Sometimes one hook line isn't enough — you want a sequence: a question at 0s, a stat at 3s, a punchline at 7s. add_timestamped_captions takes a list of your own lines, each with its own start_sec/end_sec, and burns them onto the video in order.
Like add_video_captions, this is NOT a transcription tool — nothing gets automatically listened to and typed out. You write every line yourself. For auto-transcribed subtitles, use add-captions-to-video.
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Burn TIMESTAMPED TEXT OVERLAYS onto a standalone video — you supply each line with its own `start_sec`/`end_sec`, so the text changes through the clip. NOT a subtitle tool: nothing is transcribed. For spoken-word subtitles use add_veed_captions.
What to tell the agent
Versely's agent maps this plain-English request directly onto add_timestamped_captions. You don't need to know the parameter names — just describe what you want.
“Add three timed text overlays to this video: 'You're doing this wrong' from 0-2s, 'Here's why' from 2-4s, and 'Try this instead' from 4-7s.”
How it works
1. Script your beats
Break your message into short lines, each tied to a moment in the video — a question, a reveal, a punchline.
2. Give each line a start and end time
Every caption object needs its own start_sec/end_sec, in seconds from the start of the video.
3. Set size, color and position
caption_size, font_color, font_family and position apply across the whole set, so pick one consistent look.
4. Render
Versely swaps each line in and out at exactly the timestamps you set and returns the finished video.
What it costs
Billed as a standard editor render, same category as add_video_captions — ask the agent for estimate_cost on your specific video if you want the exact price before confirming.
The formula behind that number: What does editing a video cost if I keep changing it? — charges per finished export, so iteration is free and the count is the whole bill.
Limits & things to know
- You supply the timestamps yourself — this tool doesn't detect beats or transcribe speech automatically.
- Font, size and color are set once for the whole overlay set, not per individual line.
- For single-line, whole-video text (a persistent badge or CTA), add-text-overlay-to-video is the simpler tool.
Who uses this
- Kinetic-typography style hooks
- Multi-beat storytelling captions
- Countdown or list-style videos ('3. 2. 1.')
- Comedic timing / punchline reveals
Frequently asked questions
Does this transcribe what's spoken in the video?+
No — you write and time every line yourself via start_sec/end_sec. For auto-transcribed subtitles, use add-captions-to-video instead.
How is this different from add-text-overlay-to-video?+
add_video_captions burns ONE fixed line for the whole clip. add_timestamped_captions burns MULTIPLE lines that each appear and disappear at their own timestamp — built for sequenced or changing text.
Can each line have a different color or size?+
Size, color, position and font are set once for the whole set of captions in a given render, not per individual line.
How precise is the timing?+
You control it directly — timestamps are in seconds from the start of the source video, so precision is limited only by how accurately you time your own beats.
Related Versely tools
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Add Timed Text Overlays to a Video inside Versely
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