Auto-caption a video

Generate accurate, styled captions for any video. Step-by-step: generate, style, and fine-tune captions in Pluged AI.

Add captions to any video automatically. Pluged AI transcribes audio and adds word-timed captions you can style for any platform.

What you'll learn

  • Generate captions from timeline audio
  • Apply caption styles (TikTok, minimal, etc.)
  • Fine-tune timing and text
  • Export with captions baked in

Step 1: Import and add video

Import your video:

  1. Click Media tab in the left sidebar
  2. Click Upload or drag files directly onto the panel
  3. Wait for processing — thumbnails appear when ready

Add to timeline:

  1. Drag your video from Media panel to the main track (top video track)
  2. Press Space to play and confirm audio is present
  3. If no audio, check: Properties panel → Audio tab → ensure not muted

Screenshot: Add video to timeline

Step 2: Open Captions panel

  1. Click Captions tab in the left sidebar (between Transitions and Text)
  2. See options:
    • Language dropdown
    • Generate button
    • Import SRT/ASS options

Screenshot: Captions panel open

Step 3: Generate captions

  1. Select language:

    • Choose from dropdown (English, Spanish, French, etc.)
    • Or select "Auto" to auto-detect

  2. Click "Generate captions" button

  3. Wait for processing — you'll see status:

    • Extracting audio...
    • Loading transcription model...
    • Transcribing...
    • Generating captions...

Timing: ~1-2x the video duration (a 5-minute video takes ~5-10 minutes)

Step 4: Review captions

View the result:

  1. Captions appear as orange clips on a "Captions" text track below video
  2. Play the video — captions appear in the preview overlay
  3. Scrub through — verify words match speech

Screenshot: Captions on timeline

Step 5: Fix timing issues

If captions are slightly off:

Adjust entire caption clip:

  1. Click the caption clip on the timeline
  2. Drag left/right to move in time
  3. Drag edges to extend/contract duration

Edit individual words:

  1. Double-click caption in timeline or preview
  2. Select text → edit directly
  3. Press Enter to confirm

Screenshot: Editing caption text

Step 6: Apply a caption style

Via the Agent (recommended):

  1. Click "Agent" in top-right header
  2. Type:

    "Restyle captions with TikTok-bold"

  3. Press Enter — style applies automatically

Available styles: | Style | Look | Best for | |-------|------|----------| | tiktok-bold | Heavy stroke, bold font | TikTok, viral clips | | minimal-clean | Thin line, subtle | Education, clean content | | boxed-contrast | Solid background box | Accessibility, any background | | editorial-highlight | Underlined highlight | Premium, documentary | | neon-pop | Glow effect, neon colors | Gaming, music | | documentary-lower | Lower-third placement | Interviews, docs |

Screenshot: Caption styles

Step 7: Fine-tune style manually

If you want custom styling:

  1. Select a caption clip on timeline
  2. Open Properties panel on the right (if closed, click Properties tab)
  3. Click "Text" tab in Properties
  4. Adjust:
    • Font family
    • Font size
    • Colors (fill, stroke, shadow)
    • Background
    • Animation

Screenshot: Manual caption styling

Step 8: Export with captions

  1. Click Export button (top-right)
  2. Select format:
    • MP4 (H.264) — recommended, universal compatibility
    • WebM — smaller files
  3. Select quality:
    • High — best balance of quality/size
    • Custom — enter specific bitrate
  4. Ensure "Include audio" is checked
  5. Click "Export" — wait for render
  6. File downloads automatically

Important: Captions are "burned in" — they appear in the exported video automatically.

Troubleshooting

"Generate captions" button is grayed out

Fix: Make sure video has audio:

  1. Select video on timeline
  2. Check Properties → Audio → volume not at 0

Transcription in wrong language

Fix:

  1. Re-generate with correct language selected
  2. Or select "Auto" to auto-detect

Captions appear too fast/slow

Fix:

  • Too many short captions → Ask agent: "Merge short captions"
  • Too few long captions → Select clip → Split (S) → type new text

Style won't apply via agent

Fix: Ensure captions exist before styling. Order matters:

  1. Generate captions first
  2. Then apply style

Captions disappear after reframe

Fix: Normal — reframe changes timing. Re-generate captions AFTER reframing.

Quick workflow summary

| Step | Action | Where | |------|--------|-------| | 1 | Import video | Media tab → Upload | | 2 | Add to timeline | Drag to main track | | 3 | Generate | Captions tab → Generate | | 4 | Review | Play timeline | | 5 | Style | Agent → "Restyle with [skin]" | | 6 | Export | Export button |

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