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How to add and edit subtitles in Video Editor?

The Subtitles feature in Video Editor allows you to create, edit, translate, style, and download subtitles directly within your project. You can add subtitles manually, import them from an SRT file, or generate them automatically from speech in an audio or video element. Automatic generation is only available to registered users.

Subtitles created in Video Editor are hard-coded into the exported video and cannot be turned on or off in a media player.

Refer to this article to see the list of supported formats.

Subtitle tracks

When you add subtitles, they appear in the project as a separate subtitle track. Each track contains an original-language version and can also include one or more translations.

A project can have multiple subtitle tracks. For example, to display subtitles in two languages at the same time, use a separate track for each language.

Generate subtitles

To generate subtitles automatically, make sure you have a video or audio element  containing speech in the timeline, and do the following:

  1. In the sidebar, click Subtitles and select Auto subtitles.
  2. If your project has several media elements with audio, select whether to transcribe the whole project or a specific media element.
  3. Select the original language of your media element and click Generate. The button will display the number of credits required for the operation. Do not lock the screen or switch to other apps while waiting for the process to complete.
  4. After processing, a new subtitle track will appear in the timeline.

For a more accurate transcription, make sure the audio has minimal background noise and does not contain overlapping speech or multiple spoken languages.

Upload an SRT file

To import an SRT file into your project, do the following:

  1. In the sidebar, click Subtitles and select Upload Subtitles File.
  2. Choose an SRT file from your device.
  3. After processing, a new subtitle track will appear in the timeline.

If the file contains overlapping subtitle entries, Video Editor will combine them into one subtitle while keeping the line formatting.

If the SRT file is damaged or incorrectly formatted, you will see an error. Fix the formatting, then try uploading the file again.

Transcribe manually

To create subtitles manually, do the following:

  1. In the sidebar, click Subtitles and select Transcribe Manually.
  2. A new subtitle track will be created automatically, with the first subtitle added at the beginning of the timeline with a default duration of 5 seconds.
  3. Enter your text and adjust timing as needed.
  4. Click the +Add subtitle button to add the next subtitle.

Manage tracks and individual subtitles

Manage subtitle tracks

Use the Tracks icon at the top left of the subtitles panel to manage your subtitle tracks.

  • Add a track: Click New track, then select how you want to add subtitles.
  • Delete a track: Click the Delete icon next to the track title.
  • Switch language versions: Select the language version you want to make visible for a track.

Manage individual subtitles

Use the subtitles panel and the timeline to manage individual subtitles in the selected track.

  • Add: To add a subtitle at the end of a subtitle track, click +Add subtitle at the bottom of the subtitle panel. To add a subtitle between existing subtitles, hover over the space between two subtitles and click Add (this button is active only if there is at least 0.2 seconds of free space).
  • Delete: Select a subtitle and click the Delete icon either in the subtitle panel or at the top left of the timeline.
  • Edit: Select a subtitle and, in the subtitle panel, enter new text into the subtitle text field.
  • Adjust timing: Drag the subtitle handles on the timeline, or enter the required time values in the subtitle panel. A subtitle can only expand into available free space and cannot push neighboring subtitles.
  • Move: Select and drag a subtitle in the timeline to move it to another position on the same subtitles track. It cannot be moved to another track.
  • Duplicate: Select a subtitle and, at the top left of the timeline, click the Duplicate icon. A duplicated subtitle will be added to the end of the same track with the same text, style, and duration.
  • Split: Select a subtitle, place the playhead in the required place, and at the top left of the timeline, click the Split icon.
  • Merge: In the subtitle panel, hover over the space between two subtitles and click Merge.
  • Find and replace: Click Find and replace icon at the bottom right of the subtitles panel or press Ctrl + F while the panel is active. Enter the required text and replace matches individually or all at once. Leave Replace with empty to delete the found text.

Generate subtitles with translations

To generate and translate subtitles for a media element, do the following:

  1. In the sidebar, click Subtitles:
    • If the project has no subtitle tracks: Select Auto subtitles.
    • If the project already has a subtitle track: At the top left of the subtitles panel, click the Tracks icon → New track → Auto subtitles.
  2. If the project has several media elements with audio, select whether to process the whole project or a specific media element.
  3. Select the original language of the media.
  4. Enable Add translation and select the translation language.
  5. Click Generate. The button displays the number of credits required for the operation. Do not lock the screen or switch to other apps while waiting for the process to complete.
  6. After processing, a new subtitle track with the translated version will be created. Use the Tracks icon to switch between its original and translated versions.

Add a translation to an existing subtitle track

To add another language version to a subtitle track already in the project, do the following:

  1. In the sidebar, click Subtitles 
  2. At the top left of the subtitles panel, click the Tracks icon and select Translate.
  3. Select the subtitle track you want to translate.
  4. Select the translation language.
  5. Click Translate. The button displays the number of credits required for the operation. Do not lock the screen or switch to other apps while waiting for the process to complete.
  6. The new translation will be added and displayed for the selected track. Use the Tracks icon to switch between its original and translated language versions.

Change subtitle style

You can customize how subtitles look. By default, style and canvas position are shared across the entire subtitle track. 

  • Style of the entire subtitle track: Click the Styles icon at the top of the subtitles panel. Select a preset or adjust the Text, Background, and Opacity settings.
  • Position of the entire subtitle track: Select any subtitle on the canvas and move it to the required position. All other subtitles on the same track will also move.
  • Style or position of a single subtitle: Select a subtitle and click the Detach styles icon in the subtitles panel or at the top left of the timeline. You can then adjust its style or position separately.
    • Detached subtitles retain their individual settings if you later change the shared track style.
    • If you remove the detachment, the subtitle returns to the shared track style.

Download subtitles

To download a track or all subtitle tracks from the project, do the following:

  1. At the top left of the subtitles panel, click the Tracks icon.
  2. Click the Download icon.
  3. Select a specific track or all tracks.
  4. Select the format: SRT, TXT, or TXT with timecodes.
  5. Click Download.

Translations are included in the download. If the download contains multiple tracks or language versions, they are saved as separate files in an archive.

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