AI video basics: transcription and subtitles

Current task

AI video basics: transcription and subtitles

Estimated time

Plan 2–4 practice sessions; an editorial estimate, not measured duration.

Limits & boundaries

FFmpeg missing from PATH, insufficient model resources, name errors, subtitle encoding or timing offsets.

Validation

Subtitle a short owned recording, correct a recognition error and check synchronization at three points.

Next steps

Complete the linked recipes’ verification items before adding one capability; repeat source checks when dependencies change.

Cost

Not verified

Price not verified; check software, model, API, hardware and hosting costs separately.

Implementation steps

1. 01
   Prepare a short recording with audio/image rights and preserve the original.
2. 02
   Install Whisper and FFmpeg per official instructions and pin versions and the model.
3. 03
   Transcribe a short sample, export subtitles and review timing, names and terminology line by line.
4. 04
   Create a preview using your installed FFmpeg filter/format docs, retaining separate subtitles and originals.
5. 05
   Watch the full clip and correct issues, exporting after checking subtitle/audio/video alignment.

Implementation steps

1. Prepare a short recording with audio/image rights and preserve the original.

2. Install Whisper and FFmpeg per official instructions and pin versions and the model.

3. Transcribe a short sample, export subtitles and review timing, names and terminology line by line.

4. Create a preview using your installed FFmpeg filter/format docs, retaining separate subtitles and originals.

5. Watch the full clip and correct issues, exporting after checking subtitle/audio/video alignment.

Original sources

1. FFmpeg official documentation ↗

   ffmpeg.org · 2026-10-15 · Official documentation

2. Whisper official documentation ↗

   github.com · 2026-10-15 · Official documentation