8 min read

How to Add Captions & Subtitles in Camtasia

You want to generate captions easily on Camtasia ? Here's your tutorial guide.
Written by
Jean-Marc
Published on
February 6, 2025
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Camtasia provides built-in tools to generate auto captions, manually add subtitles, and import caption files.

However, its auto-captioning feature isn’t always perfect.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about adding captions in Camtasia.

Does Camtasia Have Auto Captions?

Yes, Camtasia offers an auto-captioning feature that transcribes spoken words into text.

Called Dynamic Captions feature, this features enables automatic transcription of audio into customizable on-screen text. In version 2024.1, Camtasia has improved the timing controls for Dynamic Captions, ensuring a perfect sync between the spoken audio and the transcribed text. This update provides users with more control and fine-tuning options, enhancing the overall quality of the captions

While Camtasia’s auto-captioning is useful, it has some restrictions:

  • No Multi-Language Support – Auto captions are only available in the video’s primary language.
  • Limited Styling Options – Camtasia offers only basic customization.
  • Manual Corrections Needed – AI-generated captions often require editing for accuracy.

How to Use Camtasia Auto Captions

Using Camtasia’s auto-captioning feature is a quick way to enhance your videos without needing external software. Follow these steps to generate and edit automatic captions in Camtasia:

Step 1: Open Your Project in Camtasia

  • Launch Camtasia and open your video project.
  • Ensure that your video has clear audio to improve caption accuracy.

Step 2: Enable Auto Captions

  • Click on the Captions tab in the left-hand menu.
  • Select Add Captions and choose Generate Captions Automatically.
  • Camtasia will analyze the video’s audio and generate text-based captions.

Step 3: Review and Edit Captions

  • Click on each caption block in the Captions panel.
  • Edit any misinterpreted words or phrases.
  • Adjust punctuation and sentence structure for better readability.

Step 4: Sync Captions with Video Timing

  • Play your video while reviewing the captions.
  • Drag the caption bars in the timeline to align them correctly with the spoken words.
  • Split or merge captions if necessary to improve timing and readability.

Step 5: Customize Caption Appearance

  • Change the font, size, and color to match your video’s aesthetic.
  • Adjust positioning to ensure captions do not cover important visuals.

Step 6: Final Review and Export

  • Watch the entire video to confirm that captions are accurate and properly timed.
  • Click Export and choose your preferred file format, ensuring captions are included.

How to Add Captions Manually or Import Subtitle Files in Camtasia

If you prefer full control over your captions, Camtasia allows you to add them manually or import pre-existing subtitle files. This method ensures accuracy and provides more flexibility in formatting.

Step 1: Open the Captions Tab

  • Open Camtasia and load your video project.
  • Navigate to the Captions tab on the left-hand menu.

Step 2: Add Captions Manually

  • Click Add Captions to create a new caption block.
  • Enter the desired text in the caption editor.
  • Drag the caption bar in the timeline to adjust the timing.

Step 3: Import a Subtitle File

If you have a subtitle file in SRT, VTT, or other supported formats, follow these steps:

  • Go to File > Import > Captions.
  • Select your subtitle file and click Open.
  • The captions will be added to the timeline automatically.

Step 4: Edit and Sync Captions

  • Click on each caption block to make changes.
  • Use the Playback Preview to ensure captions align with the spoken words.

Step 5: Customize Captions

  • Adjust font, size, and color to match your brand style.
  • Position captions on-screen for better readability.

Step 6: Save and Export

  • Click Save to keep your changes.
  • When exporting your video, ensure Burn-in Captions is enabled if you want captions permanently on the video.

How to Generate Quality Camtasia Captions & Subtitles

While Camtasia’s built-in auto-captioning system is useful, it’s not always perfect. For more control over accuracy, timing, and styling, you can use external tools like Checksub to create professional captions :

Step 1: Upload Your Video

Start by logging into Checksub. Upload your YouTube Short by selecting the video file from your device. Checksub supports various video formats, making it easy to work with your content.

After uploading, choose the original language of your video. If you want to reach a global audience, you can also select additional languages for translation. This feature ensures your content is accessible to viewers worldwide.

Step 2: Generate & Edit AI-Powered Subtitles

Once the video is uploaded, Checksub will automatically transcribe the audio using advanced AI-driven speech recognition. The process usually takes just a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of your video.

After transcription, you’ll be able to review and refine the generated captions. Checksub’s online editor allows you to:

  • Correct any misinterpretations or errors.
  • Split or merge subtitle lines for better readability.
  • Adjust timing to ensure the subtitles are perfectly synchronized with the spoken words.

Checksub also offers customization options to help you match the captions to your video style. You can:

  • Change the font, size, and color of the text.
  • Adjust the placement of the captions on the screen.
  • Add background effects to improve visibility.

Step 3: Export Your Subtitles

Once you’re satisfied with your captions, you can export them in multiple formats, such as SRT, VTT, or embedded text.

Alternatively, you can embed the subtitles directly into the video, ensuring that captions are always visible, even when auto-captions are turned off.

Want to produce professional Camtasia subtitles efficiently ? Try Checksub for free.

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