How to Add Auto B-roll and Emojis to Captions in Submagic

Layer keyword-triggered B-roll and emojis onto your captioned clip in Submagic.

7 minIntermediate

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Beyond captions, Submagic can read your transcript and suggest B-roll clips and emojis tied to keywords, which keeps viewers watching. This guide shows how to add both without overdoing it.

A Submagic project with captions generated and corrected
A clear sense of which words to emphasize
Restraint, since too many effects hurt retention

Step 1: Open the B-roll panel

In the editor click B-roll. Submagic scans your transcript and proposes stock clips matched to keywords it found, placing them at the right moments on the timeline.

Submagic - B-roll Suggestions

B-roll (auto-matched to transcript)

0:05 'mountain' -> [ clip: alps_drone.mp4 ]

0:11 'coffee' -> [ clip: pour_over.mp4 ]

0:19 'laptop' -> [ clip: typing_cu.mp4 ]

[ Accept ] [ Replace ] [ Remove ]

Keyword-matched stock clips proposed along the timeline.

Step 2: Accept, swap, or remove clips

Review each suggestion. Accept the ones that fit, swap weak matches for something better from the library, and remove any that feel random. Aim for a few well-placed cutaways rather than a wall of stock.

Step 3: Tune B-roll duration

Drag the edges of each B-roll clip on the timeline so it covers only the relevant phrase. Two to three seconds is usually plenty before cutting back to you.

Less is more

If B-roll covers more than about a third of your runtime, viewers lose the connection with you on camera. Keep your face as the anchor.

Step 4: Add emojis to captions

Open the Emojis panel. Submagic suggests emojis above keywords, for example a fire emoji over a hot take. Toggle the ones you like; remove anything that looks forced.

Submagic - Emoji Suggestions

[ Preview ] this trick is FIRE

(fire emoji above FIRE)

Suggested: fire rocket 100 eyes

Density: [ Low | Medium | High ] -> Low

Emojis float above their trigger words.