How to Convert Audio to SRT Subtitles Online for Free

In today’s world, videos and audio recordings are a big part of how we learn, work, and share ideas. Whether you’re a student listening to a lecture, a teacher creating lessons, a doctor recording patient notes, a lawyer reviewing a deposition, or a video creator reaching an audience, you’ve probably thought about how to make your audio content more useful. One great way to do that is by turning audio into SRT subtitles. SRT (SubRip Text) files are subtitle files that show the text of what’s being said, synced with timing information so it matches the audio perfectly. They’re simple, versatile, and incredibly valuable.

Why would you need SRT subtitles? They make videos accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, help non-native speakers understand better, and let viewers follow along in noisy places or when sound isn’t an option. Fun fact: 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound, according to studies. Subtitles ensure your message gets through, no matter the situation.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to convert audio files to SRT subtitles for free using online tool. It’s perfect for everyday people—students, teachers, doctors, lawyers, video creators—who want an easy, no-cost way to add subtitles to their work. Let’s dive in!

Why You Need SRT Subtitles

Before we get to the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” Converting audio to SRT subtitles has practical benefits for all kinds of people:

Students: Imagine you’ve recorded a long lecture but don’t have time to listen again before the exam. With SRT subtitles, you can read the transcript, skim for key points, or search for specific topics—like that formula the professor mentioned 20 minutes in. It’s a game-changer for studying smarter.

Teachers: Subtitles make your educational videos more inclusive. Students with hearing impairments or those learning your language can follow along. Plus, text makes it easier for everyone to review material at their own pace.

Doctors: If you record patient consultations or medical notes, turning them into SRT subtitles gives you a searchable text version. Need to recall what a patient said about their symptoms last month? Just check the transcript instead of replaying the whole audio.

Lawyers: Legal recordings—like depositions or client meetings—often need detailed records. SRT subtitles let you quickly reference exact statements, saving hours of listening time and ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

Video Creators: Want more people to watch your YouTube or TikTok videos? Subtitles reach viewers who are deaf, prefer silent watching, or speak different languages. A travel vlogger increased international subscribers by 40% after adding Spanish/Chinese SRT files. They also boost engagement—people stick around longer when they can read along.

Subtitles don’t just add text; they unlock new ways to use and share your content.

Preparation Made Easy

Get Your Audio Ready

Best Formats: MP3 or WAV (avoid rare formats like AMR)

Ideal Length: Under 4 hours for free tools

Sound Quality Tips:

• Record in quiet spaces (use pillows to reduce echo)
• Speak clearly at natural speed
• For phone recordings: Place phone on soft surface to reduce vibration noise

Choose Your Tool

Key Features to Look For:

✅ Free tier available

✅ No software installation required

✅ Supports your language (e.g., English, Spanish, Mandarin)

✅ Exports SRT format

Avoid tools that:

❌ Require credit card for free trial

❌ Lack privacy policies

3-Step Conversion Process

There are many options that can work. I’ll use UniScribe as an example because it’s very simple and easy to use.

Step 1: Upload Your Audio

• Sign in to UniScribe.
• Click "Upload" button and select your audio file. Supported formats typically include: mp3, wav, m4a, mp4, mpeg, etc.
• Select language will make your transcript more accurate.

Uploading is fast, even for big files.

Step 2: Auto-Transcription

Wait a few minutes for UniScribe to process your audio. (1-hour audio ≈ 1-minute processing)

What’s happening behind the scenes:

• Detects punctuation automatically.
• Generates timecodes for each sentence

After uploading, make the SRT file. UniScribe.co will transcribe your audio to text. This might take a few seconds. The tool's smart tech makes sure the text is correct and matches the audio.

Step 3: Export & Use SRT

Click "Export" > Choose SRT format. Save to device/cloud storage

By doing these steps, you can easily change audio to SRT with UniScribe.

Free Audio-to-SRT Tools Comparison

We also tested popular platforms so you don’t have to.

Free Plan Limit Comparison

Here is how to use then step by step

1. Notta.ai

Best for: Team meetings & interviews

1. Upload Audio/Video

• Go to Notta Dashboard
• Drag-drop file or import from Zoom/Google Drive

2. Automatic Processing

• Wait 2-5 minutes (1hr file)
• AI detects speakers and timestamps

3. Edit Transcript

• Click text to hear original audio
• Fix errors using shortcut ⌘+J (Mac) or Ctrl+J (PC)
• Split long sentences with Enter key

4. Export SRT

• Click Export (top right)
• Choose SRT format
• Select language if translated
• Download file

Pro Tip: Use Chrome extension to record Zoom calls directly

2. Wavel.ai

Best for: Multilingual YouTube creators

1. Upload Media

• Visit Wavel Studio
• Click Upload File (supports 120+ languages)

2. Customize Settings

• Enable Speaker Detection
• Choose SRT as output
• Select language (auto-detects if unsure)

3. AI Processing

• Wait 5-8 minutes per hour of audio
• Progress bar shows remaining time

4. Refine Subtitles

• Drag timeline markers to adjust sync
• Use Bulk Edit mode for quick corrections
• Add emojis (🎧) if needed

5. Download

• Click Export
• Choose between:
  • Standard SRT (free)
  • Styled SRT (font/color options, paid)

Unique Feature: Auto-generates video chapters from audio topics

3. Sonix

Best for: Medical/legal professionals

1. Start Project

• Sign up at Sonix
• Click Upload Media (max 2GB file)

2. Advanced Settings

• Enable Medical Terminology (paid)
• Set timestamp frequency: Sentence or Paragraph

3. Transcription & Editing

• Wait 4-6 minutes per hour
• Use Find & Replace for repeated errors
• Right-click audio waveform to split subtitles

4. SRT Export (Paid Plan Only)

• Click Export
• Select Subtitles (SRT)
• Check Include Speaker Labels
• Pay $10/hour to download (or subscribe)

Pro Tip: Upload glossary CSV for specialized terms (e.g., drug names)

Pro Tips for Better Results

Accuracy Boosters

For Heavy Accents: Add a glossary (e.g., drug names)

For Noisy Recordings: Use free noise reduction at Adobe Podcast Enhancer first

For Multiple Speakers: Start recording by stating names (helps AI distinguish)

Time-Saving Tricks

Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn your tool’s hotkeys

Templates: Save common phrases (e.g., "Patient reported...")

Batch Processing: Queue multiple short files at once

Troubleshooting FAQ

• Why does my SRT file show garbled text?

  Encoding mismatch – reopen in Notepad++ > Encoding > UTF-8

• Can I translate subtitles?

  Yes! Use free tools like Google Translate (paste SRT content)

• My tool keeps crashing with large files

  Split audio using Audacity: File > Export > Split by 30-minute chunks

Ready to Start?

Pick a Tool: Choose from our comparison table

Test Short Audio: Try a 5-minute file first

Iterate: Refine your process with each project

Remember: Even 85% accurate auto-transcripts save hours vs typing manually. With practice, you’ll create broadcast-quality subtitles faster than reading this guide!

Final Checklist:

✅ Backup original audio

✅ Verify sensitive data removal (if needed)

✅ Test SRT with your video player

Now go make your content accessible, searchable, and globally engaging! 🚀