To convert an AAC file to text, send it to the Potok bot on Telegram and read the transcript in the chat. AAC is a lossy codec and the usual successor to MP3 at the same quality, so a speech recording stays compact. Files up to 2 GB are accepted. Export TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT or VTT.
Transcribe a recording
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram
Files up to 2 GB · export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · speaker labels and timestamps · about 30 languages
Key facts
- AAC audio is commonly stored in M4A or MP4 files, so the same codec may arrive under a different extension.
- A bare .aac file is a stream of audio without a rich container, which some editors read poorly.
- Because AAC is lossy, converting it to another lossy format only adds damage.
- Speaker labels appear as numbers such as Speaker 1, never as real names.
How to do it
- Check the extension. A file ending in .aac is raw AAC audio. A file ending in .m4a or .mp4 holds AAC inside a container. Both can be sent.
- Do not convert it. AAC to MP3 is a second lossy step. Keep the file you have.
- Open the chat. Go to @potok_now_bot in Telegram and send the file as audio or as a document.
- Handle a long recording. For a big file, up to 2 GB, use the Upload button of the bot's mini app instead of the usual attach button.
- Switch on labels and export. Turn on speaker labels for an interview, then export DOCX to edit or SRT for captions.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Welcome back to the show. Today we talk about city gardens.
[00:06] Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. I started with one balcony box.
[00:12] Speaker 1: Let us begin with the soil.
Sample text written by us to show the layout of a transcript. It is not the output of the recognition engine and not a real recording.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Where it works | Telegram bot @potok_now_bot; large files go through the bot's mini app |
| File size | Up to 2 GB |
| Export | TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Speakers and time | Speaker labels and timestamps can be switched on |
| Languages | About 30 languages with good published results; a few more with warnings |
| Translation | The transcript is not translated into another language |
| Dictation | A separate Potok desktop app lets you dictate text into any program; it recognises Russian speech |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Converting AAC to MP3 before sending | Two lossy steps in a row remove more detail, and quiet words come out wrong. | Send the AAC as it is. |
| Pasting a stream link instead of a file | The bot takes files, forwarded voice messages and YouTube links, not the address of a radio stream. | Save the recording to a file first, then send that file. |
| Cutting the file at a fixed time | A cut inside a word leaves half a word at the start of the next part. | Cut in a pause between sentences. |
| Trusting a very low bitrate copy | A copy saved at a tiny bitrate has already lost consonants, which speech needs. | Use the higher quality original if you still have it. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AAC and M4A?
AAC is the codec that compresses the sound. M4A is a file container that usually holds AAC audio.
Is AAC better than MP3 for transcription?
At the same quality AAC is the usual successor to MP3, but a clear voice matters more than the codec.
Can I send a .aac file straight to Telegram?
Yes. Attach it as audio or as a document, and use the Upload button for a file near the 2 GB limit.
Why would an AAC file not play in my editor?
A raw .aac file has little metadata, and some programs expect an M4A wrapper. Playing it in a media player first shows whether the sound is intact.
Does the bot translate the text of an AAC recording?
No. The text stays in the language of the recording.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Advanced Audio Coding (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- MP3 (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- MP4 file format, MPEG-4 Part 14 (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
Try it on your own recording
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram