CEA-608 caption track. Ensure the caption role is set to your preferred language in the Caption inspector.

   Note: Final Cut Pro creates a caption lane above the primary storyline.
2. 3 min

   Enter caption text

   Select the newly created caption clip in the timeline. Open the Text inspector to enter your dialogue. Press Return to finalize the entry and automatically create a subsequent caption clip that aligns with your audio track.

   Note: Use the Caption inspector to adjust the start and end times to match audio cues precisely.
3. 1 min

   Adjust caption formatting

   Select all caption clips to apply consistent visual styles. Use the Caption inspector to modify the caption standard, such as CEA-608 or iTT. Adjust text alignment and font settings if your chosen format supports styling.

   Note: Standardize your format before finalizing the text to avoid re-rendering.
4. 1 min

   Validate synchronization

   Play back the timeline and ensure caption triggers align with audible speech. If a caption appears out of sync, drag the start or end edges of the caption clip to snap to the waveform peaks in the timeline.

   Note: Enable Snapping (N) to ensure captions align perfectly with video edits.
5. 1 min

   Configure export settings

   Select File, then Share, and choose Master File. Click the Roles tab in the share window. Ensure the captions role is set to Burned In or Sidecar File depending on your distribution requirements.

   Note: Sidecar files (SRT or ITT) are preferred for web platforms like YouTube for better SEO.