# Get transcript as subtitles

Retrieve the transcript formatted as subtitles in SRT, VTT, or plain text format. Only available for completed transcriptions.

Returns the transcript formatted as subtitle content in the requested format. The response is **raw text** (not JSON) with the appropriate `Content-Type` header. Supported formats are:

- **`srt`** -- SubRip subtitle format (`text/plain`)
- **`vtt`** -- WebVTT subtitle format (`text/vtt`)
- **`txt`** -- Plain text format (`text/plain`)


You can control caption formatting with query parameters for characters per caption, maximum lines, and characters per line.

Supports **ETag caching** with `Cache-Control: public, max-age=86400` for completed transcriptions.

When PII redaction was enabled, the response includes `X-PII-Redacted` and `X-PII-Policies` headers.

#### Path Parameters

**`transcription_id`** string required

The transcription ID with `trans_` prefix.

**`format`** string required

Subtitle format. One of: `srt`, `vtt`, `txt`.

#### Query Parameters

**`chars_per_caption`** integer optional · Defaults to `0`

Maximum characters per caption. Set to `0` for no limit. Must be between 0 and 512.

**`max_lines`** integer optional · Defaults to `2`

Maximum number of lines per caption. Must be between 1 and 3.

**`max_chars_per_line`** integer optional · Defaults to `42`

Maximum characters per line within a caption. Must be between 20 and 60.

## Returns

Returns raw text content with the appropriate `Content-Type` header:

- **SRT**: `text/plain` -- Standard SubRip format with sequential numbering and timestamp lines.
- **VTT**: `text/vtt` -- WebVTT format with `WEBVTT` header and timestamp cues.
- **TXT**: `text/plain` -- Plain text without timestamps.


On error, returns a JSON error envelope instead.

Response headers include `ETag`, `Last-Modified`, and `Cache-Control`.

Request

```bash cURL (SRT)
curl -s -X GET "https://api.aitronos.com/v1/audio/transcribe/trans_a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6/subtitles/srt?chars_per_caption=80&max_lines=2" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ACCESS_TOKEN"
```


```bash cURL (VTT)
curl -s -X GET "https://api.aitronos.com/v1/audio/transcribe/trans_a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6/subtitles/vtt" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ACCESS_TOKEN"
```


```python Python SDK
from aitronos import Aitronos

client = Aitronos(api_key="your-api-key")

# Get SRT subtitles
srt_content = client.audio.get_subtitles(
    transcription_id="trans_a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6",
    format="srt",
    chars_per_caption=80,
    max_lines=2,
)

# Save to file
with open("transcript.srt", "w") as f:
    f.write(srt_content)
```


```python Python
import requests

transcription_id = "trans_a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6"
url = f"https://api.aitronos.com/v1/audio/transcribe/{transcription_id}/subtitles/srt"
headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN"}
params = {"chars_per_caption": 80, "max_lines": 2}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)

# Response is raw text, not JSON
with open("transcript.srt", "w") as f:
    f.write(response.text)

print(f"Saved {len(response.text)} characters")
```


```javascript JavaScript
const accessToken = process.env.ACCESS_TOKEN;
const transcriptionId = 'trans_a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6';

const response = await fetch(
  `https://api.aitronos.com/v1/audio/transcribe/${transcriptionId}/subtitles/vtt`,
  {
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}`,
    },
  }
);

// Response is raw text, not JSON
const vttContent = await response.text();
console.log(vttContent);
```

Response

```text 200 OK (SRT)
1
00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:03,200
Welcome everyone to today's meeting.

2
00:00:03,500 --> 00:00:12,300
We have several important topics to discuss
including the quarterly results.

3
00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:16,000
Let's start with the quarterly results.
```


```text 200 OK (VTT)
WEBVTT

00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:03.200
Welcome everyone to today's meeting.

00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:12.300
We have several important topics to discuss
including the quarterly results.

00:00:13.100 --> 00:00:16.000
Let's start with the quarterly results.
```


```json 422 Invalid Format
{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "UNSUPPORTED_SUBTITLE_FORMAT",
    "message": "The requested subtitle format is not supported.",
    "system_message": "Format must be one of: srt, vtt, txt",
    "type": "validation_error",
    "status": 422,
    "details": {
      "format": "ass",
      "valid_formats": ["srt", "vtt", "txt"]
    },
    "trace_id": "abc-123-def",
    "timestamp": "2026-03-02T12:00:00Z"
  }
}
```


```json 409 Conflict
{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "TRANSCRIPTION_NOT_COMPLETE",
    "message": "This transcription is still being processed.",
    "system_message": "Transcription is not completed yet",
    "type": "client_error",
    "status": 409,
    "details": {
      "transcription_id": "trans_a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6",
      "current_status": "processing"
    },
    "trace_id": "abc-123-def",
    "timestamp": "2026-03-02T12:00:00Z"
  }
}
```

## Related Resources

- [Create Transcription](/docs/api-reference/audio/create-transcription)
- [Get Transcription](/docs/api-reference/audio/get-transcription)
- [List Transcriptions](/docs/api-reference/audio/list-transcriptions)
- [Delete Transcription](/docs/api-reference/audio/delete-transcription)
- [Get Paragraphs](/docs/api-reference/audio/get-paragraphs)
- [Get Sentences](/docs/api-reference/audio/get-sentences)
- [Search Transcript](/docs/api-reference/audio/search-transcript)
- [Get Redacted Audio](/docs/api-reference/audio/get-redacted-audio)
- [Upload Audio File](/docs/api-reference/audio/upload-audio)