Automatic karaoke captions for Shorts, Reels and TikTok
TONTRIA transcribes every word of the video — spoken or sung — and turns it into animated captions you can style like the artist. Karaoke captions light up each word as it is sung.
Captions are included in every clip. 1 credit = 1 minute of video processed.
Captions in three steps
Paste a link or upload a video
The language is detected automatically and the whole video is transcribed word by word.
Pick a style
Karaoke, word by word, viral or phrase. Change the font, color, stroke and shadow, and highlight key words.
Check and export
Fix any word in the transcript, add a hook at the top, and export the clip with the captions burned in.
A style for every kind of video
Karaoke
The whole line is on screen and each word lights up as it is sung or said. Ideal for songs: people read along and learn the lyrics.
Word by word
One word at a time, large and centered. Good for fast talk and strong statements.
Viral
Short groups of words with a highlighted key word. Fast, punchy, built to hold attention.
Phrase
A full phrase at a time, calm and readable. Good for interviews and stories.
Your brand
Any font (20 on Free, 220+ on paid plans), color, stroke and shadow. Save it as a template so every clip matches.
Translation
Translate the captions of a clip for audiences in other countries, then proofread before posting.
Why captions matter on short videos
A large part of short-form video is watched with the sound off: on public transport, at work, late at night. Without captions, a clip of someone talking or singing is just a moving face. Captions also hold attention when the sound is on, because people read and listen at the same time — and for songs, they help people learn the words.
Captions for songs are a different problem
Most automatic captions were designed for speech. Songs stretch words, repeat lines and have long instrumental gaps. TONTRIA was built for music: it transcribes singing, keeps the timing of each word and the karaoke style highlights the word being sung, which is what makes people sing along in the comments.
Readable captions, every time
- Size and contrast: large enough to read on a phone, with a stroke or shadow so they work over any background.
- Position: clear of the bottom area where the platform shows the post text and buttons.
- Few words per line: two to five words at a time are easier to follow than a full sentence.
- Highlight sparingly: one key word per line, in the artist’s color.
Tip: save your caption style as a template. Every new clip starts with the same font, colors, highlight and logo, so all your posts look like the same artist.
Want the full picture? Read the guide to animated captions for Reels, TikTok and Shorts, or see how captions fit into AI clips for musicians.
Animated captions: questions
What’s the best app for animated captions on Reels and TikTok?
It depends on the content: for songs, pick one with a karaoke style that lights up each word as it is sung and lets you fix the lyrics; for talking videos, more dynamic styles. TONTRIA Clips has four styles —karaoke, word by word, viral and phrase— with highlighted keywords, and captions come with every clip at no extra cost.
How do I make karaoke or word-by-word captions?
Paste the video link (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram) or upload the file, then pick the Karaoke style —the whole line on screen and each word lights up as it is sung or said— or Word by word, one big word at a time. The timing of every word comes from the transcript, so you don't sync anything by hand. Fix any misheard word, change font and colors, and export the vertical clip ready for Reels, TikTok or Shorts. It also works from the phone browser.
Can captions follow a song, not just speech?
Yes. TONTRIA transcribes singing as well as speech, and the karaoke style highlights each word as it is sung. For full songs with lyrics on screen, Video Lyrics makes a complete lyric video.
Can I edit the captions?
Yes. Captions come from the word-by-word transcript, so you can fix names, slang or any misheard word before exporting.
Where should captions go in a vertical video?
Keep them away from the bottom of the screen, where the post text and buttons sit, and from the very top. Around the center or slightly below usually reads well. The animated captions guide explains size, contrast and placement.
What font should I use for Reels subtitles?
One that reads well on a phone: a bold sans serif with an outline or shadow so it stays readable on any background. Keep decorative fonts for the title or hook, not for a subtitle that changes every second. In TONTRIA you pick from 20 fonts on the Free plan and more than 220 on paid plans, and save the combo as a template. More tips in the captions guide.
Do captions cost extra?
No. Captions are part of every clip. You only use credits for the minutes of video processed (1 credit = 1 minute).
Can I add auto captions for free without a watermark?
On the free plan (30 credits, once, no card) the captioned video exports in 720p with a small TONTRIA watermark. The caption file doesn't have one: the subtitle generator gives you the SRT or TXT on any plan, to upload to YouTube or use in your editor. To export the video without the watermark you need a paid plan: Creator (USD 10 a month) exports in 1080p. See pricing.
Can I export the subtitles as a file?
From the editor you can export a project for professional editing software with the subtitles as an SRT file.
Keep exploring
Animated captions
Which caption style fits each short video: karaoke, word by word, viral or phrase. Plus readability, safe zones and how to caption songs.
Learn more →AI Clips
Long video in, vertical shorts out — with karaoke captions.
Learn more →Video editor
Timeline editor with AI auto-reframe for every platform.
Learn more →Video Lyrics
Lyric videos from a Spotify or YouTube link.
Learn more →Add captions that match the artist
Paste a link and pick a caption style.
The free plan includes 30 credits to start, no card needed.