[mythtv-users] Feature request: VBI captions on by default

[Michael T. Dean]

On 12/31/2007 01:39 PM, Yeechang Lee wrote:
> Michael T. Dean <mtdean at thirdcontact.com> says:
>   
>> You can remap T to TOGGLECC608 "Toggle VBI CC" (rather than
>> TOBBLECC--"Toggle any captions") and then it's only one keypress
>> when you start playback.
>>     
> Already done. I'd like the option of not having to do this when
> entering each recording, though.

Yep.  I understand what you mean.  The only reason that I haven't hacked 
my copy to prefer EIA-608 NTSC VBI captions is to encourage me to work 
on fixing the EIA-708 ATSC captions to work with the data being sent by 
my local stations.  Unfortunately, that encouragement doesn't 
necessarily equate to actually having time available for the project.  :(

Anyway, IMHO, fixing the ATSC captions is the best way to fix the issue 
you're experiencing--having unusable captions when the preferred 
captions (EIA-708) are used--as they will be better quality than the 
EIA-608 captions when working properly (assuming "native" 708 captions 
or properly-translated closed captions).  ;)

Things EIA-708 provides that EIA-608 doesn't:
    - greater bitrate (9600bps versus 960bps)
    - more letters and symbols (supporting multilingual captions)
    - support for multiple fonts--including downloadable fonts (see, 
also, the ATSC caption font settings page in Myth)
    - designed for user-controllable font size
    - support for more colors--even drop-shadowed text or translucent 
boxes--as specified by the program producers/distributors
    - probably more that I can't think of

Mike