ADR Preview
Closed Caption Creator includes two complementary preview modes for audio description: a synchronized AD audio preview that plays rendered voiceover against the program audio in real time, and an ADR ticker/teleprompter display that is designed specifically for use with a third-party digital audio workstation (DAW). Together these tools allow you to both audition a finished synthetic mix and support live recording sessions with external talent.
Synchronized AD Audio Preview​
The standard preview mode plays rendered AD audio files alongside the program video through the application's media player. As the playhead moves through the timeline, the application monitors the current time against the event list and loads the appropriate audio file for each AD event. Volume is controlled independently for the AD preview and the program audio using the dual sliders in the media player's volume control.
The preview handles chained events — AD events that occur back to back — by queuing the next event's audio in advance so playback transitions smoothly without gaps. After a seek operation, the preview reloads context to ensure the correct event is targeted for the new playhead position.
ADR Preview and MIDI Control​
The ADR Preview mode transforms the on-screen display into a scrolling ticker positioned near the top of the video frame. A red countdown bar indicates how much time remains before the next AD event begins, giving voice talent a visual cue to prepare for an incoming line. This display is intended to be visible to talent during a recording session, either on a secondary monitor or a confidence monitor in the studio.
To enable ADR Preview, open the Options window, navigate to ADR Setup, and enable both MIDI Control and ADR Preview. Select the correct MIDI input and output devices from the dropdown lists before closing the window.
MIDI Device Configuration​
MIDI control allows Closed Caption Creator to drive transport in a connected DAW — seeking the DAW playhead whenever you navigate in Closed Caption Creator, and triggering record when playback begins. This means click play in Closed Caption Creator and the DAW starts recording on the armed track automatically.
On Windows, this integration requires a virtual MIDI driver such as Loop MIDI (a free third-party utility that creates virtual MIDI ports). On macOS, virtual MIDI devices can be created through the built-in Audio MIDI Setup application without additional software. Once a virtual device is created, configure your DAW to receive timecode and machine control from the corresponding MIDI port.
DAW Setup Example (Studio One)​
Inside Studio One (or a comparable DAW), add a new external device and assign the virtual MIDI port as a control surface. In the Synchronization settings, configure the DAW to receive MIDI timecode and machine control commands from the MIDI device that Closed Caption Creator is sending on. With this setup in place, navigating the timeline in Closed Caption Creator keeps the DAW playhead in sync, and pressing play in Closed Caption Creator triggers a record pass in the DAW.
Recording to Layers​
DAWs that support take layers — such as Studio One's "Takes to Layers" mode — work particularly well with this integration. Enabling takes to layers means each time Closed Caption Creator triggers a record pass, the DAW adds a new layer track rather than overwriting the previous take. This preserves every pass on a single track for easy comping in post-production.