How to make an SRT file
An SRT file is a plain-text list of numbered subtitles, each with a start and end time. You can write one by hand in any text editor, but for anything over a few lines it is faster to generate it from the video's speech and then correct it.
What an SRT file looks like
Each subtitle in an SRT file has four parts: a number, a time range, the text, and a blank line. The time is written as hours:minutes:seconds,milliseconds, with a comma before the milliseconds.
For example: the number 1, then the line 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500, then the text Namaste doston, then an empty line. The next subtitle starts with 2. Save the file with a .srt extension in UTF-8, which keeps Hindi, Tamil and other scripts intact.
Method 1: Write it by hand
Open a plain text editor, not a word processor, and type each subtitle in the format above, noting the times from your video player. It is fine for a short clip, but timing dozens of lines by hand is slow and easy to get wrong.
Method 2: Generate it from the speech
A transcription tool listens to the audio and writes the timecodes for you. You then only fix the words.
- 1Open the video in EasyCap and choose the spoken language.
- 2Correct the transcript while it plays, and adjust any line that starts too early or too late.
- 3Check that lines are short enough to read, splitting long ones at natural pauses.
- 4Download the SRT file (on a paid plan). VTT is available too if your destination asks for it.
Tip: Always save SRT files as UTF-8. Older encodings turn Indian scripts into rows of question marks.
Where you can use an SRT file
YouTube Studio, Facebook and LinkedIn accept SRT files for uploaded videos, and most video players and editing apps can import them. Instagram Reels and WhatsApp do not use separate subtitle files, so for those, burn the captions into the video instead.
Questions
Can an SRT file have colours or animation?
Not reliably. SRT is plain text and timing; most platforms ignore styling in it. For styled or animated captions, burn them into the video.
What is the difference between SRT and VTT?
VTT starts with a WEBVTT line and uses a dot before milliseconds instead of a comma. It is used by web players. The content is otherwise very similar.
Why does my SRT show strange characters?
The file is probably not saved as UTF-8. Re-save it as UTF-8 and upload it again.