Also called: lyric file, .lrc
What is lrc file?
A plain-text lyric format with a timestamp at the start of each line, used by karaoke players, media players and lyric-video tools. Timestamps are written as minutes, seconds and hundredths in square brackets.
LRC is pre-timed data, so it has to be rebuilt if the arrangement changes. That makes it ideal for a finished release and awkward for a song still being written.
You can build one by tapping once per line against your track — our free LRC maker at /tools/lyrics-sync exports a standard .lrc file in your browser.
Step-by-step guide to the format, common errors and fixes: /blog/what-is-an-lrc-file-synced-lyrics.
Performing over a backing track with the lyrics displayed and usually highlighted in time. Commercial karaoke relies on pre-timed lyric data, which is a different mechanism from a prompter following a live DAW timeline.
An absolute time reference in hours, minutes, seconds and frames, used to align audio with picture or with other machines. Distinct from bars and beats, which describe musical rather than clock position.