Potok transcribes Russian speech; this site has been translated into English for convenience.
In groups the Potok (potok.now) bot takes only voice messages, video notes and audio up to 10 minutes, while video, documents and links are not supported there; in private messages they work. The bot sees group messages if it is an administrator.
The bot stays silent on a voice message in a group, although in private messages the same file is transcribed. In groups the bot has a shorter list of features than in private messages.
What to check if the bot does not transcribe voice messages in a group
- Look at what exactly was sent. In groups the bot takes only voice messages, video notes and audio.
- Check the length of the recording: in a group it is up to 10 minutes.
- Make sure it is not a video, a document or a link. They are not supported in a group.
- Check that the bot is an administrator in the group: it sees group messages if it has that role.
If the recording fits all four points, you can forward it to the bot in private messages: a voice message can be forwarded there from any chat.
What to do if the recording does not fit a group
You can forward a voice message from a group to the bot @potok_now_bot in private messages: a voice message from any chat can be forwarded there. Video, a file (including sent as a document) and a link to YouTube, VK Video or RuTube work in private messages. A short recording comes back as text in the chat, a long one as a file. What the bot accepts and returns overall is described in the article about the bot for transcription in Telegram; in the bot 60 minutes of recording per month are free. Other answers about voice input are in the FAQ section.
When the question is not for the bot
The bot recognizes only Russian speech, and there is no translation into another language. The Potok app cannot transcribe ready recordings: it is dictation, while recordings and voice messages are transcribed by the bot, and the subscription for the app and the bot is the same. Potok is a cloud service, recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet.
Frequently asked questions
Not directly in the group: video, documents and links are not supported there. In private messages the bot accepts video, files (including sent as a document) and links to YouTube, VK Video and RuTube.
The bot sees group messages if it is an administrator.
Voice input is real-time dictation: you speak and immediately get text in the active field. Transcription turns an already finished audio or video recording (for example, a meeting recording) into text after the fact. The Potok app handles the first task, 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 turns an already finished audio or video recording (a lecture, a call, a podcast) into text after the fact, often with diarization (splitting by speaker).
With Potok you can dictate the minutes live, speaking them during or right after the meeting. Transcribing an already recorded audio file of a meeting (a finished Zoom or Telemost recording) is a separate transcription task: such a file can be sent to Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot.
Yes, several platforms have built-in meeting transcription: Zoom for cloud recordings, Microsoft Teams during the meeting, 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; a call recording can be sent as a file to Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot.
Recording to text
Send a recording to Potok's Telegram bot or upload a file of up to 2 GB in the bot's mini app. The first 60 minutes of every month are 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.