Guide · Video Transcript
How to transcribe a video and create subtitles
Updated · 7 min read
Captions make videos watchable with the sound off, accessible to more people and easier for search engines to understand. A transcript also gives you text for a blog post, show notes or social posts. You can get both from a video file in minutes, and you can do it privately in your browser. Here is how.
Try the video transcript nowFree, runs in your browser, nothing uploaded.Transcribe a video in four steps
Use the free video transcript tool. It reads the speech from your video and transcribes it on your device.
- Drop your video on the page. MP4, MOV, WebM and MKV work.
- Choose the spoken language.
- Press Transcribe video. The speech model downloads once and is cached.
- Click any timestamp to jump to that moment, then download TXT, SRT or VTT.
SRT or VTT: which subtitle file?
SRT is the most widely accepted subtitle format and works on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, VLC and most editors. VTT is the web standard used by HTML5 video players and Vimeo. If a platform lets you choose, either is fine. When in doubt, use SRT.
Why add captions to your videos
Captions help more than people expect.
- Most social video is watched without sound, so captions keep viewers watching.
- They make your content accessible to deaf and hard of hearing viewers.
- Platforms can index caption text, which helps people find the video.
- Viewers who speak another language can follow along or translate.
Fix mistakes before you publish
Speech recognition is very good on clear audio, but always read the transcript before publishing. Check names, brands, numbers and technical terms. Short lines read best in captions, so keep each caption to one or two lines.
If your video has loud music or noise, the transcript will have gaps. Re-record the voice with a clean setup. Check your microphone with the mic test first.
Work with the audio separately
For long videos, save the sound first with the audio extractor, which gives a smaller file that is easier for the browser to handle.
Subtitle tips that improve watch time
Keep each caption to one or two short lines. Fix names and brand terms before you upload. Check that captions stay on screen long enough to read. Upload the SRT or VTT file rather than burning text into the video, so viewers can turn captions on or off and platforms can index the words.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I get subtitles from a video for free?
Drop the video on the video transcript tool, transcribe it and download the SRT or VTT file.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The speech is transcribed in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.
Can I transcribe a YouTube video from a link?
This tool works on files from your device. Use a video you own and drop the file in.
Does it work for long videos?
Yes. Audio is processed in blocks with a progress bar. Very large files are easier if you extract the audio first.
How do I make captions for a video?
Transcribe it with the video transcript tool and download the SRT or VTT file.
Can I transcribe a Zoom recording?
Yes. Drop the saved MP4 and press Transcribe video.
Do subtitles help SEO?
Caption text can be indexed by platforms and makes your video easier to find, which can help discovery.