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How do I make a lyric video with readable, timed words?

Make a lyric video by combining an approved recording, matching lyrics and timed text over visuals. AI Music.Video can generate the visual sequence. Add and time the words in a video editor with title or subtitle tracks; the current creation workflow does not provide a dedicated lyric-timing editor.

By AI Music.Video · Updated:

Before you start

Keep the final audio and a proofread lyric sheet together. Decide the aspect ratio and viewing device before choosing text size. Use the lyrics preparation guide to resolve wording first, because an attractive caption is still wrong if it does not match the recording.

Steps

  1. Create or gather the background video. In Create, use a simple visual concept with enough empty space for text. Generate and download the approved sequence. Avoid placing important faces where the captions will need to sit.
  2. Import the video and approved audio into a timeline editor. Confirm that the music starts at the intended point. If the downloaded video already contains the correct track, avoid adding a second audible copy that can cause an echo.
  3. Add lyrics as short title or subtitle units and align them to the sung phrases. DaVinci Resolve documents subtitle and timed-text support. Choose controls supported by your editor and edition; automatic transcription still needs proofreading against the song.
  4. Preview at normal speed and at the size of the intended display. Check line breaks, contrast and the time available to read each phrase. Export a review file and compare the first line, fast passages and final words with the recording.

Worked example

For a vertical chorus, show one short phrase at a time against a quiet area of the image. Let a sustained final word stay visible until the phrase resolves. If a singer moves through the caption area, change the background framing or text position rather than reducing the words to an unreadable size.

Check the result

You should have a video where the displayed words match the chosen audio version and remain readable through every cut. Use the YouTube preparation guide for a release, or the photo video workflow for a simpler visual background.

If something goes wrong

If lyrics drift out of time, confirm the audio version and start offset before retiming individual lines. If you only need to correct displayed words, follow changing song lyrics and edit the text layer. Avoid generating text inside scene images when precise spelling and timing matter.