A caption file is a plain text file that pairs written text with timing information, so a video player can display the right words at the right moment. It is not the video itself. It is a small sidecar file, usually a few kilobytes, that a player or editor reads alongside the video track.
If you have never opened one, that surprises people. A caption file for a two-hour lecture might be smaller than a single photo from your phone. It only holds text and timestamps, nothing else.
The three formats you will actually run into
SRT (SubRip Subtitle)
The most common caption format by far. Extension `.srt`. Numbered blocks, each with a start time, an end time, and one or more lines of text. Almost every video editor, from Premiere to DaVinci to CapCut, and most platforms including YouTube Studio, accept SRT as a default option. When someone says "just send me the captions" without specifying a format, SRT is usually the safe guess. Full breakdown: what is an SRT file.
VTT (WebVTT)
Extension `.vtt`. Structurally similar to SRT with a different header format and a bit more room for styling cues. VTT is the native caption format for HTML5 video on the web, meaning custom video players on a website often expect this format specifically through a `<track>` element. Full breakdown: what is a VTT file.
SCC (Scenarist Closed Caption)
Extension `.scc`. An older broadcast-oriented format tied to the CEA-608 standard used in traditional television closed captioning. You will see SCC requested far less often than SRT or VTT today, mostly in broadcast delivery specs or legacy compliance requirements. If a contract or a broadcaster's technical spec calls for SCC specifically, treat that as a real requirement, not something a generic SRT export can substitute for without checking.
Quick comparison
Extension
- SRT
- `.srt`
- VTT
- `.vtt`
- SCC
- `.scc`
Common home
- SRT
- Video editors, YouTube Studio
- VTT
- HTML5 web players
- SCC
- Broadcast television delivery
Styling support
- SRT
- Minimal
- VTT
- More, with cue settings
- SCC
- Format-specific, tied to broadcast standards
How common today
- SRT
- Very
- VTT
- Common on the web
- SCC
- Rare outside broadcast contracts
Good default guess
- SRT
- Yes, if unspecified
- VTT
- If a player explicitly wants WebVTT
- SCC
- Only if a spec requires it
Why caption files exist as a separate file at all
Baking text permanently into a video's pixels (called burned-in or open captions) works, but it locks you into one language, one style, and one decision forever. A separate caption file lets a viewer toggle captions on or off, switch languages if multiple tracks exist, and lets a platform apply its own styling. That flexibility is the entire reason the format exists instead of everyone just editing text directly onto footage.
It also means the same transcript can produce multiple deliverables. One accurate transcript, exported as SRT for your video editor and VTT for your website player, without retranscribing anything.
Captions vs subtitles vs a caption file
These terms get used loosely, and the file format is not what separates them. Captions, in the strict original sense, include non-speech sound information for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. Subtitles traditionally mean translated dialogue for viewers who do not speak the audio's language. Both are usually delivered in the exact same SRT or VTT file today. The distinction lives in the text content, not the container. Full explanation: closed captions vs subtitles explained, and the open vs closed distinction: open captions vs closed captions.
How to get a caption file from a recording
- Upload your audio or video file to a transcription tool. File Transcribe accepts this directly on the homepage, guest upload included for a first pass.
- Review the AI draft. Fix names, jargon, and any misheard words while the audio plays back in sync.
- Export the format your destination actually wants: SRT for most editors and YouTube, VTT for an HTML5 web player.
- Sign in with a free account if subtitle export is not available on your current session; guest tries are TXT-oriented, and SRT/VTT become available on free accounts.
That is the entire path. There is no manual timestamp math required unless you are hand-editing an existing file.
When the format actually matters
Most of the time, SRT and VTT are close enough that either works and the player quietly accepts both. It stops being interchangeable in a few specific cases:
- A broadcast delivery spec explicitly names SCC or another CEA-608-based format
- A CMS or LMS documents only one accepted extension and rejects the other
- An accessibility compliance requirement references a specific standard rather than "any caption file"
Outside those cases, export whichever format your tool defaults to and move on. Arguing about SRT versus VTT for a YouTube upload is rarely the thing slowing your project down; an inaccurate transcript is.
FAQ
What is the difference between a caption file and a transcript?
A transcript is the full text of what was said, often kept as a readable document (TXT, DOCX, or PDF) without strict per-line timing. A caption file breaks that same text into short timed chunks synced to playback. The same recording usually produces both. Longer answer: difference between a transcript and captions.
Which caption file format should I use for YouTube?
SRT is the safest default and widely used. YouTube Studio also accepts VTT. See how to export VTT captions for YouTube for the exact upload steps.
Do I need a special program to open a caption file?
No. SRT and VTT are plain text and open in any text editor. You will not typically edit them by hand though; fixing errors in the original transcript and re-exporting is faster and less error-prone than manually adjusting timestamp syntax.
Is SCC still used?
Mostly in broadcast television delivery and some legacy accessibility requirements. If nobody has specifically asked for SCC, you almost certainly want SRT or VTT instead.
Can File Transcribe export SCC?
File Transcribe focuses on SRT and VTT, the formats that cover the overwhelming majority of video editor and web player needs. Check pricing for current export options if your project has a specific broadcast delivery requirement.
Do this next
- Decide what your destination actually wants: an editor (SRT), a web player (VTT), or a specific broadcast spec (confirm before assuming).
- Upload the recording to File Transcribe.
- Proofread the draft.
- Export the format that matches your destination.
Related: What is a VTT file · What is an SRT file · Difference between a transcript and captions · Closed captions vs subtitles explained · Open captions vs closed captions · Transcript format guide · Try File Transcribe free
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