What an LRC file looks like
An LRC file is plain text. Each lyric line starts with the minute, second and hundredth of a second it is sung, and a few optional tags at the top name the song. Here is a short example for the demo song (your times come from your taps):
| Line in the .lrc file | What it means |
|---|---|
| [ti:Sunlight] | Song title |
| [ar:TuneSplit demo] | Artist |
| [length:01:00] | Song length |
| [by:TuneSplit LRC generator] | Who made the file |
| [00:12.40]Windows down and the radio low | This line starts 12.40 s into the song |
| [00:16.85]Chasing the light on the coast road slow | Next line at 16.85 s |
Music players that show synced lyrics (foobar2000, MusicBee, Poweramp, Musicolet, AIMP, VLC with a plug-in, many car stereos) load a .lrc file that has the same name as the song and sits in the same folder: song.mp3 and song.lrc.
Tap-sync or AI timing: which to use
| Tap-sync | Auto-time with AI | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | You press Space as each line starts | Speech recognition (Whisper) hears the words and times them |
| Cost | Free, unlimited | 1 free a day, then 5 credits |
| Leaves your device | Nothing | A small mono copy of the audio, not stored |
| Time for a 3-minute song | One play-through (about 3 minutes) | Under a minute, plus a quick check |
| Best for | Any language, rap, heavy mixes | Clear vocals; works best on a vocals-only file |
| Without lyrics | Needs lyrics | Writes the lines for you from what it hears |
When you paste your own lyrics, AI timing keeps your exact words and only uses what it hears to place them. When you leave the box empty, it writes the lines too, so check spelling and names. For the cleanest timing, split the vocals off first with the vocal isolator and drop the vocals file in; on the karaoke maker the vocals are handed over for you.
Getting the timing right
- Tap on the first sung syllable, not the breath before it. The tool subtracts 0.1 s for reaction time.
- Missed a line? Press Backspace (or Undo): the line is cleared and the song jumps back two seconds.
- Every line a little late? Use All lines −0.25 s instead of fixing each one.
- Long instrumental gaps are fine: a line stays on screen until the next stamp, up to 8 s in the .srt file.
- Already have an .lrc file? Import it, fix the lines that are off, and export again. Files with an [offset:] tag are corrected on import.
From LRC file to karaoke video
The preview under the lyrics is a karaoke screen: the current line fills from white to pink as it is sung, the last line fades above it and the next two wait below, with countdown dots before the first line. Click Record karaoke video and the tool plays the song once and records the screen with the audio, in real time, with no watermark. Chrome, Edge and Safari on a computer save MP4; other browsers save WebM.
For a sing-along backing track, make the instrumental first with the karaoke maker, which removes the vocals and passes the instrumental and the vocals straight to this tool.
How this LRC generator compares
Checked in November 2026 by opening each site. Free rules change, so confirm on each site.
| TuneSplit | LRC Generator (lrcgenerator.com) | LRC Maker (lrc-maker.github.io) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tap along to sync | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI timing from the audio | Yes, 1 free a day | No | No |
| Word-by-word (enhanced) LRC | Not yet | Yes | No |
| Exports | .lrc, .srt, karaoke video | .lrc, .txt, PDF | .lrc |
| Import an .lrc to fix it | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vocal remover on the same site | Yes | No | No |
| Sign-up | None | None | None |
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an LRC file for free?
Drop the song into the tool above, paste the lyrics, click Tap-sync and press Space as each line starts. Then click ⬇ .lrc. Tap-sync and the download are free and unlimited, with no sign-up.
Can AI make an LRC file automatically?
Yes. Click Auto-time with AI: speech recognition hears the words and stamps each line. With your own lyrics pasted it keeps your words and only sets the times; with an empty box it writes the lines too. It is 1 free a day, then 5 credits.
How do I add synced lyrics to an MP3?
Save the .lrc file next to the MP3 with the same name (song.mp3 and song.lrc). Most players that support synced lyrics load it automatically. To embed the lyrics inside the MP3 itself, open both in a tag editor such as Mp3tag and paste the LRC text into the lyrics field.
Does Spotify or Apple Music use LRC files?
No. Spotify and Apple Music get synced lyrics from their own providers, such as Musixmatch, and you cannot upload an .lrc file to them. Artists submit lyrics through those providers. LRC files are for local players, car stereos, karaoke software and video editors.
What is the difference between LRC and SRT?
LRC stores only when each line starts and is read by music players. SRT is a subtitle format with a start and an end time for each line, read by video players and editors such as YouTube, Premiere and CapCut. The tool exports both from the same timings.
Can I edit an existing LRC file?
Yes. Click Import .lrc, load the song, then click any line to hear it and move it by 0.1 s with − and +. Several time tags on one line and the [offset:] tag are handled on import.
Is my song uploaded?
Tap-sync, preview, exports and the karaoke video all run in your browser, so the song never leaves your device. Only Auto-time with AI sends a small mono copy of the audio for speech recognition, and it is not stored.
Why is the AI timing a little off on some lines?
Loud instruments, backing vocals and long held notes make words harder to place. Drop a vocals-only file (split it with the vocal isolator first), then fix the few lines that are off with − and +, or re-tap just those lines.