What is an SRT file?

An SRT file, short for SubRip, is a plain-text subtitle file made of numbered cues. Each cue has a number, a time range such as 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500 and one or two lines of text. SRT uses a comma before the milliseconds, while VTT uses a period.

Transcribe a recording

Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.

Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram

Files up to 2 GB · export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · speaker labels and timestamps · about 30 languages

Key facts

• Cues are separated by blank lines, and the arrow between the two times marks where a subtitle starts and ends.
• VTT looks almost the same, but the file starts with the line WEBVTT and a period replaces the comma.
• Both are plain text, so any text editor can open and fix them.

The format

The file is a list of cues separated by blank lines. Each cue has three parts: a number, a time range, and the text.

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500
Let's start the meeting.

2
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,200
First, we'll review last week's results.

The time is written as hours, minutes, seconds and milliseconds. The arrow separates the start and the end. The text can have one or two lines.

SRT and VTT

WebVTT, usually called VTT, is the subtitle format for web video. It looks almost the same, with two differences: the file starts with the line WEBVTT, and the milliseconds follow a period, not a comma. Use VTT for video on a web page and SRT for most players and editors.

Where SRT files come from

You can type subtitles by hand, but it is faster to transcribe the recording and export the result. Potok exports SRT and VTT besides TXT, MD, DOCX and PDF. Whatever the source, read the subtitles with the video playing and fix names and numbers.

Size and timing

An SRT file is tiny, since it holds only text and times. The recording itself is much larger; the audio file size calculator shows how large. When a transcript also marks who is speaking, see speaker diarization. To start from an audio file, read MP3 to text, and for longer talks the guide to transcribing an interview.

Frequently asked questions

How do I open an SRT file?

Open it in any text editor. It is plain text. Video players and editors read it as subtitles when it sits next to the video or is added in the player.

What is the difference between SRT and VTT?

Both hold timed text. VTT, short for WebVTT, begins with the line WEBVTT and uses a period before the milliseconds. SRT uses a comma and numbered cues.

Can I make an SRT file from audio?

Yes. Transcribe the recording and export the result as SRT. Potok exports SRT and VTT besides TXT, MD, DOCX and PDF.

Do I need to check the subtitles?

Yes. Read them with the video playing, fix names and numbers, and check that long lines fit the screen.

Sources

Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.

1. SubRip and the .srt format (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked 2026-10-18
2. WebVTT: The Web Video Text Tracks Format (W3C), W3C · checked 2026-10-18