What are timestamps in a transcript? They are markers that show the time in the recording where a passage starts, such as 00:01:15. They let a reader jump back to the audio to check a word. Timestamps can mark each paragraph, each sentence or each subtitle cue.
Transcribe a recording
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Files up to 2 GB · export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · speaker labels and timestamps · about 30 languages
Key facts
- The common style is hours, minutes and seconds, as in 00:01:15, and subtitle files add milliseconds after a comma or a period.
- Timestamps measure time from the start of the file, so a recording that has been trimmed gives different times from the original.
- Fine marks cost reading comfort: a stamp on every line clutters a transcript meant to be read, so many people keep them to paragraphs.
- In subtitle files each stamp is a pair, a start and an end, so a cue knows how long to stay on screen.
- Without timestamps an error in a long transcript means listening from the start to find the place.
What it looks like
[00:00:00] Welcome to the weekly review.
[00:00:08] First item: the release plan.
[00:01:15] Second item: hiring.
// the same in subtitle form
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,500
Second item: hiring.
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Why add timestamps to a transcript?
They connect the text to the audio. A reader checking a quote or a number can go straight to that point of the recording.
Are timestamps the same as time codes?
In practice yes. Video work may call them time codes and also count frames, but for a transcript the idea is the same.
Can I switch timestamps on in the Potok bot?
Yes. Timestamps are optional and can be switched on before you send the file. Leave them off for a clean reading copy.
Which export format suits timestamps best?
SRT and VTT are built around them, with a start and end for every cue. TXT, DOCX and PDF can show them as plain marks in the text.
Do timestamps stay correct if I edit the audio?
No. Cutting or joining changes the timeline, so make the transcript from the final version of the audio.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- SubRip and the .srt format (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- WebVTT (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
Try it on your own 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