To turn a SoundCloud track into text, you need it available as a file and you must have the right to use it. Send that file to the Potok bot on Telegram, since the bot does not take SoundCloud links. Files up to 2 GB work, and you can export TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT or VTT.
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
- A SoundCloud track needs to be available as a file before it is transcribed.
- Your own uploads are the easiest case, because you already hold the source file.
- Tracks by other people belong to their creators, so respect their rights.
- Mixes with loud music under the speech give poor text, while talk and podcast uploads do well.
How to do it
- Check who owns the track. Use your own upload, or get permission from the creator.
- Get the audio file. For your own track, use the original file from your computer. For someone else's, ask for the file.
- Send it to the bot. Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram and attach the audio.
- Pick the extras. Turn on timestamps for a long talk. Labels help if there are guests.
- Export the text. Save TXT for editing, or SRT and VTT if the track becomes a video.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: This is the second episode of the series on field recording.
[00:06] Speaker 1: Today we test three microphones in the woods.
[00:12] Speaker 1: Let's hear the first sample.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pasting a SoundCloud link | The bot reads files, so a link gives it nothing. | Send the audio file. |
| Using someone else's track without asking | The creator owns the recording. | Ask for the file or skip it. |
| Transcribing a music mix | Lyrics under loud beats are hard to catch. | Use clean spoken audio. |
| Skipping a final read | Names and titles are easy to mishear. | Check them against the audio. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I paste a SoundCloud link?
No. The bot does not take SoundCloud links. Send an audio file you may use.
How do I get my own track as a file?
Use the original file you uploaded from your computer or the app you recorded in.
Can I transcribe music lyrics?
The bot is built for speech, and lyrics over loud music give poor results.
Is there a size limit?
Each file can be up to 2 GB.
Are speakers named?
No. The labels are plain numbers like Speaker 1.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- SoundCloud (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Podcast (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Bit rate (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