To convert a CAF file to text, send it to the Potok bot on Telegram and read the transcript in the chat. CAF (Core Audio Format) is an Apple container for audio of any length, so long recordings are not cut off by the format. 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
- CAF is a container, so the sound inside may use different codecs, from uncompressed to compressed.
- Apps on iPhone and Mac, such as call recorders and audio tools, sometimes leave CAF files in their folders.
- Few players outside the Apple world open CAF, which is why people look for a way to read it.
- If the file is refused, a copy saved as WAV or M4A in an audio editor is the fallback.
How to do it
- Find the file. In the Files app or in the app's own folder, look for the extension .caf.
- Send it to a chat. Use the share sheet to send the file to Telegram, and pick the chat with @potok_now_bot.
- Send it as a document. A document keeps the file exactly as it is. Large ones go through the Upload button of the bot's mini app.
- Turn on labels. Switch on speaker labels if more than one person talks.
- Export, or convert and retry. Export the text you need. If the bot cannot read the file, save a WAV or M4A copy and send that.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: This is a test of the new recorder, one two three.
[00:05] Speaker 1: I am standing next to the window.
[00:09] Speaker 1: Now I will walk to the door.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Renaming the file to .wav | The extension changes but the inside does not, and programs reject the mismatch. | Export a real WAV copy from an audio editor. |
| Assuming CAF always means uncompressed audio | The size can be small or large depending on the codec inside. | Check the size before you plan the upload. |
| Hunting for a CAF player on a PC | Many Windows tools do not open it. | Send it to the bot, or convert to WAV on the Mac. |
| Sending only the preview of a long recording | You get text for part of the speech. | Send the full file. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CAF file?
CAF (Core Audio Format) is an Apple container for audio of any length. It can hold several kinds of audio inside.
Can the bot read CAF?
Send it as a document and see. If it is refused, save a WAV or M4A copy and send that instead.
Why are CAF files so rare?
They are used mostly by Apple apps and tools, so many people only meet them by accident.
Is there a size limit?
Files up to 2 GB are supported. CAF itself does not limit the length.
Do I get speaker labels from CAF?
Yes, if you switch them on. They appear as numbered labels.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Core Audio Format (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- WAV (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Bit rate (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