LyriSync vs Aegisub for timing lyrics and karaoke
Aegisub is the long-standing free tool for subtitles and karaoke timing. LyriSync does one narrower job: it takes a finished song and lyrics you already have and syncs every word. They are two halves of the same workflow more than rivals.
The short answer
- Use Aegisub for a free desktop editor with full control and deep ASS styling, if you have time to time it yourself.
- Use LyriSync for word-level timing from lyrics you already have, exported to SRT, LRC, TTML, ASS or After Effects.
How each one gets the timing
In Aegisub you paste the lines, then set each start and end by selecting a stretch of the audio waveform or spectrum and committing it, one line at a time. For karaoke you split each line into syllables and time those too. Its own documentation describes this as manual work against the audio display, and it is very good at it: playback keys, a live video preview and precise markers make it a craftsperson's tool.
In LyriSync you upload the finished song, paste the lyrics and it places every word against the vocal. No acapella or stems are needed. You then listen back and nudge any line or word, so review is the manual step, not the timing.
Side by side
| What | Aegisub | LyriSync |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | By hand, line by line and syllable by syllable | Automatic from your lyrics, then reviewed and nudged |
| Cost | Free and open source | Every song aligned and checked in the editor, then 1 song credit to export each |
| Runs on | Desktop app | In the browser |
| Styling | Deep ASS styling, karaoke effects and templates, video preview | Timing first; design happens in your editor or After Effects |
| Formats | ASS natively, with export to other subtitle formats | SRT, WebVTT, LRC and enhanced LRC, ASS karaoke, TTML, JSON, CSV |
| After Effects | Not a target | Free panel sends lyrics in as editable text layers |
Where Aegisub is the better choice
- You are styling anime-style or fansub karaoke and want its karaoke templater and inline effects.
- The track is short, line timing is enough, and you would rather spend time than money.
- You want to work entirely offline on your own machine.
Where LyriSync is the better choice
- You need word-level timing across a whole song and do not want to mark every word.
- You are making a lyric video in After Effects and want editable text layers, not a subtitle file.
- You need the same timing in several formats, such as SRT for YouTube and LRC for a player.
Using them together
- Sync the song in LyriSync and check the timing in the editor.
- Export ASS at karaoke granularity, which carries a timed tag for every word.
- Open the file in Aegisub and style it, add effects, or adjust any syllable you want to split further.
New to timed lyrics? Start with what synced lyrics are and how to make them, or see the karaoke lyrics generator for word-by-word ASS output.
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: LyriSync vs Subtitle Edit for timing song lyrics