LRC (Lyrics) is a plain-text format for synchronized song lyrics. Each line starts with a timestamp in [mm:ss.xx] format followed by the lyric text. It's the format Spotify, Apple Music, Musixmatch, and most karaoke applications use to display lyrics in sync with audio playback.
Unlike subtitle formats (SRT, VTT), LRC is designed specifically for music. It doesn't have end timestamps — each line displays until the next timestamp arrives. This makes it simpler than SRT but less precise for video captioning.
LRC file structure
An LRC file is plain text. Optional metadata tags at the top ([ti:Title], [ar:Artist], [al:Album]) followed by timestamped lines. The timestamp format is [mm:ss.xx] where xx is hundredths of a second.
- Extension: .lrc
- Encoding: UTF-8 (recommended)
- Timestamp format: [mm:ss.xx] — minutes, seconds, hundredths
- No end timestamps — each line displays until the next one starts
- Optional metadata: [ti:], [ar:], [al:], [by:], [offset:]
How to convert LRC to other formats
LRC converts cleanly to SRT, VTT, ASS, and JSON. The main difference: LRC has no end timestamps, so converters infer the end time from the next line's start time (or add a default duration for the last line). SoCaptions' free converters handle LRC to SRT, LRC to VTT, LRC to ASS, and LRC to JSON.
LRC to SRT
Converts each LRC line into an SRT cue. End time is inferred from the next line's start. Useful when you want to use lyrics as video subtitles.
LRC to JSON
Outputs a structured array of {start, end, text} objects. Useful for building custom lyric displays in web apps or feeding lyrics to a script.
LRC to ASS
Wraps LRC lyrics in an ASS template for karaoke-style rendering in Aegisub or video players that support ASS. Great for creating styled lyric videos.
How to create LRC files
- Manually: listen to the song and type timestamps in a text editor.
- From SRT: convert an existing subtitle file to LRC format using SoCaptions' converter.
- From Musixmatch: if you're a verified artist, export synced lyrics as LRC.
- From AI transcription: transcribe the audio, then convert the output to LRC.
LRC for karaoke and lyric videos
LRC is the starting point for karaoke content. Convert LRC to ASS for word-level karaoke timing in Aegisub, or use the timestamps to drive a custom web-based lyric display. For YouTube lyric videos, convert LRC to SRT and burn the lyrics into the video with styled captions.
LRC vs SRT for music
LRC is simpler (no end timestamps, no cue numbers) and designed for music players. SRT is more precise (explicit end timestamps) and designed for video. For music playback, use LRC. For video with lyrics, convert to SRT or VTT and use a video caption tool.