To convert an OGG file to text, send it to the Potok bot on Telegram and read the transcript in the chat. Voice messages saved from Telegram are OGG files, so they can be forwarded without converting. Files up to 2 GB are accepted, and export includes TXT, DOCX and SRT.
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
- OGG is a container format; it often holds Vorbis or Opus audio, so two OGG files can differ inside.
- Telegram voice messages are Opus audio in an OGG container. A saved voice note usually has the .ogg or .oga ending.
- You can forward a voice message to the bot directly instead of saving it as a file first.
- Nothing needs to be converted to MP3 beforehand.
How to do it
- Decide whether you need the file at all. A voice message already in Telegram can be forwarded to the bot. A saved .ogg file is attached as a document.
- Open the bot. Open @potok_now_bot and press Start.
- Forward or attach. Forward the voice message, or attach the OGG file. For a big file, up to 2 GB, use the Upload button of the mini app.
- Wait for the text. Short voice notes come back as text in the chat. A long recording arrives as a file.
- Export if you need more than chat text. Save the transcript as TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT or VTT.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: I am at the station, the train is delayed, so start the meeting without me.
[00:07] Speaker 1: I will join by phone in about twenty minutes.
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 .ogg to .mp3 to make it open | The extension no longer matches the content, and some programs reject the file. | Leave the name alone. The bot takes OGG as it is. |
| Downloading a voice message and re-recording it from the speaker | Room noise and a second compression make the speech much harder to recognise. | Forward the original message or save its file. |
| Mixing up the container with the audio inside | A player that opens Vorbis OGG may not open an Opus one, which can look like a broken file. | If a file refuses to play, try another player before assuming it is empty. |
| Sending a chain of ten short voice notes as ten separate jobs | The pieces come back separately and the context between them is lost. | Forward them together or merge them into one recording. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What is an OGG file?
OGG is a container format. It often holds Vorbis or Opus audio, and a file with the .ogg ending can contain either.
Can I transcribe a Telegram voice message?
Yes. Forward it to the bot, or save it as an OGG file and attach that.
Do I need to convert OGG to MP3?
No. Convert only if another program you use refuses the file. The bot accepts the OGG as it is.
Why does my OGG not play on some devices?
Some players cannot open the Opus audio that is often stored inside OGG. Try a different player.
How large can the file be?
Up to 2 GB, with the Upload button of the mini app for large files.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Ogg (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Opus audio format (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Telegram Bot API, sendVoice, Telegram · 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