How to Write Subtitles with GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered coding assistant, is not limited to code generation. It can also help you write impactful subtitles for your videos, podcasts, or multimedia content. Whether you are working on a professional subtitling project or simply want to add subtitles to your creations, Copilot significantly speeds up the process. By leveraging its contextual completion and rephrasing capabilities, you can produce clear, synchronized subtitles tailored to your audience. This tutorial guides you step by step to make the most of GitHub Copilot for writing subtitles, from preparing your environment to exporting your final SRT or VTT files.

Prerequisites

1.Have a GitHub account with an active GitHub Copilot subscription
2.Have Visual Studio Code installed with the GitHub Copilot extension
3.Have a raw transcription or an audio/video file to subtitle
4.Know the basics of the SRT or VTT format for subtitles

Steps

Prepare Your Subtitle File in VS Code

Create a new file with the .srt or .vtt extension in Visual Studio Code. Structure the first lines with the standard format (sequence number, timecode, text). GitHub Copilot will use this initial structure to generate consistent subsequent suggestions. If starting from a raw transcription, paste it into a separate file to serve as contextual reference.

Open a .srt file and type the first two entries manually to establish the pattern: number, timecode, and text. Copilot will automatically complete the following entries.

Tip: Keep your raw transcription open in an adjacent tab. Copilot uses the context of open files to improve its suggestions.

Use Copilot Chat to Segment the Transcription

Open the Copilot Chat panel and ask it to split your raw transcription into segments suitable for subtitles. Each segment should contain 1 to 2 lines of text, with a maximum of about 42 characters per line. Copilot will respect natural speech pauses and punctuation to create logical cuts.

Split this transcription into subtitle segments. Each segment must be at most 2 lines of 42 characters. Respect natural pauses and punctuation. Format the result in SRT with estimated timecodes every 3 seconds.

Tip: Specify the language and desired register (formal, informal) in your prompt to get subtitles suited to your target audience.

Rephrase and Condense Overly Long Subtitles

Some segments will be too long to be read comfortably on screen. Select these passages and use Copilot Chat to rephrase them more concisely while preserving the original meaning. The goal is to maintain a comfortable reading time, typically between 150 and 200 words per minute displayed on screen.

Rephrase this subtitle so that it fits within a maximum of 2 lines of 42 characters while keeping the exact meaning. Use simple and direct language.

Tip: Use the shortcut Ctrl+I (or Cmd+I on Mac) to open Copilot's inline editor directly on the selection, speeding up quick corrections.

Adjust Timecodes and Synchronization

Ask Copilot to recalculate the timecodes based on the actual duration of your video. Provide it with key reference points (start, end, important pauses) and let it redistribute the timecodes proportionally. Then manually check the critical passages where synchronization must be perfect.

The video is 5 minutes 30 seconds long. Recalculate the timecodes of these SRT subtitles so they are proportionally distributed over this duration. The first subtitle starts at 00:00:01,000.

Tip: For precise synchronization, use a video player with timecode display (like VLC) in parallel and manually adjust key moments.

Check, Correct, and Export the Final File

Perform a full review with Copilot Chat's help to detect spelling, grammar, and SRT formatting errors. Also ask it to check the consistency of timecodes (no overlaps, no excessive gaps). Once validated, save your .srt file or convert it to .vtt if needed.

Check this complete SRT file. Correct spelling and grammar errors. Verify that no timecodes overlap and that the SRT format is valid. Flag subtitles that exceed 42 characters per line.

Tip: Install the 'Subtitle Editor' extension in VS Code to get a real-time preview of your subtitles and visually detect formatting issues.

Common mistakes to avoid

✗Creating subtitles that are too long, exceeding 2 lines or 42 characters per line, making reading uncomfortable for the viewer
✗Not providing enough context to Copilot (raw transcription, target language, register), resulting in generic and poorly suited suggestions
✗Blindly trusting the timecodes generated by Copilot without checking them against the actual video, causing synchronization delays
✗Forgetting to check the technical format of the SRT file (blank lines between blocks, timecode format with comma not period), preventing import into video players
✗Neglecting the final review of generated subtitles, which may contain meaning errors or awkward rephrasings

FAQ

Can GitHub Copilot generate subtitles directly from an audio or video file?

No, GitHub Copilot is a text completion tool and cannot transcribe audio. You must first obtain a text transcription (via Whisper, YouTube, or a transcription service) and then use Copilot to format, segment, and improve that transcription into professional subtitles.

What is the difference between SRT and VTT formats for subtitles?

The SRT (SubRip) format is the most universal and compatible with the majority of video players and platforms. The VTT (WebVTT) format is designed for the web and supports advanced features like positioning and CSS styling. Copilot can help you easily convert from one to the other.

How can I improve the quality of Copilot's suggestions for subtitles?

Keep several context files open in VS Code: the raw transcription, a glossary of specific terms, and an example of already formatted subtitles. The more context Copilot has, the more relevant and consistent its suggestions will be with your subtitling style.

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