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pre-recorded live stream

How to Create an SRT File for a Pre-Recorded Live Stream

A practical guide to writing, timing, validating, and uploading an SRT subtitle file for pre-recorded video—and what to check when that video is presented live.

By DocumentaryTube Team 5 min read

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To make an SRT subtitle file for a pre-recorded video, transcribe the final edit, divide the transcript into timed cues, save the plain-text file with a .srt extension, and upload it through the destination platform’s subtitle controls. An SRT file contains captions and timestamps—not the video. One important distinction: here, “SRT” means the SubRip subtitle format, not Secure Reliable Transport, a separate protocol for carrying live video.

What an SRT file contains

A SubRip file is plain text arranged as a sequence of caption cues. Each cue has a number, a start and end timestamp, the caption text, and a blank line before the next cue. The file does not contain or alter the video itself.

For the timestamp format documented by Vimeo, use hh:mm:ss,mmm: two digits each for hours, minutes, and seconds, followed by a comma and three digits for milliseconds. For example, 00:00:02,400 marks two seconds and 400 milliseconds. Vimeo recommends UTF-8 encoding for reliable display of special characters. Vimeo OTT subtitle guidance and Vimeo’s caption-file troubleshooting guide describe these requirements.

Create and check the file

1. Work from the final video

Use the exact edit that will be published or streamed. Trimming, inserting, or removing footage can shift cue timing. Vimeo OTT says subtitle timing should follow the media timecode rather than SMPTE timecode; if you replace a video there, upload its subtitle file again.

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2. Transcribe and divide the text into cues

Write down the spoken words accurately, then split them into short, readable units that match the speech. For captions intended to convey meaningful audio to viewers who cannot hear it, include relevant sound cues such as [applause] or [thunder]; YouTube gives these as examples in its manual-caption guidance. No universal line-length or cue-duration limit is established by the cited platform documentation, so treat readability as an editorial decision and check the result in the player.

3. Time each cue against the media

Set each cue’s start and end to the moment its text should appear and disappear. Keep the timestamps aligned with the actual video timeline, not a separate timecode reference. Review synchronization near the beginning, middle, and end: small timing errors can become more noticeable as a video progresses.

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4. Save as UTF-8 plain text

Use a plain-text editor, save the file with the .srt extension, and choose UTF-8 encoding. Avoid rich-text formatting that might add hidden characters or alter punctuation. UTF-8 is specifically recommended by Vimeo for displaying special characters.

5. Validate the SRT structure

Use this small example as a format reference, not as a file tested against every service:

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1
00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,200
Welcome to tonight's program.

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We recorded this session earlier today.
  • Begin with cue number 1 and number cues sequentially.
  • Give every cue a start and end timestamp in the form 00:00:00,000, using leading zeroes and a comma before milliseconds.
  • Put --> between the timestamps, then put the caption text on the following line or lines.
  • Leave a blank line after each cue, including the last one.
  • Check spelling, punctuation, names, and sound descriptions, then preview the file in the destination player.

These structural checks follow Vimeo’s SRT troubleshooting guidance. Platform acceptance can differ, so preview after upload rather than assuming a valid-looking text file will display correctly everywhere.

Upload the SRT to the destination platform

YouTube

In YouTube Studio, open the video’s Subtitles section, choose the language, and add subtitles. Upload the timed file using the upload option for a file with timing. YouTube also supports transcript auto-sync and manual caption entry; those are alternative workflows, not steps required to create an SRT. YouTube lists SubRip (.srt) as supported and suggests SRT or SBV for newcomers. Confirm the language and track on the intended video, then preview it. See YouTube’s caption-file guidance and YouTube’s subtitle and caption tools.

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YouTube’s automatic captions are separate from an authored subtitle file. Review any captions you create or generate for accuracy before relying on them.

Vimeo video and Vimeo OTT

Vimeo documents support for both SRT and WebVTT for standard video captions, while recommending WebVTT for its standard video workflow. Its language or subtitle controls are where caption files are managed; available options can depend on the product and plan. Vimeo OTT accepts SRT and VTT and has its own media-timecode and replacement-video guidance. Do not assume that a workflow or requirement documented for Vimeo OTT applies identically to every Vimeo product. See Vimeo’s format guidance and Vimeo OTT subtitle guidance.

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Pre-recorded content shown as a live stream: an important limit

Uploading an SRT file to a video’s subtitle track does not, by itself, establish that captions will be sent during a live encoder session or a live simulcast of pre-recorded media. The cited platform documentation explains subtitles on videos and, separately, the SRT live-video transport protocol; it does not establish one universal way to pass a SubRip file through a live stream.

If viewers need captions during the live presentation, check the exact platform, encoder, and event workflow for a caption-ingest feature before promising live captions. Do not confuse a .srt subtitle file with an SRT stream URL, stream ID, or passphrase. Vimeo’s Secure Reliable Transport overview concerns the transport protocol, not SubRip cue creation.

Why captions may be out of sync or fail to display

  • Cues drift from the speech: The file may have been timed against an earlier edit or the wrong timeline. Recheck cues against the final media, including points near the start, middle, and end.
  • Special characters look wrong: Save as UTF-8 and upload the corrected file.
  • The file is rejected or appears empty: Check that it is plain text with an .srt extension, begins with a cue number, uses two-digit hours, minutes, and seconds plus three-digit milliseconds, separates seconds from milliseconds with a comma, and has a blank line between cues.
  • It works on the video but not during the live presentation: A video subtitle track and live caption ingest are different workflows. Confirm that the platform and encoder accept captions for that live session.
  • Captions no longer match a replaced video: Re-time and upload a matching subtitle file. Vimeo OTT specifically requires a subtitle file to be uploaded again after video replacement.

Or let it run in the cloud

If the pre-recorded program also needs to stay live on YouTube, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos or playlists. Upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key, and go live; it runs without a computer, OBS, or home connection left on. It does not create an SRT file or send captions automatically, so prepare and verify captions separately for the workflow you need.

  • Any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps streams as made, at one flat price per slot.
  • Automatic recovery is provided if YouTube drops the stream.
  • The first day is free with no card required.

The monthly option is $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.

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