LyricTimestamps.com

Convert Lyrics to WebVTT Captions

Upload your song, paste the lyrics that are actually sung, and tick VTT. LyricTimestamps aligns each word to the vocal and returns a WebVTT file that HTML5 video can load directly through a <track> element.

The same job also exports LRC, SRT, VTT, and JSON if you need a copy for an editor or a music player.

Create a VTT file

Opens the generator with VTT preselected.

Try it free, then see pricing for longer monthly use.

What the VTT output looks like

WebVTT

WEBVTT

00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.960
I remember every word you said

00:00:16.020 --> 00:00:19.340
Standing in the rain again

The file opens with the required WEBVTT line, then lists cues separated by blank lines. Times use a period before the milliseconds, which is the difference that matters most when converting by hand from SRT.

Using it with HTML video

Reference the file from a track element inside your video, and the browser will render the captions with its own controls:

HTML

<video controls src="/song.mp4">
  <track
    kind="captions"
    label="Lyrics"
    srclang="en"
    src="/song.vtt"
    default
  />
</video>

Serving notes

Serve the file as text/vtt and from the same origin as the page, or with CORS headers that allow it. A cross-origin caption file without CORS is the usual reason captions silently fail to appear.

Streaming players

Players built on HLS or DASH can also take a VTT sidecar as a text track. Check your player's documentation for whether it expects a manifest entry or a direct URL.

Keeping the captions readable

Cues follow the line breaks in the lyric text you paste, so break lines at musical phrases rather than at arbitrary widths. Include audible ad-libs if you want them captioned, and leave section labels out — the product flags lines that look like labels and keeps them out of the timing so no cue appears over an instrumental.

Lyrics to VTT FAQ

Why does VTT work in browsers when SRT does not?: WebVTT is the format the HTML <track> element is specified to load. Browsers are not required to parse SRT, so a VTT sidecar is the reliable choice for web video.
Does the file need the WEBVTT header?: Yes. A valid WebVTT file starts with the line WEBVTT. Files exported here already include it.
How do VTT timestamps differ from SRT?: VTT separates seconds from milliseconds with a period, while SRT uses a comma. VTT also allows cue settings and styling that SRT does not.
Can I use VTT for a music player instead of captions?: Music players generally expect LRC. Use VTT for video captions and LRC for player lyric display.
Do I still need to paste the lyrics?: Yes. Alignment times the words you supply; it does not transcribe or look up lyrics.
Which other exports are available?: Each finished alignment can be downloaded as LRC, SRT, VTT, and JSON.

Generate my VTT

Try it free, then see pricing for longer monthly use.