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Everything you need to understand about VTT files
VTT files are a common type of captioning format used for embedding subtitles and other video-related information. Although they might seem complex at first glance, these files are simple to work with, and you don’t need specialized software to open, edit, or create your own VTT files. This guide answers frequently asked questions about VTT files, so keep reading for all the details.
A Brief Introduction to VTT Files
VTT files store important data for videos, such as subtitles and metadata. These files can be accessed, modified, and created using any text editor like Notepad or TextEdit. There are also free online tools available to check your VTT file for errors or to convert it into other formats.
Step-by-Step Guide
What exactly is a VTT file?
Which programs can open VTT files?
You can open VTT files using any text editor. This includes default text editors like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac), as well as more advanced options like Microsoft Word, Notepad++, GitHub Atom, and others.
Specialized programs for creating VTT files can also open them. If you frequently work with VTT files, using a dedicated VTT program could be more efficient than relying on basic text editors. Here are some programs designed for this task:
- Ooona Create+Translate: Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux (web-based). It requires a subscription: $30 for the Standard version and $60 for the Pro version per month.
- Annotation Edit: Mac-only. The full license costs approximately $300, with a limited free demo available for download.
- VEED: A web-based tool offering both free and paid plans, with prices ranging from $25 to $70 per month.
- VTT Creator: Another web-based application, free to use without the need for an account.
Web browsers can also open VTT files. Simply drag and drop the VTT file into your browser to view its contents. Keep in mind that you cannot edit the file in a browser—only view it.
How can I convert a VTT file?
Use an online converter to change your VTT file into another format. Here are some free online converters and the file types you can convert your VTT files into:
- HappyScribe: DOCX, TXT, PDF
- Ebby: SRT, DOCX, TXT, PDF, HTML
- Subtitle Tools: SRT, SSA, SMI, SUB
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VEED: SRT
- These websites can also convert other file formats (like SRT, TXT, and DOCX) into VTT.
How can I create a VTT file from scratch?
Start by opening a plaintext editor. You can use Notepad, TextEdit, Notepad++, GitHub Atom, or any other text editor you prefer.
- We recommend using a plain text editor rather than a word processor like Microsoft Word, since Word tries to format and autocorrect your text, which can cause errors in your VTT file.
- If you prefer, you can also use a caption program to create a VTT file, but this section will focus on how to write a VTT file using a plaintext editor.
Begin your document by writing WEBVTT at the top. Every VTT file must start with the WEBVTT header.
- After the header, press Enter or Return twice to create a line break before your first subtitle.
Set the timestamp range for your first subtitle. To create a timestamp range, enter the start time, press Space, type -->, press Space again, then enter the end time. Timestamps must follow the format HH:MM:SS.###, where hours, minutes, and seconds must have two digits each, and three decimal places follow the seconds.
- For example, if you want a subtitle to appear at the first second and disappear between the third and fourth second, the timestamp range would look like:
- 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:000
- Press Enter or Return to move to the next line.
Type out the dialogue or text at the specified time in the video. To keep your subtitles from being cut off, you can add line breaks, but try not to exceed three lines so that they fit properly on screen and don’t block the view of the video.
- Write the subtitles exactly as they should appear. Avoid using brackets or quotation marks.
- Press Enter or Return twice after each subtitle to create a line break.
Continue by repeating Step 3 and Step 4 to add all your subtitles. Ensure you add line breaks after each pair of timestamps and subtitles.
Save your file as a VTT format. The process varies slightly depending on your operating system. Follow the steps below for saving your VTT file in Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac.
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On Windows: Go to File > Save.
- Select All files (*.*) for "Save as type" and UTF-8 for "Encoding".
- Name your file, ensuring it ends with .vtt.
- Click Save.
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On Mac: Choose Format > Make Plain Text.
- Go to File > Save.
- Set the "Plain Text Encoding" dropdown to Unicode (UTF-8).
- Uncheck "Hide extension" and "If no extension is provided, use .txt".
- Give your file a name ending with .vtt.
- Click Save.
Verify your VTT file with a validator. A validator checks that your VTT file is error-free. If there are any problems, the validator will highlight them and suggest fixes.
- Visit the Live WebVTT Validator.
- You can use any VTT validator available online, as they work in a similar way.
- Copy and paste your VTT file's content into the validator.
- In the "Kind" dropdown, select subtitles/captions/descriptions.
- Fix any issues the validator identifies.
What distinguishes SRT from VTT?
SRT and VTT are both subtitle file formats, but they have some important distinctions. SRT (SubRip Subtitle) is the older of the two formats and is used for storing subtitles for videos. The key difference lies in the type of information each format can store.
- VTT files, as mentioned earlier, can contain information for customizing the font, color, and position of subtitles or captions. They also support metadata, which makes them ideal for platforms like YouTube and Vimeo.
- VTT files are best when you need more control over the styling of subtitles or require metadata to be included.
- SRT files, on the other hand, are limited to basic subtitle and caption formatting and don't support metadata. They are, however, supported by YouTube and Vimeo.
- SRT files are a great choice for large projects, offering simplicity and ease of use compared to VTT files.
