How to Generate SRT Files from Audio

SRT (SubRip Text) is the most widely used subtitle format in the world. YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, LinkedIn, and virtually every video editor and player supports it. Here is everything you need to know about creating SRT files.

What is an SRT File?

An SRT file is a plain text file with a .srt extension that contains numbered subtitle entries. Each entry has:

1. A sequence number
2. A timestamp range (start --> end)
3. The subtitle text
4. A blank line separator

Example

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,500
Welcome to today's presentation
on audio transcription.

2
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,200
I'm going to cover three
main topics.

Method 1: AI Generation (Fastest)

The fastest way to create an SRT file is to upload your video or audio to an AI transcription tool that supports subtitle export.

How it works

1. Upload your media file (MP4, MOV, MP3, WAV, etc.)
2. AI transcribes with precise word-level timing
3. Download the SRT file
4. Upload to your video platform or import into your editor

AI-generated SRT files are ready in 2-3 minutes for an hour of content, with 98%+ accuracy on clear audio.

Method 2: Manual Creation

You can create SRT files in any text editor (Notepad, VS Code, TextEdit). This gives you complete control but is extremely time-consuming.

Steps

1. Open a text editor and create a new file
2. Type the sequence number (starting at 1)
3. Add the timestamp range in HH:MM:SS,mmm --> HH:MM:SS,mmm format
4. Type the subtitle text (max 2 lines, 42 characters per line)
5. Add a blank line and repeat for each subtitle
6. Save with a .srt extension

Time estimate

Manual SRT creation takes 5-10 minutes per minute of video. A 10-minute video requires 1-2 hours of work.

SRT Formatting Rules

• Maximum 2 lines per subtitle — More than 2 lines obscures too much of the video
• Maximum 42 characters per line — Ensures readability on all screen sizes
• Minimum display time: 1 second — Subtitles shorter than this flash too quickly
• Maximum display time: 7 seconds — Longer subtitles feel "stuck"
• Timestamps use commas for milliseconds (00:01:23,456) not periods

SRT vs. VTT

| Feature | SRT | VTT | |---------|-----|-----| | File extension | .srt | .vtt | | Encoding | Plain text | Plain text with header | | Styling | None | CSS styling supported | | Positioning | None | Position and alignment | | Browser support | Via video players | Native HTML5 | | Platform support | Universal | Web-focused |

Use SRT for maximum compatibility. Use VTT when you need styling or positioning for web video.

Common Issues and Fixes

• Out of sync: Check that timestamps match the actual audio. Adjust globally by shifting all timestamps.
• Encoding problems: Save as UTF-8 to support accented characters and non-Latin scripts.
• Display issues: Keep lines under 42 characters and use max 2 lines per subtitle.
• Missing numbers: Each subtitle must have a sequential number. Some players fail without them.

Where to Use SRT Files

• YouTube: Upload in Studio > Subtitles
• Vimeo: Upload in video settings > Distribution > Subtitles
• Social media: Burn into video using an editor, or upload where supported
• Video editors: Import as a subtitle track (Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve)
• LMS platforms: Most learning management systems accept SRT for course videos

Generate SRT files from any video automatically. Sign up for Blazescribe and get subtitle files in minutes.