To convert an MP4 to SRT, send the video to the Potok bot on Telegram and export the transcript as SRT. The subtitles are made from the audio track of the MP4. Files up to 2 GB are accepted, so a long recording usually fits.
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
- Subtitles can be taken from the audio track of an MP4 video, so the picture is not needed for recognition.
- SRT does not contain the video, only text and times. Your MP4 stays exactly as it is.
- Burned-in captions are a separate job for a video editor. The SRT stays a file next to the video.
- Speaker labels, when switched on, are numbers and can be left out of subtitles.
How to do it
- Locate the MP4. Use the final export from your editor or camera, not a rough preview, so the times match the cut you will publish.
- Open the bot. Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram.
- Send the video. Attach the MP4 as a file. For a large video, up to 2 GB, use the Upload button of the mini app.
- Wait for the transcript. A short result comes into the chat as text. A long one arrives as a file.
- Export SRT. Save the transcript as SRT. Keep the file name the same as the video, with the .srt ending.
- Add it to the player. Place the SRT beside the MP4 or import it as a subtitle track in your editor or player.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: This is the dashboard you see after the first sign-in.
[00:05] Speaker 1: On the left, the menu lists reports, orders and settings.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sending the MP4 before the last cut | Removed or added seconds move every cue away from the spoken words. | Finish editing first and send the final export. |
| Expecting the SRT to change the video file | Nothing is burned into the picture. The player has to load the subtitles. | Use a video editor if you need captions fixed into the frames. |
| Naming the subtitle file differently from the video | Some players do not find the file and show no subtitles. | Give both files the same base name. |
| Publishing subtitles unread | Wrong names or product terms appear in front of every viewer. | Open the SRT in a text editor and correct them before release. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get subtitles from an MP4?
Yes. The bot works from the audio track of the video and can export the transcript as an SRT file.
Does the MP4 itself change?
No. SRT holds only text and times, so the video file stays untouched.
Can I use the SRT on a video site or a player?
Most players and editors accept SRT files. Check the upload form of your platform for its subtitle option.
How large can the video be?
Files up to 2 GB are supported, with the Upload button for large ones.
Will the subtitles be in another language?
No. The text stays in the language spoken in the video and is not translated.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- SubRip and the .srt format (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- MP4 file format, MPEG-4 Part 14 (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