Create .SRT subtitles & .LRC lyrics from audio with Whisper AI and GPT-5-nano

Description

Overview

This workflow automates the entire process of creating professional subtitle (.SRT) and synced lyrics (.LRC) files from audio recordings. Upload your vocal track, let Whisper AI transcribe it with precise timestamps, and GPT-5-nano segments it into natural, singable lyric lines. With an optional quality control step, you can manually refine the output while maintaining perfect timestamp alignment.

Key Features

Whisper AI Transcription**: Word-level timestamps with multi-language support via ISO codes
Intelligent Segmentation**: GPT-5-nano formats transcriptions into natural lyric lines (2-8 words per line)
Quality Control Option**: Download, edit, and re-upload corrections with smart timestamp matching
Advanced Alignment**: Levenshtein distance algorithm preserves timestamps during manual edits
Dual Format Export**: Generate both .SRT (video subtitles) and .LRC (synced lyrics) files
No Storage Needed**: Files generated in-memory for instant download
Multi-Language**: Supports various languages through Whisper API

Use Cases
Generate synced lyrics for music video releases on YouTube
Create .LRC files for Musixmatch, Apple Music, and Spotify
Prepare professional subtitles for social media content
Batch process subtitle files for catalog releases
Maintain consistent lyric formatting across artists
Streamline content delivery for streaming platforms
Speed up video editing workflow

Perfect For
For Musicians & Artists
For Record Labels
For Content Creators

What You'll Need

Required Setup
OpenAI API Key** for Whisper transcription and GPT-5-nano segmentation

Recommended Input
Format**: MP3 audio files (max 25MB)
Content**: Clean vocal tracks work best (isolated vocals recommended, but whole tracks works still good)
Languages**: Any language supported by Whisper (specify via ISO code)

How It Works

Automatic Mode (No Quality Check)
Upload your MP3 vocal track to the workflow
Transcription: Whisper AI processes audio with word-level timestamps
Segmentation: GPT-5-nano formats text into natural lyric lines
Generation: Workflow creates .SRT and .LRC files
Download your ready-to-use subtitle files

Manual Quality Control Mode
Upload your MP3 vocal track and enable quality check
Transcription: Whisper AI processes audio with timestamps
Initial Segmentation: GPT-5-nano creates first draft
Download the .TXT file for review
Edit lyrics in any text editor (keep line structure intact)
Re-upload corrected .TXT file
Smart Matching: Advanced diff algorithm aligns changes with original timestamps
Download final .SRT and .LRC files with perfect timing

Technical Details

Transcription API**: OpenAI Whisper (/v1/audio/transcriptions)
Segmentation Model**: GPT-5-nano with custom lyric-focused prompt
System Prompt*: *"You are helping with preparing song lyrics for musicians. Take the following transcription and split it into lyric-like lines. Keep lines short (2–8 words), natural for singing/rap phrasing, and do not change the wording."
Timestamp Matching**: Levenshtein distance + alignment algorithm
File Size Limit**: 25MB (n8n platform default)
Processing**: All in-memory, no disk storage
Cost**: Based on Whisper API usage (varies with audio length)

Output Formats

.SRT (SubRip Subtitle)
Standard format for:
YouTube video subtitles
Video editing software (Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, etc.)
Media players (VLC, etc.)

.LRC (Lyric File)
Synced lyrics format for:
Musixmatch
Apple Music
Spotify
Music streaming services
Audio players with lyrics display

Pro Tips

💡 For Best Results:
Use isolated vocal tracks when possible (remove instrumentals)
Ensure clear recordings with minimal background noise
For quality check edits, only modify text content—don't change line breaks
Test with shorter tracks first to optimize your workflow

⚙️ Customization Options:
Adjust GPT segmentation style by modifying the system prompt
Add language detection or force specific languages in Whisper settings
Customize output file naming conventions in final nodes
Extend workflow with additional format exports if needed

Workflow Components

Audio Input: Upload interface for MP3 files
Whisper Transcribe: OpenAI API call with timestamp extraction
Post-Processing: GPT-5-nano segmentation into lyric format
Routing Quality Check: Decision point for manual review
Timestamp Matching: Diff and alignment for corrected text
Subtitles Preparation: JSON formatting for both output types
File Generation: Convert to .SRT and .LRC formats
Download Nodes: Export final files

Template Author:
Questions or need help with setup?
📧 Email:[email protected]
💼 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaclavcikl/