What is the difference between SRT and VTT files

SRT (SubRip Text) and VTT (WebVTT) are both subtitle formats. SRT uses comma decimals (00:00:05,000) while VTT uses periods (00:00:05.000). VTT supports more styling options and is the HTML5 standard for web video. SRT has broader legacy player support.

How do I convert SRT to LRC format

To convert SRT to LRC: extract the start timestamps, change the format from hh:mm:ss,mmm to [mm:ss.xx], remove sequence numbers and end times, and save as a .lrc file. Online converters and tools like EasyLRC can automate this process.

Why are my SRT subtitles not showing

Common causes include: wrong file encoding (should be UTF-8), incorrect timestamp format (missing comma), file not named to match video, or player doesn't support the SRT styling used. Try opening in a simple text editor to check the format.

Can I add styling to SRT files

SRT supports basic HTML tags like , , , and . However, styling support varies by player. VLC supports most tags, while other players may ignore them. For guaranteed compatibility, use plain text.

What is the maximum file size for SRT

There's no technical maximum size for SRT files, but most are under 100KB. A feature-length movie typically produces an SRT file of 20-50KB. Larger files may cause loading delays in some applications.

How do I fix out-of-sync SRT subtitles

Use subtitle editing software like Subtitle Edit or Aegisub to shift all timestamps by a fixed amount. Many video players also allow real-time subtitle delay adjustment during playback. Online tools can also resync SRT files.

SRT Subtitle Format: Complete Technical Guide for 2026

Name: EasyLRC
Author: EasyLRC

What Is an SRT File

SRT (SubRip Text) is the most widely used subtitle format for video content. Created by the SubRip software, SRT files store timed text as plain text with sequence numbers, timestamps, and caption text. The format uses the .srt extension and is supported by virtually all video players, editors, and streaming platforms. SRT's simplicity and universal compatibility have made it the de facto standard for subtitle distribution.

SRT File Structure

An SRT file consists of subtitle blocks separated by blank lines:

1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,000 First line of subtitles With optional second line

2 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:14,000 Second subtitle block

3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,500 Third subtitle block

Each block contains:

Sequence number (starting from 1)
Timestamp line (start --> end)
One or more lines of text
Blank line separator

SRT Timestamp Format

SRT timestamps follow the format hh:mm:ss,mmm --> hh:mm:ss,mmm where:

• hh = hours (00-99) • mm = minutes (00-59) • ss = seconds (00-59) • mmm = milliseconds (000-999) • --> = arrow separator (with spaces)

Important: SRT uses a comma (,) as the decimal separator, not a period. This is different from most other formats and is a common source of errors.

SRT Text Formatting

SRT supports basic HTML-style formatting tags:

• Bold text - Bold styling • Italic text - Italic styling • Underlined - Underline styling • Text - Color

Positioning (limited support): • {\an1} to {\an9} - Screen position (numpad layout)

Not all players support formatting. VLC supports most tags, while some basic players ignore them entirely. For maximum compatibility, use plain text.

SRT File Encoding

SRT files should use UTF-8 encoding for universal language support.

Encoding considerations: • UTF-8 is the modern standard • Legacy files may use ANSI, Latin-1, or Windows-1252 • UTF-8 BOM is sometimes needed for Windows applications • Unicode characters display correctly with UTF-8

If subtitles show garbled characters, the encoding is incorrect. Convert to UTF-8 using a text editor or subtitle converter tool.

SRT vs LRC: Key Differences

Purpose: • SRT: Video subtitles with duration • LRC: Music lyrics synchronized to audio

Timestamp format: • SRT: hh:mm:ss,mmm --> hh:mm:ss,mmm (start and end) • LRC: [mm:ss.xx] (start only)

Structure: • SRT: Numbered blocks with start/end times • LRC: Single timestamp per line, simpler format

Word-level timing: • SRT: Not supported • LRC: Enhanced LRC supports word timestamps

Use SRT for: Video content, movies, TV shows Use LRC for: Music players, karaoke applications

How to Convert SRT to LRC

Converting SRT to LRC involves these steps:

Extract start timestamps from each SRT block
Convert format from hh:mm:ss,mmm to [mm:ss.xx]
Remove sequence numbers and end timestamps
Combine multi-line blocks into single lines
Save as .lrc with UTF-8 encoding

Manual conversion example:

SRT: 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:15,000 When the night has come

LRC: [00:12.50]When the night has come

For automated conversion, use tools like EasyLRC or online SRT to LRC converters.

Common SRT Errors and Fixes

Subtitles not appearing: • Check file encoding is UTF-8 • Verify timestamp format uses comma (,) not period • Ensure proper sequence numbering

Timing issues: • Adjust timestamps manually or use sync tools • Check for overlapping time ranges • Verify start time is before end time

Formatting problems: • Remove unsupported HTML tags • Check for proper line breaks • Ensure blank lines between blocks

Character encoding issues: • Convert file to UTF-8 • Remove BOM if causing problems • Use a subtitle editor to re-save

SRT Player Compatibility

Video players: • VLC Media Player - Full support with formatting • Windows Media Player - Basic support • QuickTime - Requires extension • MPV - Full support • PotPlayer - Full support with styling

Streaming platforms: • YouTube - Accepts SRT uploads • Netflix - Uses SRT in production pipeline • Facebook - Supports SRT captions • Vimeo - Accepts SRT uploads

Video editors: • Adobe Premiere Pro - Import/export SRT • Final Cut Pro - Import SRT • DaVinci Resolve - Full SRT support • Kapwing - Online SRT editing

Creating SRT Files from Audio/Video

To create SRT files with AI transcription:

Upload media to a transcription service
AI generates text with timestamps
Review and edit the generated subtitles
Export as SRT with proper formatting
Validate timing against the video

For music with vocals, you can use EasyLRC to generate timed lyrics and convert to SRT format. This works well for lyric videos and music videos.

SRT Best Practices

• Use UTF-8 encoding for all languages • Keep subtitles under 42 characters per line • Maximum 2 lines per subtitle block • Display time: 1-7 seconds per subtitle • Minimum gap: 0.5 seconds between subtitles • Use proper comma (,) in timestamps • Number sequences consecutively from 1 • Test playback before distribution • Include blank lines between blocks