Upload the Japanese recording or paste its link. WhipScribe transcribes it in Japanese, then translates the transcript into English line by line on the same timestamps, so the English reads as text and works as subtitles. Transcription takes about 2 minutes per hour of audio; in production, a 13-minute recording translated in about 32 seconds. A pack from $4 for 500 minutes unlocks the transcript, and the translation adds no charge beyond the minutes the transcription used. It is AI translation, not a certified one.
How to translate Japanese audio to English
What the English looks like
Each line of the Japanese transcript gets its English line on the same timing. That is why the English export works as subtitles without re-timing.
| Time | Transcript (Japanese) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00:03 | 皆さん、おはようございます。今日の会議を始めます。 | Good morning, everyone. Let's start today's meeting. |
| 00:00:08 | まず、先月の売上について説明します。 | First, I'll go over last month's sales. |
| 00:00:12 | 質問があれば、最後にお願いします。 | If you have questions, please save them for the end. |
This example was written by us to show the layout; it is not a customer recording.
What to check
The English rests on the Japanese transcript. This is one of the engine’s strongest languages — expect clean, publishable text from clear audio. Output is written Japanese with kanji/kana chosen from context — not romaji.
In its first 13 days on WhipScribe (to 26 October 2026), people made 34 translations of 28 recordings. 15 were into English and covered about 13 hours of audio; the longest came from a recording of 2 h 32 min.
When every word must be right, or the translation has to be certified for a court or an immigration file, use a human translator. A human transcription service is the right call when nobody on your side can review the Japanese.
What you get
The full recording in the language it was spoken, every line timed to the audio.
Every line in English on the same timestamps. Made once, then it opens instantly for anyone who can open the transcript.
SRT or VTT in English for YouTube, a video editor or a player, aligned to the Japanese speech.
Each cue carries the Japanese line and its English under it, for language learners and for checking.
WhipScribe translates a finished transcript into any of 99 languages with the same timestamps, so SRT and VTT stay aligned. Translating an unlocked transcript adds no charge beyond the minutes the transcription used.
The free subtitle translator translates the first 20 minutes of a Japanese SRT or VTT file into English, no upload of the audio needed.
Who translates Japanese audio here
A meeting recording in English for the people who were not in the room.
Japanese lessons, seminars and talks with the Japanese and English side by side.
English SRT subtitles for a Japanese video, timed to the speech.
Record people only with their knowledge, and follow the consent rules where you record.
What it costs
Every recording starts with a free preview of its opening minutes; a pack from $4 (500 minutes) transcribes the rest and opens every export. A recording uses minutes by its length: a one-hour recording is 60 minutes. Translating an unlocked transcript adds no charge beyond the minutes the transcription used.
| Option | Price buys | Audio covered | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| $4 pack | 500 minutes | 8 h 20 min | One-off recordings; credits never expire |
| $12 pack | 2,000 minutes | 33 h 20 min | One-off recordings; credits never expire |
| $24 pack | 5,000 minutes | 83 h 20 min | One-off recordings; credits never expire |
| Workspace | $19 a month | Unlimited, 150-hour fair-use mark | Recording every day, or a whole team |
Prices in US dollars from our pricing page. No subscription is needed for packs and there are no seat fees. Japanese costs the same as every other language.
FAQ
Upload the Japanese file or paste a link on this page. When the Japanese transcript is ready and unlocked, open the language button above the transcript (it reads Original), choose English under Translate into, and the English appears line by line. Download it as TXT, DOCX, SRT or VTT, or as a bilingual SRT with both languages.
Every recording starts with a free preview of its opening minutes, so you can check the Japanese transcript before paying. The translation needs the full transcript unlocked: a pack from $4 for 500 minutes unlocks it, and translating it adds no charge beyond the minutes the transcription used. If you already have Japanese subtitles, the free subtitle translator translates the first 20 minutes of an SRT or VTT file.
Yes. The English translation keeps the timestamps of the Japanese transcript, so the SRT or VTT export lines up with the video. A bilingual SRT puts the Japanese line and its English under it in each cue.
It reads as natural English for clear speech, because each line is translated with its neighbouring lines as context and the names found in the recording's summary are kept consistent. The English can only be as good as the Japanese transcript under it, so fix names in the transcript first. Read it before you publish it.
No. It is AI translation for understanding, research, subtitles and drafts. Court, immigration and other official documents usually need a certified human translator.
Yes. Translation works from the transcript, so any recording can be translated into English or any of 99 languages, including Japanese. The steps are the same: transcribe, unlock, choose the language.
One file can be up to 10 hours or 5 GB, audio or video. A single translation covers about 6 hours of dense speech; a long recording translates in the background with progress shown.
Recordings are transcribed on our own servers and are never used for training. A translation is visible only to the people who can open the transcript. You can delete a recording, its transcript and its translations at any time.
The Japanese transcript first, then English on the same timing. About 2 minutes per audio hour; the opening minutes are a free preview and a pack for the rest is from $4.
If cost and turnaround decide it: see transcription services from $4.