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14 January 20265 min

Turn Any Video into a Text Transcript (SRT/TXT Export)

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You have a 2-hour foreign film. You want to read through the dialogue as a study resource—on your Kindle, in Notion, or just as a reference while you rewatch. Here's how to turn any video or audio file into a clean, exportable transcript.

Why Extract Transcripts from Video?

Watching is passive. Reading is active. For language learners, having a text version of your immersion content unlocks new study methods:

  • Read Ahead: Read the transcript before watching to prime your brain for unfamiliar vocabulary.
  • Look Up at Your Pace: Pause, highlight, and look up words without pausing the video.
  • Create Study Notes: Copy key sentences into Notion, Obsidian, or your preferred note-taking app.
  • Read on E-Ink: Load the transcript onto a Kindle or Kobo for distraction-free study.

How to Export Transcripts with SubSmith

SubSmith generates subtitles from any video using local Whisper AI—and then lets you export them in multiple formats. Here's the workflow:

  1. Load Your Video: Drag any video file (MKV, MP4, AVI) into SubSmith. If the video already has subtitles embedded, you can use those directly.
  2. Transcribe (If Needed): If your video has no subtitles, click "Transcribe" to generate them with Whisper. Select the language and let the AI do its work.
  3. Edit and Clean: Review the subtitles in the inline editor. Fix any errors, merge short lines, or split long sentences for readability.
  4. Export: Choose your export format:
    • SRT: Standard subtitle format with timestamps (works in most video players)
    • TXT: Plain text without timestamps (ideal for reading or note-taking)

Where to Use Your Exported Transcripts

Once you have the text file, the possibilities are endless:

  • Kindle/E-Reader: Convert the TXT to EPUB or load it directly. Read through the dialogue on a distraction-free device.
  • Notion/Obsidian: Paste the transcript into your language learning database. Tag vocabulary, add notes, and link to other resources.
  • iPad/Tablet: Open the file in any reading app. Great for side-by-side study with the video playing on another screen.
  • Print It: Some learners prefer physical paper. Print the transcript and annotate with a highlighter.

Use Case: Podcast Transcripts

This workflow isn't limited to video. If you have audio files (MP3, M4A, WAV), SubSmith can transcribe those too:

  • Foreign language podcasts without transcripts
  • Voice memos or recordings from tutoring sessions
  • Audiobooks you want to read along with

Drag the audio file into SubSmith, transcribe with Whisper, and export as TXT. Now you have a searchable, readable version of spoken content.

Benefits of Local Processing

SubSmith's local Whisper processing gives you flexibility that's hard to beat:

  • No Upload Wait: Large video files process immediately—no waiting for uploads to complete.
  • Works Offline: Transcribe on a plane, in a café with bad WiFi, or anywhere without internet.
  • Privacy by Default: Your files stay on your machine. Great for personal recordings or sensitive content.

Transcribe your entire media library at your own pace, on your own hardware.

Common Questions About Transcript Export

FAQ

  • What formats can I export? SubSmith exports SRT (with timestamps) and TXT (plain text). SRT is best for video players; TXT is best for reading and note-taking.
  • Can I export subtitles in two languages? Yes. If your video has multiple subtitle tracks (e.g., Japanese and English), you can export each one separately.
  • Does the export include timestamps? SRT exports include precise timestamps for each line. TXT exports are plain text without timing information.
  • Can I load the transcript onto my Kindle? Yes. Export as TXT or SRT, then convert to MOBI/EPUB using Calibre or send directly to your Kindle via email.
  • How accurate is the transcription? It depends on audio quality. Clear dialogue with minimal background noise works well. Noisy audio, music, or overlapping speakers may need more editing. SubSmith includes an inline editor so you can fix errors before exporting.
  • What about Anki card export? Anki integration is on our roadmap. For now, you can copy sentences from the transcript into Anki manually or use the exported text as source material for card creation.