What is the difference between a caption and a track description on SoundCloud?

A caption is a short text limited to 140 characters that you can include with your track when you post it to your followers. It’s a great way to bring attention to your track in their Stream. You can use the caption to share a few words about your track, thank your collaborators, or share your message with the world. On the other hand, the Track description, which is limited to 4000 characters, provides more detailed information about the track and is visible on the Track details page. It can be used to include song lyrics, list collaborators, or share a review of the track.

How can I add a caption to my track upload?

You can add a caption to your track during the upload process on your desktop computer. It’s important to remember that to upload tracks, your email address must be verified.

Who can see the caption on my uploaded track?

Your followers will be able to see the caption on your track in the Stream on the SoundCloud website. However, captions are not shown on your profile along with the track. You can view your caption in the track edit form and see how it appears to your followers by checking your own Stream.

How can I edit the caption on my track?

To edit the caption on your track, navigate to the Edit track option and scroll down to the caption field where you can make your changes.

If I change the caption, will my track be posted in the Stream again?

A track is posted to the Stream the moment it is saved as a public track. While you can edit the caption after the track has been posted, doing so will not repost the track in the Stream. Tracks are posted once, and they appear in your followers’ Stream at that time, even if you later modify the caption.

Can I delete the caption on my uploaded track?

Yes, you can delete the caption on your track even after it has been posted. To do this, go to Track Edit, scroll to the caption field, and delete the caption text.

Will someone see my track caption if I block them?

No, if you block a user, they will not be able to follow you and, therefore, will not be able to see the captions on your tracks.

Is there a character limit on captions?

Yes, captions are limited to 140 characters, including spaces.

Can I report a caption?

Yes, you can report a caption by clicking on the More menu and selecting ‘Report’. You will then be able to choose whether you want to report the track or the caption.

What are some effective ways to use captions and track descriptions?

Captions:

Use them to share a few impactful words about your track, thank your collaborators, or convey a quick message to your audience. Since captions are visible in the Stream, they are an excellent way to grab attention.

Track Descriptions:

Utilize the longer character limit (up to 4000 characters) to include song lyrics, list collaborators, or share a detailed review or background story of the track. This information is visible on the Track details page and provides more context to your listeners who are interested in learning more about the track.