AAC stores sound in small compressed chunks, so its internal count says little about minutes and seconds. For a text with timestamps from AAC files, send the recording to Potok in Telegram as 1 file. The reply shows normal clock times; keep the original file until you have checked 2 lines.
Turn a recording into text
Drop an audio or video file, or a voice message, into the chat with @potok_now_bot; the recognized text is sent back there.
Go to @potok_now_bot in Telegram
Export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · files up to 2 GB · about 30 languages · speakers and timestamps on request
In short
- The .aac extension is used for raw AAC bitstream files.
- The Library of Congress describes AAC as a perceptual audio encoding format and cites ISO/IEC 14496-3.
- One compressed AAC frame corresponds to 1024 PCM samples (21.33 ms at 48 kHz).
- Potok accepts .aac files up to 2 GB and reads them without a conversion step.
What a AAC file is
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Kind | Audio codec (raw AAC stream, ADTS) |
| File extensions | .aac, .m4a |
| What it holds | A perceptual audio encoding; a raw .aac file is an ADTS stream of self-synchronizing frames |
How to get timestamps for AAC files
- Send the AAC file to the bot. In Telegram, open @potok_now_bot and attach the .aac file to the chat. Larger recordings, up to 2 GB, go through the Upload button in the bot's mini app.
- Mind this about the format. One compressed AAC frame corresponds to 1024 PCM samples (21.33 ms at 48 kHz).
- Turn on time marks. Under the result open the other-format options and enable timestamps; before you quote a mark, jump to that place in the file and listen.
- Prepare this format. Send the .aac as it is; if your own player cannot open it, the file may be damaged, so fix that first.
What time marks look like
[00:00] Speaker 1: And the striker runs down the left side.
[00:12] Speaker 1: A quick pass to the middle, and a shot!
[00:31] Speaker 1: The goalkeeper saves it with his fingertips.
[00:58] Speaker 1: Could you send me the photos from your cousin's wedding?
Lines written by us to show the layout. They are not output from a real AAC file.
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Digest | Press the summary button under a finished transcript for a short digest |
| Dictation | A separate Potok desktop app lets you dictate text into any program; it recognises Russian speech |
| Translation | The text keeps the language of the audio and is not translated |
| Upload limit | Files up to 2 GB |
| Output formats | TXT, MD, DOCX and PDF for text; SRT and VTT for subtitles |
Typical AAC slips
| Slip | Result | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Reading AAC frames as seconds | A frame is a tiny slice, so the numbers look wrong | Use the minutes and seconds in the transcript |
| Joining raw .aac pieces by simply copying them together | Players misread the joined stream and the stamps drift | Join AAC pieces with an audio tool before sending |
| Trimming the AAC after the transcript is ready | All later stamps shift against the shortened file | Request the transcript from the final AAC |
| Cutting the AAC file in a basic tool before sending | Cut points may shift stamps from the original recording | Send the untouched original and trim only a copy |
More
Terms used here are explained in the glossary. Handy helpers live in tools; apps are on the download page.
Common questions
Does Potok accept AAC files?
Yes. The bot accepts .aac files up to 2 GB, so no conversion is needed first.
Can timestamps be combined with speaker labels?
Yes. Both can be switched on in the other-format options, and the result is shown again with the marks you chose.
Which apps and devices create AAC files?
Android MediaRecorder offers an AAC_ADTS output format (Android MediaRecorder AAC_ADTS).
Sources
The dates show when each source was opened. Pages are edited over time; read the original before you rely on a detail.
- AAC, Advanced Audio Coding (Library of Congress), Library of Congress · checked
- ADTS, Audio Data Transport Stream (Library of Congress), Library of Congress · checked
- AAC encoder, Microsoft Learn · checked
Check it on a file of your own
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Go to @potok_now_bot in Telegram