Auto Subs
Instantly generate AI-powered subtitles on your device. Works standalone or connects to DaVinci Resolve.
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What is Auto Subs?
AutoSubs is an AI-powered desktop application that generates accurate, timestamped subtitles from any audio or video file with one click. The tool runs locally on your device using OpenAI Whisper and pyannote.audio for transcription and speaker diarization, meaning no cloud processing or subscriptions are required. It works both as a standalone application and as a script integrated directly into DaVinci Resolve for seamless subtitle creation within your editing workflow.
Key features include fast multilingual transcription supporting over 80 languages, automatic speaker diarization with color-coded labels, English translation capabilities, a modern visual subtitle editor with per-speaker styling options, flexible multi-line subtitle display, and export to common formats like SRT and ASS. The V3 update introduced a Rust backend for ~3× lower idle memory, smarter model selection, better timing for variable frame rates, and a resizable desktop viewer for standalone use.
AutoSubs is designed for video creators, YouTubers, vloggers, educators creating online courses, corporate trainers producing training materials, podcasters transcribing episodes, and professional video editing teams working on multi-episode series or international projects. It is especially valuable for users who prioritize privacy and offline workflows, as all processing happens locally on your machine without uploading footage to the cloud.
Auto Subs pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
AutoSubs is completely free and open source under the MIT license. There is no free tier vs paid plan distinction - all features are available at no cost. The tool requires no subscription, no cloud fees, and no in-app purchases. The developer accepts voluntary donations via Buy Me a Coffee (buymeacoffee.com/tmoroney) and PayPal (paypal.me/tmoroney14), but these are optional contributions to support ongoing development, not required payments. One-click installers are available for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), and Linux (.deb) at no charge.
Auto Subs pros
- 100% free and open source with MIT license
- No subscription or cloud fees required
- All AI transcription runs locally for maximum privacy
- One-click installers for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel), and Linux
- Works standalone without DaVinci Resolve
- Seamless DaVinci Resolve integration via Workspace → Scripts
- Fast transcription: 10-minute video in 3-5 minutes vs 60-90 minutes manual
- Supports over 80 languages for multilingual transcription
- Automatic speaker diarization with color-coded subtitles
- English translation built-in (more languages coming)
- Modern subtitle editor with per-speaker styling controls
- Export to SRT, ASS, and multiple subtitle formats
- Rust backend provides ~3× lower idle memory usage
- Accurate timing with variable frame rates and drop-frame support
- Multi-line subtitle display with resizable desktop viewer
- Automatic noise reduction for cleaner audio recognition
- Over 100,000 downloads with 1.6k GitHub stars
- Advanced speaker styling with fill, outline, and border controls
Auto Subs cons
- Mac App Store version of DaVinci Resolve not supported
- Linux support requires .deb installation with manual dependency handling
- Intel Mac support exists but Linux Intel support still coming
- English translation only (other languages not yet available)
- AI accuracy around 90-95% vs 95-98% for meticulous human editing
- Requires local GPU/CPU resources for AI processing
- Initial setup involves cloning repo and installing Node.js + Rust for developers
- Speaker separation works best with clear audio, struggles with heavy background noise
Frequently asked questions about Auto Subs
What is AutoSubs and what does it do?
AutoSubs is an AI-powered desktop application that generates accurate, timestamped subtitles from any audio or video file with one click. It uses OpenAI Whisper for speech recognition and pyannote.audio for speaker diarization, running entirely locally on your device. The tool works both as a standalone application for transcribing audio/video files and as a DaVinci Resolve script that integrates directly into your editing timeline.
Is AutoSubs free or does it require a subscription?
AutoSubs is 100% free and open source under the MIT license. There are no subscription fees, no cloud processing charges, and no paid tiers. All features are available at no cost. The developer accepts optional voluntary donations via Buy Me a Coffee and PayPal to support ongoing development, but these are not required to use the software.
Does AutoSubs work without DaVinci Resolve?
Yes, AutoSubs has a standalone mode that does not require DaVinci Resolve. In standalone mode, you can launch AutoSubs, select any audio or video file, pick your model and language options, click Transcribe, edit speakers/subtitles as needed, and export subtitles to files or copy the text. The Resolve integration is optional.
What languages does AutoSubs support for transcription?
AutoSubs supports transcription in over 80 languages through OpenAI Whisper's multilingual capabilities. However, the built-in translation feature currently only converts subtitles to English, with more translation languages coming in future updates.
How does speaker diarization work in AutoSubs?
AutoSubs uses pyannote.audio for speaker detection and diarization. It automatically detects different speakers in audio/video and labels them with automatic color-coding. You can specify the number of speakers in the settings, and the advanced speaker styling allows per-speaker tracks with customizable fill, outline, and border options.
What subtitle formats can AutoSubs export?
AutoSubs exports to common subtitle formats including SRT (SubRip) and ASS (Advanced SubStation Alpha), which integrate seamlessly into DaVinci Resolve projects and work with most video players and platforms. The multi-track export capability allows you to export subtitles for different speakers separately if needed.
How accurate is AutoSubs compared to manual transcription?
AutoSubs achieves approximately 90-95% accuracy, compared to 95-98% for meticulous manual human transcription. For most applications, this accuracy is more than sufficient, and the time saved is significant - a 10-minute video that takes 60-90 minutes to subtitle manually can be processed in just 3-5 minutes with AutoSubs.
Does AutoSubs process my footage in the cloud?
No, all AI transcription and processing happens locally on your device. Your footage and audio stay private and secure - nothing is uploaded to the cloud. This makes AutoSubs ideal for privacy-sensitive workflows, confidential business materials, or any situation where you cannot upload footage to external servers.
What are the system requirements for AutoSubs?
AutoSubs has one-click installers for Windows, macOS (both Apple Silicon and Intel), and Linux (.deb). For AI processing, it uses your local CPU/GPU resources. Developers who want to contribute need Node.js and Rust toolchain installed for the Tauri frontend. The Rust backend provides ~3× lower idle memory usage compared to previous versions.
How do I install AutoSubs in DaVinci Resolve?
After downloading and installing AutoSubs, open DaVinci Resolve and go to Workspace → Scripts → AutoSubs V2. If you don't see it, you may need to enable the AutoSubs extension within Resolve's plugin manager. Important: AutoSubs will not work with the Mac App Store version of DaVinci Resolve - you must reinstall from the official Blackmagic Design website for AutoSubs to be visible in Resolve.