Text to SRT

4.1 · 64 ratings

Create subtitle files from plain text with automatic timing

Source: transcript
Split

Each line becomes one cue. Duration per line is adjustable below.

Cues · 0

Paste text or upload a .txt file to start editing cues.

Watch it in action

Turn a transcript into clean SRT subtitles, right in your browser.

About Converting Text to SRT

Converting plain text (.txt) to SubRip (.srt) turns a flat transcript into numbered, timed cues. Paste or upload your text and the tool generates cues with editable timing. Adjust the start and end times right in the table, then download a working .srt for any video player or platform.

What is Plain Text (TXT)?

Plain text files (.txt) contain only readable characters: just words on lines without any special formatting, timestamps, or metadata. They're the simplest file format, readable in any text editor on any device. When you have a transcript, script, or dialogue list, it's usually in plain TXT format.

What is SRT (SubRip)?

SubRip (.srt) is the universal subtitle format that works on every platform, from VLC to YouTube. Created in 2000, SRT files contain numbered entries with HH:MM:SS,mmm timestamps that synchronize text with video playback. Each subtitle has a number, timing, and dialogue text.

What Happens During Conversion?

  • Two ways to split: "Line by line" makes one cue per line, or "Smart" breaks long paragraphs into sentence-sized cues
  • Automatic numbering: Cues are numbered 1, 2, 3… in order
  • Editable timing: Every cue starts at 3 seconds; change the length anytime with the Seconds per line control
  • SRT structure created: Proper HH:MM:SS,mmm timestamp format applied
  • Your words, kept: Dialogue stays exactly as written; Smart mode only changes where lines wrap
  • Blank lines ignored: Empty lines and paragraph spacing are skipped, so they never create empty subtitles

Set your timing before downloading

New cues use evenly spaced placeholder timing. Edit the Start and End time of any cue directly in the table, change the seconds-per-line duration, or use Re-time sequentially or Smart re-time to retime everything at once. No separate subtitle software needed. The editor flags any cue whose end time lands before its start.

TXT vs SRT: Transcript vs Synchronized Subtitles

TXT (Plain Transcript)

  • Extension: .txt
  • Contains: Only dialogue text
  • Format: Plain text, no special structure
  • Timing: None, no time information
  • Synchronization: Not usable with video
  • Structure: Free-form, no requirements
  • Used for: Reading, transcripts, documents
  • Best for: Text that doesn't need timing

SRT (Timed Subtitles)

  • Extension: .srt
  • Contains: Dialogue + timestamps + numbers
  • Format: Structured subtitle format
  • Timing: Precise HH:MM:SS,mmm timestamps
  • Synchronization: Synced to video playback
  • Structure: Strict format (number, time, text)
  • Used for: Video playback with subtitles
  • Best for: Watching videos with captions

Example Conversion

Original TXT 

Hello, how are you today?

I'm doing great, thanks for asking!

That's wonderful to hear.

Converted SRT 

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000
Hello, how are you today?

2
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,000
I'm doing great, thanks for asking!

3
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,000
That's wonderful to hear.

Note: these timestamps are evenly spaced placeholders. Adjust them in the editor to match your video before you download.

When to Convert Text to SRT

Script to Subtitles

Have a written script or dialogue list? Generate cues, time each line to your video in the editor, and download a finished SRT. No extra software required.

Translation Workflow

Translated dialogue in a TXT file? Convert to SRT to create subtitle files. If you have original SRT timing, you can match the translated text to the original timing structure.

Transcript to Captions

Have a transcript from speech recognition or manual typing? Generate cues, then fine-tune the timing in the table to match the audio before you export.

Manual Subtitle Creation

Building subtitles from scratch? Type your lines, generate cues, set the timing in the table, and download a ready-to-use SRT, all in one place.

Batch Subtitle Generation

Working through many transcripts? Convert each one to SRT to build a consistent caption baseline for a whole series or course library.

Educational Content

Teaching materials, presentations, or lecture transcripts in text format? Convert to SRT to add synchronized captions to your educational videos for accessibility and comprehension.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does text-to-SRT work?

You provide plain text (dialogue, transcript) and either timing information or let the tool generate estimated timing based on text length and reading speed settings.

What text format is expected?

Simple line-by-line text works best. Each line or paragraph becomes a subtitle entry. Blank lines can separate subtitle blocks.

How are timings calculated?

Timing is estimated based on average reading speed (typically 150-200 words per minute) and character count. You may need to adjust timing to match your video.

Can I provide my own timestamps?

Not directly: the tool generates timing estimates from your text. Once converted, you can adjust individual cue timestamps in the editor below, or shift all timings in bulk with the free Shift Subtitles tool.

What's the best workflow for creating new subtitles?

Start with a transcript, convert to SRT with estimated timing, then use the Shift tool or video editing software to sync the subtitles precisely with your video.

How do I turn a text transcript into captions for CapCut?

CapCut imports captions from SRT files (its web version does not accept plain text). Paste your transcript here and the timings are estimated from the text. After converting, you can adjust any cue's timing in the editor below, then download the SRT and import it into CapCut as captions. The file is saved as UTF-8, so accents and non-Latin scripts import correctly.

Conversion Tips

Line by line mode turns each line into one cue and skips blank lines. Smart mode splits long paragraphs into sentence-sized cues for you.

The SRT works in any video player right away. Set each cue's start and end times in the table, or re-time them all at once, so the subtitles line up with your video before you download.