Timed lyrics in Premiere Pro, Resolve and YouTube
All three take the same file: an SRT with a start and end time for each lyric. Once imported, the lyrics sit on a caption track you can restyle, nudge and export with the video.
Before you import
- Time the SRT against the same audio. If the video uses a radio edit or a trimmed intro, sync the lyrics to that version, not the album mix.
- Pick the cue size. One cue per line suits captions. One cue per phrase or word suits fast, punchy edits. In LyriSync's SRT export that is the line, phrase or word option.
- Start the timeline at zero. SRT times count from the start of the audio. If your sequence starts later, or the song starts partway in, move the caption track to match after import.
Premiere Pro
- Import the .srt like any other media (File, Import, or drag it into the Project panel).
- Drag it from the Project panel onto your sequence. Premiere creates a caption track from it.
- Style the captions in the Properties or Essential Graphics panel, then line the track up with the song if the audio does not start at zero.
If Premiere starts transcribing on its own, you can switch automatic transcription off in its preferences. You already have the words.
DaVinci Resolve
- Use File, Import, Subtitle, or right-click the Media Pool and import the subtitle file.
- Drag it from the Media Pool onto the timeline, where it lands on a subtitle track.
- Style it in the Inspector. Keep the timeline frame rate the same as your source footage so the cues stay on time.
Subtitle import works in the free version of Resolve.
YouTube
- In YouTube Studio, open the video and go to Subtitles.
- Add a language, then choose to upload a file with timing.
- Select the .srt and publish. Viewers can then switch the lyrics on as captions.
Upload the SRT for the exact version of the song in the video. A file timed to a different edit drifts from the first cut onwards.
When you want animated lyrics instead
Captions are styled as a block. For type that moves word by word, use a lyric video in After Effects: LyriSync sends the timed words in as editable text layers. See the After Effects workflow and the lyric video guide.
Need the file first? The SRT lyrics generator times your own lyrics to your song and exports SRT or WebVTT. Not sure which format? Read SRT vs LRC.
Align any whole song up to 10 minutes and open it in the editor: play it, check every word and fix timings. The private preview is available for 5 days. You pay per song, when you export.
Next guide: Syncing lyrics by hand vs automatically