Potok transcribes Russian speech; this site has been translated into English for convenience.
To transcribe audio or video from a direct file link, send the link in a private message to the Potok Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: it accepts a direct link to an audio or video file. Links are not supported in groups. For free, the bot transcribes 60 minutes per month.
If a recording is available at an internet address, a link is all the bot needs: @potok_now_bot accepts a direct link to an audio or video file.
How to transcribe audio or video from a direct link to an mp3 or mp4 file
- Take a direct link to the audio or video file.
- Open a private chat with @potok_now_bot. Links are not supported in a group, so you need to write to the bot directly.
- Send the link as a message.
- Wait for the transcription: a short recording arrives as text in the chat, a long one as a file.
The link works for both an audio file and a video file: the transcript comes to the chat with the bot. The file format, TXT or DOCX, is chosen in the bot settings. Under the transcript the buttons “Summary”, “Tasks and deadlines” and “Ask” remain, and all transcripts are kept in “My recordings”. Only Russian speech is recognized. Recognition runs on Potok's servers in Russia, where the recordings and transcripts are also stored; you can open them again in “My recordings”.
If the bot did not accept the link
The bot accepts a direct link to an audio or video file, as well as links to YouTube, VK Video and RuTube. It does not support links to Instagram, TikTok, Google Drive, Yandex Disk and Dropbox. There are separate pages for video from YouTube, VK Video and RuTube: transcribing a YouTube video and transcribing a video from VK Video.
Where Potok cannot do this
The Potok app for Windows, macOS and Linux is for dictation, while finished recordings from a link are transcribed by the Telegram bot @potok_now_bot. They share one subscription. Potok has no apps for Android and iPhone, no voice commands and no offline mode: recognition is in the cloud, runs on servers in Russia, and Potok does not work without the internet. There is no translation between languages, and the bot recognizes only Russian speech.
Frequently asked questions
No. The bot accepts links only in private messages; they are not supported in groups. In a group it takes voice messages, video notes and audio up to 10 minutes, so send the link to the bot in a private chat.
No. The bot does not support links to Google Drive, Yandex Disk, Dropbox, Instagram and TikTok. It accepts a direct link to an audio or video file, as well as links to YouTube, VK Video and RuTube.
Yes, a number of platforms have built-in meeting transcription: in Zoom for cloud recordings, in Microsoft Teams during the meeting, in Google Meet on Google Workspace plans. The alternative is to record the sound and process it with a separate transcription service after the call. The Potok app does not do this kind of transcription, it is for live dictation; you can send a call recording as a file to the Potok Telegram bot @potok_now_bot.
With Potok you can dictate the minutes live, saying them during or right after the meeting. Transcribing an already recorded meeting audio file (a finished Zoom or Telemost recording) is a separate transcription task: you can send such a file to the Potok Telegram bot @potok_now_bot.
Voice input is real-time dictation: you speak and immediately get text in the active field. Transcription is turning an already finished audio or video recording (for example, a meeting recording) into text after the fact. The Potok app does the first job, live dictation; finished recordings in Russian are transcribed by its Telegram bot @potok_now_bot.
Voice input is real-time dictation into the active text field. Transcription is turning an already finished audio or video recording (a lecture, a call, a podcast) into text after the fact, often with diarization (splitting by speaker).
Try it on your own recording
Potok's Telegram bot transcribes a voice message, video note, audio or video, and its buttons make a summary and a task list. 60 minutes per month for free.
Open @potok_now_bot in TelegramPrimary sources: support.microsoft.com · support.apple.com
Transcribe a recording in Telegram
Voice messages, video notes, audio and video are transcribed by Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: forward it a voice message from any chat, or send a file or a YouTube, VK Video or RuTube link. A short recording comes back as text in the chat, a long one as a file; timestamps and speaker labels can be turned on. The buttons give a short summary, tasks and deadlines, an answer to a question about the recording and export to TXT, DOCX, PDF or SRT. Large files, up to 2 GB, are easier to upload in the bot's mini app, via the Upload button next to the input field. The bot recognizes Russian speech; 60 minutes per month are free.