Sembly states 48 languages, though its pricing page says 45+, while Potok covers about 30 languages. Sembly exports meeting notes as PDF, DOCX, HTML or Markdown; Potok exports TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT from a Telegram bot and takes one file up to 2 GB.
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Files up to 2 GB · export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · speaker labels and timestamps · about 30 languages
Key facts
- Sembly's two pages disagree on the language count, 48 against 45+, so check the current list for your language.
- Sembly's export list refers to meeting notes; Potok exports the transcript itself, including SRT and VTT subtitles.
- Sembly states speaker labels; Potok can switch them on and numbers speakers as Speaker 1, Speaker 2.
- Sembly's public pages do not mention translation, a largest file or a Telegram bot.
- Export formats: Sembly lists Meeting notes as PDF, DOCX, HTML or Markdown, and Potok lists TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT.
At a glance
| Sembly | Potok | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition languages | 48 languages (its pricing page says 45+) | About 30 |
| Translation of transcripts | Not stated on its public pages | Not available |
| Speaker labels | Yes | Yes, can be switched on |
| Export formats | Meeting notes as PDF, DOCX, HTML or Markdown | TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Telegram bot | Not stated on its public pages | Yes, @potok_now_bot |
| Largest file | Not stated on its public pages | Up to 2 GB |
Facts about Sembly come from its public pages and from third-party reviews. They can change; check the vendor's site before you decide.
| 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 when choosing
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Trusting one language figure when pages disagree | Your language may sit in the gap between 45 and 48. | Look for your language by name on the list. |
| Treating exported meeting notes as the full transcript | Notes summarise and may omit what you need verbatim. | Check whether the export holds the full text. |
| Expecting subtitle files from Sembly | Its export list names document formats, not SRT or VTT. | Pick a tool listing subtitle formats for video work. |
| Assuming a file size limit exists or not | Neither is stated, so large uploads are a gamble. | Test with your largest file first. |
| Skipping a test with one real file of your own | Published lists say little about how your voices and noise are handled | Run the same five-minute clip through both tools and compare the text |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Sembly give two language counts?
Its language page says 48 and its pricing page says 45+. Potok states about 30 languages.
Does Sembly export subtitles?
Its public list names PDF, DOCX, HTML and Markdown for meeting notes. Potok exports SRT and VTT subtitles.
Can Sembly translate transcripts?
Its public pages do not state this. Potok has no translation of text.
How do I send a file to Potok?
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram, attach the recording, and read the transcript in the same chat.
Does Sembly label speakers?
Yes, it states speaker labels. Potok can switch them on too and uses numbers rather than names.
What does the table say about speaker labels?
For Sembly it lists Yes, and for Potok it lists Yes, can be switched on. Check the vendor page for the current wording before you decide.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Sembly, official page, Sembly · checked
- Whisper speech recognition system (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