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How to turn a video into text and SRT subtitles

Talking-head videos, courses and interviews keep needing their words as text: a script to repost, notes for the description, subtitles for the upload. Typing it out is slow. Here are three ways to transcribe a video automatically, the steps to export a transcript and SRT subtitles, and what to check before you publish.

Drop in a video, get the transcript and SRT subtitles: try Respeak (transcription is free) →

Three ways, and which to use

• Captions built into your editing app: many editors can transcribe straight onto the timeline. If you're cutting the video there anyway, that's the least work.
• Online transcription tools: upload audio or video, get a text document. Handy when you only need the words, not subtitles.
• Respeak: import the video, then export the transcript as TXT or SRT subtitles. In the same place you can cut ums and long pauses, and fix a wrong sentence in your own voice in screen recordings and voice-overs. Good when you want both the text and cleaner audio.

Exporting a transcript and subtitles with Respeak

1. Upload the video: drop in the MP4 or MOV. The page reads only the sound in your browser and uploads that, so a video of hundreds of megabytes sends just a few, and there's no need to export the audio first. Other video formats up to 30 MB can be uploaded directly too.
2. It's transcribed: split into sentences at the pauses (Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German or Portuguese). Double-click a sentence to fix a misheard word; that changes the text only, not the sound.
3. Export: click Export transcript above the transcript (or Export at the top right) and, under Transcript and subtitles, choose Transcript (TXT, a sentence a line, for scripts and notes) or Subtitles (SRT, timed, long sentences split for you).
4. Use it: drag the SRT onto your editor's subtitle track, or upload it as captions on your video platform.

Note: the subtitle times follow the sound in Respeak. To subtitle the original video, export before you cut or replace anything; subtitles exported afterwards match the edited sound, not the original video.

Try it on your own video →

Before you publish, check these

• Names, product names, jargon and numbers: the most often misheard. Fix them in the transcript before exporting, and both TXT and SRT follow.
• Line length: short lines read better. Respeak splits long sentences at punctuation; split further in your editor if needed.
• Start and end times: each subtitle is timed by its sentence. Skim through once after importing and nudge any that appear a little early or stay a little long.

Free, and limits: transcription is free up to 60 minutes a day, and exporting the transcript and subtitles is free; you need an account. On the free trial a video can be up to 10 minutes long, and up to 30 minutes after buying any credit pack. Supported languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese. Loud music under the voice or several people talking at once make it less accurate. You export text and audio, not video.

Common questions

Do I need to convert the video to audio first?

No. Upload the MP4 or MOV as it is: the page reads only its sound and uploads that, so a video of hundreds of megabytes sends just a few. Other video formats up to 30 MB can be uploaded directly too.

Which apps take SRT subtitles?

SRT is the most widely supported subtitle format: editing apps such as Premiere, Final Cut Pro and CapCut import it, and platforms such as YouTube accept it as an upload.

Is transcription free?

Yes, up to 60 minutes a day, and exporting the transcript and subtitles is free too; you need an account. On the free trial a video can be up to 10 minutes long, and up to 30 minutes after buying any credit pack.