To convert Tagalog audio to text, send the file to the Potok bot on Telegram, keeping in mind that the score is borderline. Published tests of others on the earlier large-v2 model, not our measurements, give a word error rate of 13.8, close to our 15 line. Files up to 2 GB work.
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
- The 13.8 is from large-v2, no newer figure was found, and it sits close to our 15 line.
- Everyday Tagalog often mixes in English words, so a transcript can switch spelling style mid-sentence.
- Words are formed with prefixes, infixes and repeated syllables, so small slips change the meaning.
- Because the score is borderline, a short test clip pays off before a long file.
- Names of people and places are often spoken with English spellings in mind, so confirm how they should be written.
What a transcript looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Simulan na natin ang pulong. Una, susuriin natin ang mga resulta noong nakaraang linggo, pagkatapos ay magpaplano tayo ng mga susunod na hakbang.Meaning in English: Let's start the meeting. First, we'll review last week's results, then plan the next steps.
Written by us to show the script and the layout of a transcript. It is not the output of the recognition engine.
Published quality
| Language | Verdict | Published result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tagalog | Recommended, borderline | word error rate 13.8% (large-v2, FLEURS) Whisper paper | Published tests show an error rate close to our 15% line. Check a short sample first. No large-v3 figure was found; the figure is from the earlier large-v2 model and sits close to the 15% line. |
These numbers come from published tests by other people, not from tests by Potok. Your own audio, with its noise, accents and microphone, will differ.
How to do it
- Cut a short test. Take one minute from the middle of the recording and send that first.
- Open the bot. Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram and post the sample.
- Judge the mixed speech. See how English words in the middle of Tagalog sentences were written, and decide which style you want.
- Send the full file. Up to 2 GB; press Upload in the mini app for large ones.
- Proofread word forms. Check verbs with affixes and repeated syllables against the audio.
- Export. DOCX or TXT to edit, SRT or VTT for subtitles.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sending the whole recording untested | A borderline score can hide a rough result. | Test a minute first. |
| Expecting English words to be spelled one way | Mixed speech comes out in mixed styles. | Normalise in one pass. |
| Missing verb affixes | A changed affix changes tense or focus. | Read verbs closely. |
| Treating 13.8 as exact | It is an average from other people's tests. | Proofread names and numbers. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Tagalog borderline?
Its published word error rate of 13.8 is close to our 15 line, and it comes from the earlier large-v2 model.
What about Taglish?
Speech that mixes Tagalog and English is common. Check the English parts, since the spelling style may switch.
What is the largest file?
2 GB, using Upload for the big ones.
Is the 13.8 measured by you?
No. It comes from published tests by others.
Is the text translated?
No. The transcript stays in Tagalog, the same language as the recording you send, and it is never converted into another one.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Word error rate (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- FLEURS speech dataset (Google, Hugging Face), Hugging Face · checked
- Whisper paper, Table 13 (large-v2 on FLEURS) · 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