# Auto Caption & Subtitle Burner (`dami_studio/auto-caption-burner`) Actor Add animated word-by-word captions to any video. Give a video URL, get the video back with subtitles burned in, plus SRT + word timestamps. 5 styles, full control, no login, no watermark. For TikTok, Reels, Shorts, podcasts, courses, ads, interviews — any spoken video. - **URL**: https://apify.com/dami\_studio/auto-caption-burner.md - **Developed by:** [Dami's Studio](https://apify.com/dami_studio) (community) - **Categories:** Videos, For creators, Social media - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Auto Caption & Subtitle Burner Give it a public video URL and it returns the same video with animated word-by-word captions burned in, plus the matching SRT file and word-level timestamps. It is built for short-form vertical content (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) but works on anything with speech: podcasts, course lessons, ads, interviews. No login, no watermark on the output. ### How it works The actor downloads your video, pulls the audio with ffmpeg, runs it through Whisper for word-level timestamps, builds an ASS subtitle track in the preset you picked, and re-encodes the video with the captions burned in using x264. The active word is highlighted as it is spoken. ### Input | Field | Required | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | `videoUrl` | yes | Public direct URL to the source video (`.mp4` / `.mov` / `.webm`). You host it (S3, a CDN, a Drive direct link). Nothing is scraped. | | `preset` | no | Visual style of the captions. One of `hormozi`, `beast`, `tiktok`, `clean`, `karaoke`. Defaults to `hormozi`. | | `language` | no | ISO-639-1 code of the spoken language (`en`, `es`, `fr`, ...). Leave as `auto` to detect it. | | `allCaps` | no | Force captions to uppercase, overriding the preset. | | `fontSize` | no | Override the preset font size, in px at 1080 width (24-200). | | `primaryColor` | no | Hex color of inactive words, e.g. `#FFFFFF`. | | `highlightColor` | no | Hex color of the currently-spoken word, e.g. `#FFE000`. | | `position` | no | Where captions sit: `top`, `center`, or `bottom`. | | `wordsPerGroup` | no | How many words are on screen at once (1-8). | | `crf` | no | x264 quality. Lower is better and bigger. 18 is visually lossless, 23 is smaller. Defaults to 18. | | `openaiApiKey` | no | Your OpenAI key for Whisper. Required unless the actor owner has set a shared key. Stored as a secret. | Every preset sets a sane font, size, outline, and highlight color. The style override fields only change the parts you specify and leave the rest of the preset alone. ### Output Each run pushes one dataset record with the source dimensions, duration, word count, and the full transcript text. The rendered files land in the run's key-value store: the captioned MP4, an SRT file, and a JSON file of per-word timestamps (`word`, `start`, `end`). The dataset record's `output` object holds the keys and public URLs for the MP4 and SRT. ### Example ```json { "videoUrl": "https://example.com/my-short.mp4", "preset": "hormozi", "language": "auto", "allCaps": true, "highlightColor": "#FFE000" } ```` ### Pricing $0.08 per minute of video, pay per result, no subscription. ### Notes Transcription runs on Whisper, so you need an OpenAI key in `openaiApiKey` unless the owner has configured a shared one. Word timing is only as good as the audio: clean speech maps cleanly, heavy background noise or music can drift the highlights. The source has to be reachable at a direct URL, since the actor downloads the file rather than scraping a page. # Actor input Schema ## `videoUrl` (type: `string`): Public direct URL to the source video (.mp4 / .mov / .webm). You host it (S3/CDN/Drive direct link) — no scraping is performed. ## `preset` (type: `string`): Visual style of the burned captions. ## `language` (type: `string`): ISO-639-1 code of the spoken language (e.g. en, es, fr). Leave 'auto' to auto-detect. ## `allCaps` (type: `boolean`): Force captions to uppercase (overrides the preset). ## `fontSize` (type: `integer`): Override the preset font size. ## `primaryColor` (type: `string`): Hex color of inactive words, e.g. #FFFFFF. ## `highlightColor` (type: `string`): Hex color of the currently-spoken word, e.g. #FFE000. ## `position` (type: `string`): Where captions sit on the frame. ## `wordsPerGroup` (type: `integer`): How many words show on screen at once. ## `marginV` (type: `integer`): Distance from the chosen edge, at 1920px height. ## `crf` (type: `integer`): x264 CRF. Lower = higher quality/larger file. 18 = visually lossless, 23 = smaller. ## `openaiApiKey` (type: `string`): Your OpenAI key for Whisper transcription. Kept private. Leave empty only if the actor owner has configured a shared key. ## `transcriptionBaseUrl` (type: `string`): OpenAI-compatible base URL for transcription. Default https://api.openai.com/v1. Use to point at a proxy. ## `transcriptionModel` (type: `string`): Whisper model name. Default whisper-1. ## Actor input object example ```json { "videoUrl": "https://example.com/my-short.mp4", "preset": "hormozi", "language": "auto", "crf": 18, "transcriptionModel": "whisper-1" } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): Result rows / metadata are stored in the default dataset (one row per item). ## `files` (type: `string`): Generated media/files (video, audio, images, captions) are stored in the default key-value store. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "videoUrl": "https://example.com/my-short.mp4" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("dami_studio/auto-caption-burner").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "videoUrl": "https://example.com/my-short.mp4" } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("dami_studio/auto-caption-burner").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "videoUrl": "https://example.com/my-short.mp4" }' | apify call dami_studio/auto-caption-burner --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=dami_studio/auto-caption-burner", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Auto Caption & Subtitle Burner", "description": "Add animated word-by-word captions to any video. Give a video URL, get the video back with subtitles burned in, plus SRT + word timestamps. 5 styles, full control, no login, no watermark. For TikTok, Reels, Shorts, podcasts, courses, ads, interviews — any spoken video.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "SIPFg6DuzbXBkzS2m" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/dami_studio~auto-caption-burner/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-dami_studio-auto-caption-burner", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~auto-caption-burner/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-dami_studio-auto-caption-burner", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~auto-caption-burner/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-dami_studio-auto-caption-burner", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "videoUrl": { "title": "Video URL", "type": "string", "description": "Public direct URL to the source video (.mp4 / .mov / .webm). You host it (S3/CDN/Drive direct link) — no scraping is performed." }, "preset": { "title": "Caption style preset", "enum": [ "hormozi", "beast", "tiktok", "clean", "karaoke" ], "type": "string", "description": "Visual style of the burned captions.", "default": "hormozi" }, "language": { "title": "Spoken language", "type": "string", "description": "ISO-639-1 code of the spoken language (e.g. en, es, fr). Leave 'auto' to auto-detect.", "default": "auto" }, "allCaps": { "title": "ALL CAPS", "type": "boolean", "description": "Force captions to uppercase (overrides the preset)." }, "fontSize": { "title": "Font size (px @1080 width)", "minimum": 24, "maximum": 200, "type": "integer", "description": "Override the preset font size." }, "primaryColor": { "title": "Text color", "type": "string", "description": "Hex color of inactive words, e.g. #FFFFFF." }, "highlightColor": { "title": "Active-word color", "type": "string", "description": "Hex color of the currently-spoken word, e.g. #FFE000." }, "position": { "title": "Vertical position", "enum": [ "top", "center", "bottom" ], "type": "string", "description": "Where captions sit on the frame." }, "wordsPerGroup": { "title": "Words per line", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 8, "type": "integer", "description": "How many words show on screen at once." }, "marginV": { "title": "Vertical margin (px)", "minimum": 0, "maximum": 1800, "type": "integer", "description": "Distance from the chosen edge, at 1920px height." }, "crf": { "title": "Output quality (CRF)", "minimum": 12, "maximum": 30, "type": "integer", "description": "x264 CRF. Lower = higher quality/larger file. 18 = visually lossless, 23 = smaller.", "default": 18 }, "openaiApiKey": { "title": "OpenAI API key (BYO)", "type": "string", "description": "Your OpenAI key for Whisper transcription. Kept private. Leave empty only if the actor owner has configured a shared key." }, "transcriptionBaseUrl": { "title": "Transcription base URL (advanced)", "type": "string", "description": "OpenAI-compatible base URL for transcription. Default https://api.openai.com/v1. Use to point at a proxy." }, "transcriptionModel": { "title": "Transcription model (advanced)", "type": "string", "description": "Whisper model name. Default whisper-1.", "default": "whisper-1" } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```