The Text to SRT tool converts a plain text script or transcript into a properly formatted .srt subtitle file. It handles the formatting — sequence numbers, timestamps, line breaks — so you can focus on the content. The .srt file it produces is ready to review, fine-tune, and burn into your video using the Add Subtitles tool.
What You Need Before Starting
- Your script or transcript as plain text — each line or sentence you want as a separate subtitle entry on its own line. Remove filler words, false starts, and anything you don’t want captioned.
- An idea of your start time — when in the video does your first subtitle appear? (Usually a second or two after the video begins, not at 00:00:00.)
- An idea of your average line duration — how long each subtitle line should display. A rough guide: 3–5 seconds per line for normal speaking pace.
Step-by-Step: Generating Your SRT File
Go to videotoolshack.com/tools/text-to-srt.php. No sign-in, no uploads, everything in your browser.
Paste your script or transcript into the text input field. Each line becomes one subtitle entry. Keep lines to 1–2 sentences maximum — the standard is no more than 42 characters per line, 2 lines per subtitle block.
Enter your start time (when the first subtitle appears) and the duration per line (how long each subtitle displays). The tool calculates all timestamps automatically based on these values, distributing subtitle blocks evenly across your content.
Click Generate SRT. Download the .srt file. Open it in any text editor to review the output before using it.
The auto-generated timestamps are evenly spaced — a good starting point, but speech varies in pace. Open the .srt in a text editor and adjust individual timestamps where needed. Test by loading the SRT alongside your video in VLC before burning in.
Understanding the Generated SRT Format
The output file follows the standard SRT structure: a sequence number, a timestamp range in HH:MM:SS,mmm --> HH:MM:SS,mmm format, the subtitle text, and a blank line separating each block. Note the comma before milliseconds — not a period. This is the SRT standard and some tools fail silently if it’s wrong.
From SRT to Burned-In Captions
Once your SRT file timing is verified, the next step is burning the captions into your video with the Add Subtitles tool. Load your video and .srt file, and the captions become a permanent part of the video — guaranteed to display on every platform.