Home › Audio & Video › Animated Captions for Video
Animated Captions for Video
Turn a transcript into short-form style captions that highlight, pop or fill word by word, then burn them into your video. Load a Whisper JSON, SRT or VTT file (or paste text), pick a style, preview it in a 9:16 frame and export, all inside your browser.
Last updated:
0:00.0 / 0:00.0
Caption style
Choose a video to enable export. The preview above shows your style on a sample background.
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the Animated Captions for Video
- Choose your video: drop an MP4, WebM or MOV file on the first box.
- Add the transcript: open a Whisper JSON, SRT or VTT file, or paste text into the transcript box. Word-level Whisper JSON gives the most accurate highlighting.
- Pick a style: start from a preset such as Bold pop or Karaoke, then adjust the animation, words per caption, font, colors and position.
- Preview: press Play and watch the captions in the 9:16 (or other) frame. Use Shift timing if every word is slightly early or late.
- Press Create captioned video. The video plays through once while the new file is recorded, then you can download it.
Caption animation styles explained
Every style works from the same data: a list of words, each with a start and an end time. The caption on screen is a small group of words (the Words per caption setting); a new group starts when the limit is reached, at the end of a sentence or subtitle line, or when there is a pause of more than 0.8 seconds in the speech.
| Animation | What the viewer sees | Works best for |
|---|---|---|
| Word-by-word highlight | The whole group is visible; the word being spoken changes to the highlight color (or gets a colored box) | Talking-head clips, tutorials |
| Pop in as spoken | Each word appears with a quick overshoot scale the moment it is said | Energetic Shorts, Reels and TikToks |
| Karaoke fill | Color sweeps across each word from left to right in time with the speech | Songs, slow narration, language learning |
| One word at a time | A single large word in the centre, replaced by the next word | Fast punchy edits, hooks |
| Bounce active word | The spoken word lifts and grows slightly, then settles | Playful or kids-friendly content |
| Typewriter | Letters are typed out as each word is spoken | Storytelling, quotes |
Transcript formats this tool reads
- Whisper JSON with word timestamps: a
wordsarray ({"word": "hello", "start": 0.32, "end": 0.61}),segmentsthat each containwords, or transformers.jschunkswith atimestamppair. Words without a time (common for numbers in WhisperX) borrow the time of their neighbours. - Whisper JSON with segment times only (including whisper.cpp
transcriptionoutput): each segment is split into words and timed by word length. - SRT and WebVTT: each cue is split the same way. VTT cues with inline karaoke timestamps such as
<00:00:01.200>are used directly. - Plain text: timing is estimated at roughly 150 words per minute, useful for a quick test or a scripted voice-over. Adjust with Shift timing.
Tips for readable short-form captions
- Keep captions in the middle band of a 9:16 video (about 55 to 75% from the top). The top and bottom edges are covered by app buttons, usernames and descriptions on most platforms.
- A thick dark outline or a colored box keeps white text readable on bright scenes. Yellow, green and cyan highlights stand out without hurting legibility.
- UPPERCASE with a heavy font such as Impact or Arial Black reads fastest at small phone sizes; mixed case looks calmer for educational videos.
- If captions run slightly ahead of the voice, enter a small positive shift such as 0.1 to 0.2 seconds; a negative value moves them earlier.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a transcript with word timings?
Run your audio through any Whisper-based transcriber and save the result as JSON with word timestamps (for example the OpenAI Whisper API with word-level timestamps, WhisperX, whisper.cpp with JSON output, or a transformers.js Whisper app with return_timestamps set to word). This page reads the words array, segments with words, or chunks. You can also use the Auto Subtitle Generator on this site to create an SRT first.
What if my file only has sentence timings, like an SRT?
That works too. Each subtitle line is split into words and its time span is shared out by word length, so longer words stay on screen a little longer. The highlight then follows the speech closely for most talking videos; word-level JSON is only needed for perfectly tight timing.
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. The video is drawn frame by frame onto a canvas in your browser and recorded with the MediaRecorder API, together with the original sound. Your files never leave your device.
Why does exporting take as long as the video?
Browsers record a canvas in real time, so a 60-second clip needs about 60 seconds. Keep the tab open and visible until the progress bar finishes.
How many words should each caption show?
For vertical short-form video, 2 to 4 words per caption is the usual choice because viewers read them at a glance; 1 word works for very punchy edits. For landscape video or longer explanations, 6 to 8 words per line reads more like normal subtitles.
Will the output be MP4?
Chrome, Edge and Safari can record MP4 (H.264) directly. Firefox records WebM, which uploads fine to most platforms; use the Video Converter if you specifically need MP4.
My landscape video looks cropped in 9:16. What can I do?
Switch Fill to Fit + blurred background. The full picture is kept in the middle and the empty space above and below is filled with a soft blurred copy, a common look for reposting landscape clips as Shorts, Reels or TikToks.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.
Related tools
Add Subtitles to VideoBurn SRT or VTT subtitles into a video with your own font, color, outline and position.Auto Subtitle GeneratorGenerate SRT and VTT subtitles from any video with in-browser Whisper, then edit timing and text.Landscape to Vertical VideoTurn a 16:9 video into 9:16 for Shorts, Reels and TikTok with a blurred background fill.Subtitle EditorEdit, shift and convert SRT and VTT subtitles.MP4 to GIFConvert an MP4, MOV or WebM clip to a sharp GIF: trim, set fps and width, optimized palette.Video to MP3Extract the audio from a video as MP3.MKV to MP4Convert MKV to MP4 in seconds by copying H.264/AAC streams, or re-encode with ffmpeg.Webcam Video RecorderRecord video from your webcam and mic, then download it.Video CompressorCompress videos in your browser: pick a quality and resolution to shrink the file size.Video TrimmerCut the start and end off a video on a visual timeline and save the clip as WebM.Video to Frames ExtractorExtract still frames from a video every few seconds or every Nth frame, as JPG or ZIP.Video Speed ChangerSpeed up a video or make slow motion from 0.25× to 4×, with audio, and save it as WebM.Mute VideoRemove the sound from a video and save a silent copy as WebM, right in your browser.Rotate VideoRotate a video 90° or 180°, or mirror it, with sound, and save the fixed copy as WebM.SRT Time CalculatorShift subtitle timing, convert SRT frame rates, sync by two points and fix broken SRT files.Video Resolution CheckerCheck a video's resolution, length, frame rate, bitrate and codecs without uploading it.Video File Size CalculatorEstimate video file size from resolution, fps, bitrate and length, or the bitrate for a size limit.Vocal RemoverRemove vocals from a song to make a karaoke instrumental, or pull out an acapella, in your browser.Video CropperCrop a video to 1:1, 9:16, 16:9 or any area by dragging a box, with sound. Saves MP4 or WebM.Video ConverterConvert videos to MP4 or WebM with your choice of resolution, frame rate and bitrate.Video MergerJoin several video clips into one MP4 or WebM in any order, with trimming and fades.MOV to MP4Convert MOV to MP4 instantly with no quality loss, or re-encode to H.264. No upload.WebM to MP4Convert WebM videos to MP4 (H.264) with your choice of resolution and quality. No upload.WebM to MP3Extract the audio from WebM video or audio files and save it as MP3. Free, no upload.Add Audio to VideoAdd music or a voice-over to a video: replace or mix the sound, set offset, volume and fades.Video ReverserPlay a video backwards: reverse a clip with or without reversed sound, or make a boomerang loop.Silence RemoverFind and cut long pauses and dead air in recordings, podcasts and voice memos automatically.Add Watermark to VideoPut a text or logo watermark on any video, set position, size and opacity, then save it.Video Thumbnail GeneratorGrab thumbnails from a video at any time or make a contact sheet grid. JPG, PNG or ZIP.Slideshow MakerTurn photos into a video slideshow with transitions, captions and music. Saves MP4 or WebM.Add Text to VideoPut titles and captions on a video with your font, colour, position, timing and fade. No upload.Audio Visualizer Video MakerMake an audiogram: cover image plus animated bars or waveform synced to your audio, as MP4/WebM.AVI to MP4Convert AVI videos (Xvid, DivX, MJPEG) to H.264 MP4 in your browser, several files at once.Flip VideoMirror a video horizontally or vertically, fix selfie videos and save MP4 or WebM with sound.Frame by Frame Video PlayerStep through a video one frame at a time with frame number, timecode, slow motion and PNG export.Video LooperLoop a video N times or to a set length, or make a boomerang, and save it as MP4 or WebM.MP4 to WAVExtract the audio from MP4 videos as WAV: 16/24/32-bit, any sample rate, mono or stereo, batch.Online Video PlayerPlay local videos with 0.25-4x speed, A-B loop, zoom, SRT/VTT subtitles and keyboard shortcuts.Timecode CalculatorAdd, subtract and convert SMPTE timecode, frames and seconds at 23.976 to 60 fps, incl. drop-frame.Fix Audio Sync in VideoFix out-of-sync audio: shift the sound earlier or later in ms, preview, save without re-encoding.Video Collage MakerCombine 2 to 9 videos into one split-screen grid with trims, mute and gap colour, then save MP4.Video Fade In and OutAdd a fade from or to black or white at the start and end of a video, with matching audio fade.Video Frame Rate ConverterChange a video's FPS (60 to 30, 24 to 30 and more) with drop, blend or motion interpolation.Video Intro MakerMake a 5-10 second animated intro or outro with your logo, text, colors and sound; export MP4.Video Meme GeneratorAdd a white caption bar or classic top and bottom meme text to a video or GIF.Video Recording Time CalculatorHow many hours of video fit on an SD card or drive, or how much storage a recording needs.Video StabilizerReduce camera shake in handheld videos with ffmpeg deshake or a fast built-in stabilizer.Video to Animated WebPTurn a video clip into an animated WebP that is far smaller than a GIF, with a size comparison.Video Transition MakerJoin clips with crossfade, fade to black, wipe, slide, zoom or dissolve transitions. Save MP4.Video Voiceover RecorderRecord narration over a video with your mic, retake parts, mix with ducking and export the video.Webcam Virtual BackgroundBlur or replace your webcam background live with AI, then record clips or take snapshots.Zoom VideoZoom into part of a video with a static crop zoom or animated punch-in keyframes.Hum RemoverRemove 50/60 Hz electrical hum and its harmonics from recordings, with auto detection.Subtitle CleanerRemove [sound] tags, speaker names, HTML tags and ads from SRT/VTT; fix overlaps and long lines.Dual Subtitle MergerMerge two subtitle files (e.g. English + Spanish) into one dual-language SRT or ASS file.Ken Burns Effect MakerTurn a photo into a smooth pan-and-zoom MP4 clip by drawing start and end frames.Lower Third GeneratorDesign animated name titles for videos and streams; export transparent WebM, PNG frames or an OBS URL.Side by Side Video MakerPut two videos side by side, stacked or picture-in-picture with sync offset and save as MP4.Video FiltersApply B&W, sepia, vintage and cinematic color filters to a video and save it as MP4 or WebM.Video ResizerResize a video for Reels, TikTok, Shorts or YouTube with fit, fill or blurred bars. No upload.Video SplitterSplit a video into equal parts, 15/30/60-second clips for Stories, or at your own cut points.Video Volume BoosterMake a quiet video louder (up to 400%) or quieter, with a limiter that stops clipping.Webcam Photo BoothSnap webcam photos with a countdown, filters and frames, then download a photo strip.Blur VideoBlur or pixelate faces, plates and text in a video, with moving areas and automatic face blur.Compress Video to 25MBShrink any video to fit under 25 MB: target bitrate computed from its length, encoded in your browser.Green Screen Video EditorRemove a green or blue screen from a video and put in a new image, color or video background.MOV to MP3Extract the audio from MOV videos to MP3 at 128-320 kbps, with optional trim. Batch + ZIP, no upload.MP3 to MP4Turn an MP3 or WAV into an MP4 video with a cover image, title and waveform for YouTube.