YouTube is the top destination for video content, drawing audiences from around the world. With viewers from so many countries on the platform speaking numerous languages, not to mention people who experience hearing difficulties, subtitles and captions should be a priority for anyone posting to YouTube. This guide will show you how to accurately subtitle and caption videos for YouTube using artificial intelligence (A.I.).

1. Upload video and transcribe

Login to AI transcription site Simon Says at www.simonsaysai.com and create a new project. Upload the final edit of your video (if possible, use a version without music or sound effects for increased accuracy). Choose the language of your video and click ‘Transcribe'.

2. Preview in Visual Subtitle Editor

Your video transcribes in minutes! Yay! Next, click ‘Export' and select ‘Visual Subtitle Editor'. Here you can preview the captions, adjust line breaks, and make any edits. If you want to create foreign-language subtitles, do it now via ‘Export'.

3. Export subtitles/caption in SRT

Return to the export options and select ‘Facebook/YouTube’ under ‘Subtitles’. Unzip the downloaded file. If you have other foreign language subtitles, export them too.

4. Upload video and subtitles to YouTube

Switch to YouTube and upload your video. In the ‘Details’ panel, click on ‘More Options’. Then, under ‘Language, subtitles, and closed captions (CC)’, select the original language of your video and click ‘Upload Subtitles/CC’. Choose ‘With Timing’, click ‘Continue’, and select your SRT file. For additional subtitles, wait for the video to finish processing. Then, go to Details > Subtitles, click ‘Add Language’ and select a language. Then select the ‘Upload File’ option and choose the corresponding SRT file.

Your YouTube videos now have closed captions/subtitles and you've increased its potential audience size in only a few steps and minutes, all with the help of A.I.!

Try Simon Says for free.

15 minutes free credit

Search other workflows