How to create an SRT file from an audio recording

1. Use audio that matches your final edit

Choose the version of the recording that matches the media you plan to caption. Removing an opening section or inserting a break after transcription can move the words away from their original timestamps.

If your source is a video, first prepare a supported audio file using your own editing tools. This workflow accepts audio uploads; it does not import a video URL or attach subtitles to a video automatically.

2. Create a transcript and review the wording

Upload the audio in Workspace and select its recognition language. When transcription is finished, open the result and replay timestamped segments containing names, figures or unclear speech.

Check important wording before publication. If you need corrections that are not available in the transcript view, make them in the exported SRT using a text or subtitle editor. Subtitle text should reflect what is spoken rather than substitute the generated summary.

3. Export the SRT from your result

Select Export and choose SRT under Format. Select Create Export, wait until the task is ready, and select Download. SRT export requires Basic or Pro; Free transcription minutes do not include subtitle-file export.

The SRT option uses a fixed subtitle structure. Unlike Word export, speaker, timestamp and summary options are not configurable in this dialog. Timing is part of the subtitle format itself.

4. Understand the downloaded file

Each subtitle block contains a sequence number, a start time and end time, and the text to display. A blank line separates one block from the next. The example uses hours:minutes:seconds,milliseconds, with an arrow between the times.

An SRT is a separate subtitle file, not a video with captions permanently drawn onto its frames. Keep a copy of the original export before making changes in another editor.

5. Check timing in the destination editor

Import the SRT into the editor or publishing tool that will use it and play it with the matching media. Check the beginning, a section in the middle and the ending. Look for text that appears before or after the corresponding speech.

If all captions are shifted by a similar amount, check for a changed intro or offset in the media. If the mismatch grows through the recording, check that the audio version and duration match the final edit. Make timing corrections in your subtitle editor and preview again.

6. Review readability before publication

1. Check names, numbers, punctuation and any passages with overlapping voices.
2. Split or re-time crowded captions in your subtitle editor where necessary, and watch them at normal playback speed.
3. Keep sequence numbers and timestamp punctuation intact when editing plain text.
4. Confirm that the final destination actually supports SRT and that the uploaded subtitle track is enabled.

Try the format with a small example

Download the three-block sample below to inspect the format in a text editor. Its text and timings are illustrative; use your own reviewed recording to create production captions.

For an independent description of the format, see the Library of Congress SubRip Subtitle format reference linked below.

A small SRT file, explained

Illustrative example written for this guide, not a customer recording or a guaranteed AI result.

1
00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,600
Welcome to the workshop.

2
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,500
Write down one problem you want to solve.

3
00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,800
We will discuss your examples together.

Download example SRT