Audio to VTT Captions
Turn an audio recording into a timed WebVTT file. Download speech cues for a web player or a transcript interface that supports VTT.
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Oral history WebVTT
Download exampleWEBVTT
00:00:09.450 --> 00:00:13.880
The station opened just before the winter of 1962.
00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:17.670
My father took the first morning train.
How it works
Upload your file
In Speechyou Notes, select Upload, choose your recording, and select Upload & transcribe.
Review the transcript
Open the finished note and listen for names, technical terms, and changes of speaker. Check those passages again in the exported captions.
Export WebVTT (.vtt)
Choose your subtitle format from Export when the transcript contains timed segments. Check the cue timing in your editor or player.
Accepted extensions .mp3, .wav, .aac, .ogg, .flac, .m4a
Export guide
Add timed text to an audio page
For an oral history, podcast, or narrated lesson, generate WebVTT from the same audio that listeners will play. A compatible web player or transcript component can use the cue times to move through the text alongside the recording.
Test the WebVTT file with the published audio
Check the first cue and jump to a later section in the destination player. Confirm that the text follows the published recording after any intro or advertisements. Keep the VTT with the same edit of the audio to preserve sync.
Use the cue times in your transcript interface
A compatible audio player can use the cues as playback markers. If you are building the transcript panel yourself, show the current cue text as playback crosses its start time and clear it at the end. Use the full transcript separately when visitors need to search or skim the whole recording.
Check the WebVTT header and encoding
A WebVTT export begins with WEBVTT followed by a blank line. Cue times use a period before milliseconds. If a file has been edited and stops loading, check that the header and blank lines are intact and save it as UTF-8. Confirm that the audio URL and caption file refer to the same edit.
Publish timed text for an audio recording
- Choose the audio version served by the player, including any introduction.
- Test two cues around a chapter break or edited pause.
- Provide a plain transcript when the player has no transcript display.
Frequently asked questions
Is VTT an audio file?
WebVTT is a text file with timed cues. Keep the original audio file and load the VTT alongside it in a compatible player or site.
Can I export VTT from plain transcript text?
WebVTT export needs timed speech segments. Transcribe the original recording so the cues have start and end times.
Can listeners read the VTT without a custom transcript panel?
Players handle audio text tracks differently. Test your destination before publishing. If it lacks a transcript display, include a readable TXT or PDF alongside the audio.