Karaoke vs Full Line: Choosing the Right Mode

Bitcut supports two subtitle display modes that change how words appear on screen. Both use the same word-level timestamps from AI transcription, but present them differently. You can switch between modes at any time without reprocessing.

Karaoke Mode

In karaoke mode, words are displayed in groups but each word highlights individually as it's spoken. The active word stands out with a different color (the "active word color"), creating a bouncing-ball effect that guides the viewer's eye.

For a full walkthrough with styling and readability tips, see our article on karaoke captions on iPhone.

Best for:

  • Fast-paced spoken content where viewers need to follow along
  • Music lyrics and sing-along content
  • Short-form social media videos where attention is limited
  • Content where visual rhythm matters

Full Line Mode

In full line mode, complete phrases appear all at once and stay on screen until the next phrase begins. The whole phrase stays at full brightness, and only the active word changes to the active word color. Upcoming words are not dimmed, so the line reads as plain text with a moving accent.

Best for:

  • Longer, slower-paced content like interviews or lectures
  • Content where readability is more important than visual flair
  • Professional or corporate videos
  • When karaoke highlighting feels too busy or distracting
Tip: Karaoke mode is the default and works best for most social media Shorts. It increases watch time because viewers follow the highlighted words, which keeps their eyes on the screen longer.

How to Switch Modes

Open the subtitle settings for any clip with subtitles. The mode toggle is at the top of the settings panel. Switching is instant — no reprocessing needed, since both modes use the same underlying word timestamps.

Combining with Style Options

Both modes work with all of Bitcut's subtitle customization options:

Active word color: The active word color works in both modes. In karaoke mode, upcoming words are also dimmed until they are spoken; in full line mode, every word stays at full brightness and only the color marks the current word.