To get a TXT file from audio, send the recording to the Potok bot on Telegram and export the transcript as TXT. TXT is plain text without formatting and opens everywhere. Files up to 2 GB are accepted, and a long transcript arrives as a file rather than as a chat message.
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
- A plain transcript is the smallest and simplest output, so it travels well by email and in chat.
- A TXT file keeps no bold, headings or columns, so labels and times are just typed text.
- It is the easiest format to paste into another program, a form or a database.
- Switch speaker labels on before sending the audio if you want them in the file.
How to do it
- Send the audio. Start the chat with @potok_now_bot in Telegram and attach the file.
- Choose what goes in the text. Speaker labels and timestamps are optional. Without them the file is one clean block of words.
- Export TXT. Pick TXT from the export options.
- Open it anywhere. Any text editor, phone notes app or browser will show it. If a character looks wrong, set the encoding of the editor to UTF-8.
- Paste or file it. Copy the text into the place where you need it, or keep the file with the recording.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: The main idea of today is that small habits add up.
[00:06] Speaker 1: We will look at three examples.
[00:10] Speaker 1: The first is about sleep.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening the file in a program with the wrong encoding | Accented letters turn into odd symbols. | Open the file as UTF-8. |
| Expecting bold names or headings in a TXT | A plain file cannot hold formatting. | Export DOCX if you need formatting. |
| Switching timestamps off and then needing to find a quote | You cannot tell where in the recording a sentence sits. | Export again with timestamps on. |
| Using TXT for subtitles | A plain transcript has no cue times in the format players read. | Export SRT or VTT for captions. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TXT file?
TXT is plain text without formatting and opens everywhere. It holds only the characters, with no fonts or layout.
When is TXT the right export?
Use it when you need the smallest file, a quick paste into another program or a copy that any device can open.
Does the TXT file include timestamps?
Only if you switched timestamps on. Otherwise it is just the spoken words.
Can I turn the TXT into a Word document later?
Yes. Open it in Word and save it as DOCX, or export DOCX from the bot.
How long can the recording be?
Files up to 2 GB are supported, and a long transcript arrives as a file.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Text file (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Megabyte (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- MP3 (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