Transcribe Audio to Text

How to transcribe an audio file

1. Sign in, choose an audio file and check that it fits the 4 MB upload limit. MP3, M4A and WAV are accepted. Check the recording before uploading, especially if it contains private conversations or confidential material.

2. Confirm that you have permission to process the recording, then select Transcribe file. The page uploads it and displays a processing message. Keep the page open; processing time varies with the recording and provider load.

3. Review the completed text against the recording. Switch Show speaker labels on or off, then use Copy, Download TXT or Download SRT when timed cues are available. Download your result before leaving the page.

Supported formats and limits

Audio uploads accept MP3, M4A and WAV. The shared upload also accepts MP4 video. MOV is not currently supported. Files must be no larger than 4 MB, and only the first 10 minutes are transcribed. A large uncompressed WAV may hit the size limit well before 10 minutes.

File transcription currently does not deduct ToTextly credits. No recurring free allowance or future file pricing has been established. These upload limits describe the current tool, not an unlimited free plan. Existing social-video credit rules do not define a price for uploaded files.

Audio transcription with speaker labels

Automatic speaker diarization groups speech by voice and labels the turns. It can help distinguish an interviewer from a guest without identifying their real names. Review short or overlapping turns because two people may be grouped together, or one person may receive multiple labels.

The result can show labels or plain text. Renaming and merging speakers are not yet supported in the interface. For those corrections, export labeled TXT and edit it while listening to the corresponding passage.

What you get

TXT is useful for notes, quotations and editing in a document. With labels visible, the exported text includes the speaker at the start of each turn. With labels hidden, it uses the full plain transcript. Neither version makes the transcript an authoritative record.

SRT contains numbered cues and start and end timestamps derived from the provider's utterances. It can be a starting point for subtitles, but long turns may need splitting in a subtitle editor. VTT export is not currently available.

Audio files vs video files

An audio upload contains sound without a picture. A local video upload uses the same transcription engine to read its spoken audio; it does not describe images, identify faces or extract text from slides. MP4 is the accepted local video format.

A YouTube link is different: the YouTube tool retrieves available captions rather than uploading a local recording. Use the link tool for an accessible public YouTube video with captions, and the file tool for a recording you are authorized to upload.

What breaks accuracy

Accents and unfamiliar names may be rendered as more common words. Check proper nouns, amounts and technical terminology before quoting them. A distant microphone may lose quiet consonants, turning a clear sentence in person into ambiguous audio.

When people talk over each other, words and speaker assignments may be wrong. Background music can obscure speech or be mistaken for a voice. If possible, use a cleaner recording, move the microphone closer, or separate overlapping passages for manual review rather than trusting every generated label.

Who uses audio to text

Podcasters can search a draft transcript for an episode's main topics, identify a useful quotation and then confirm it against the recording. The text helps plan show notes; it does not replace a final listen or establish permission to republish a guest's words.

Meeting participants can turn an authorized recording into working notes, then check decisions, owners and dates with the group. Speaker labels help locate turns but should not be used as proof of identity or agreement.

Interviewers can separate questions from answers before preparing an article. Keep the source recording nearby and mark uncertain passages instead of silently correcting a quotation from memory.

Students can search classroom recordings for concepts and build revision notes around the relevant explanation. Check permission to record and upload the lesson, and verify formulas or specialist vocabulary against course materials.

Frequently asked questions

Does voice to text include live microphone dictation?

This tool transcribes a recording you upload. It does not currently capture your microphone or provide live dictation. Record audio on your device first, then upload a supported file.

How much can I transcribe for free?

This version does not deduct ToTextly credits for file transcription. Each upload is limited to 4 MB and only the first 10 minutes are processed. A recurring free allowance has not been established; these limits are not a promise of unlimited free service.

Which files can I upload?

The current upload accepts MP3, M4A, WAV and MP4 files up to 4 MB. MOV is not accepted. A supported extension does not guarantee that a damaged file or an unsupported codec can be read.

Do I need to register?

Yes. File transcription requires sign-in. The public YouTube caption tool is a separate workflow and does not require an account.

How long does transcription take?

Upload speed, recording length and provider load affect processing time. The page shows progress while it checks the job. There is no guaranteed completion time; avoid submitting the same recording repeatedly while it is processing.

Can I rename or merge speakers?

The current result lets you show or hide speaker labels but does not offer speaker renaming or merging. Download the labeled TXT and edit names or combine turns in a text editor after checking the recording.

Can I translate the transcript?

Not inside this tool. Download or copy the transcript, then use a translation service you trust. Review names and technical terms against the original recording.

What happens to my recording?

The file is sent to AssemblyAI for transcription. ToTextly does not provide a saved file-transcript library. The result controls can request deletion of the provider transcript; provider retention and backup policies still apply.

Which export formats are available?

You can copy or download plain or speaker-labeled TXT. SRT is available when the provider returns timed utterances. There is no VTT export in the current file transcription tool.

Can I upload a longer recording?

A file within the size limit may contain more than 10 minutes, but this version transcribes only its first 10 minutes. Split a longer recording yourself if you need later passages; keep track of each part's original start time.