Japanese podcast
How to Transcribe a Japanese Podcast and Study It Line by Line
A Japanese podcast rarely arrives with subtitles you can study. LangScribe turns the audio into timed Japanese lines, then adds a translation so you can work through the episode one sentence at a time.
Open an audio file on your device, or sign in and subscribe to a public podcast RSS feed. Playback stays in the browser. The full file is not uploaded for playback and is not kept as a cloud copy. AI transcription sends short audio chunks and uses credits. Importing an SRT, VTT, or ASS you already have is free.
Imported subtitles are free. AI transcription uses credits and needs sign-in. Public RSS only, for shows you have the right to use.
The show has no lines to study
Listening on repeat still leaves you guessing at the words. Without a timestamped transcript you cannot jump back to the sentence you missed, look up a word in context, or check a translation only after you have tried.
- Kanji without a reading is hard to say out loud
- A whole episode is too long to loop by hand
- A notes app without timestamps cannot take you back to the audio
Three steps, from audio to a line you can replay
You do not install a desktop app. The browser plays the file. Speech-to-text writes cues on the timeline.
- Open the audio. Choose a recording on this device, or subscribe to a public HTTPS podcast feed and open an episode. Sign-in is required for podcast feeds.
- Generate timed Japanese subtitles. AI writes time-coded lines. This uses 2 credits per minute of audio. If you already have an SRT, import it instead and skip this charge.
- Add a translation and study. Show kana or romaji above the words, loop one sentence, set playback from 0.5× to 2× (0.75× is one of the steps), and click a timestamp to jump back.
Readings, loops, and a slower pass
Once the lines are timed, the player is for listening practice, not only for reading a transcript.
- Kana or romaji on Japanese words, so you can read the kanji out loud
- Single-sentence loop, or an A-B loop on a longer stretch
- Playback from 0.5× to 2×, including 0.75×
- Click a timestamp in the transcript to seek to that line
- Search the subtitles and jump to the matching line
What leaves the device, and what does not
A file you open locally plays on the device. It is not uploaded for playback. For AI subtitles, the browser extracts audio and sends short chunks for transcription. A public podcast episode plays in the browser; the full audio file is not stored on the server.
Import first when you already have a transcript
AI is for audio that has no usable captions. A file you already exported from somewhere else does not need a second transcription.
| What you have | What to do |
|---|---|
| An SRT, VTT, or ASS of the episode | Import it. Free. Then translate and study. |
| Audio only | AI subtitles, 2 credits per minute, then translate. |
| A public podcast RSS feed | Subscribe while signed in. Transcribe the episode you want. |
AI can mishear names, fast speech, and noisy audio. Export SRT, fix the lines that matter, and keep studying in the player.
Import an SRT for freeCredits for AI subtitles
AI subtitles are billed by audio length: 2 credits per minute. Playback, imported subtitles, and free translation cost nothing. AI translation uses credits and is billed by the number of lines. Sign in with Google when you use AI.
| Audio length | AI subtitles |
|---|---|
| 10 min | 20 credits |
| 30 min | 60 credits |
| 60 min | 120 credits |
Use audio you have the right to use
- LangScribe does not host a podcast catalog. You open your own file or a public RSS feed.
- Playback does not upload the file. Turning on AI does send short audio chunks for transcription.
- Treat the transcript as a first draft. Check names and anything you will quote.
FAQ
Does transcribing a Japanese podcast use credits?
Yes, when you run AI speech-to-text: 2 credits per minute of audio, and you need to be signed in. Importing SRT, VTT, or ASS is free. Free translation does not use credits. AI translation does, billed by the number of lines.
Is the audio file uploaded?
Not for playback. A local file stays on your device. For AI subtitles, only short extracted audio chunks are sent. A public podcast episode plays in the browser, and the full audio file is not stored on the server.
Can I see kana or romaji?
Yes. On Japanese lines you can show kana readings or romaji readings above the words.
Can I loop one sentence and slow it down?
Yes. Loop the current line, or set an A-B loop. Playback speed runs from 0.5× to 2×, and 0.75× is one of the steps. Click a timestamp to jump to that line.
What if the episode already has a transcript?
Import the SRT, VTT, or ASS and skip AI transcription. For a public podcast, if that episode and language were already transcribed, LangScribe reuses that transcript instead of charging the first-run price again.
Which audio files work?
Audio the browser can play, such as MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG, and FLAC, plus video files if the episode is a video. Subtitles import as SRT, VTT, or ASS and export as SRT.
Turn the next episode into lines you can finish
Open the audio, generate timed Japanese subtitles, add a translation, and loop the sentence until it is clear.
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