To transcribe a Voice Memos recording on a Mac, drag it into a Finder window to save a copy, then send the file to the Potok bot on Telegram, which takes audio up to 2 GB. Apple describes dragging a recording into a Finder window as the way to save it to a folder you choose.
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
- Apple help: a recording can be dragged into a Finder window and saved to a folder of your choice.
- Voice Memos lets you pick compressed or lossless quality; both are fine for transcription.
- The bot reads the format itself, so you do not convert the copy.
- Speaker labels give each reply a number and a timestamp.
How to do it
- Pick the recording. Open Voice Memos on the Mac and select the recording in the list.
- Save a copy as a file. Drag the recording into a Finder window, or use the share button, to get a file in a folder you can reach.
- Send it to the bot. Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram and attach the file.
- Switch on speaker labels. When the memo has more than one voice, labels separate the replies.
- Read through the text. Check names and figures against the sound by timestamps.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Notes from the call: the budget is approved, the date is open.
[00:09] Speaker 1: Action one: send the draft contract.
[00:17] Speaker 1: Action two: book the room for the kickoff.
[00:25] Speaker 1: Next call on Friday morning.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Looking for the file in the app's own storage | Apple does not describe the folder, so you may not find it. | Drag the recording into Finder instead. |
| Sending a screenshot or a link | Neither contains the sound. | Send the audio file. |
| Recording far from the speaker | Quiet voices produce gaps in the text. | Put the Mac or a microphone close to the speaker. |
| Taking labels for names | Speaker 1 is only a number. | Rename the speakers by hand. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Voice Memos recording out of the app?
Apple says you can drag a recording into a Finder window to save it to a folder you choose. The share button also works.
Which quality should I record at?
Voice Memos offers compressed and lossless options. Either works for transcription, and the compressed one makes a smaller file.
Does the bot read the Voice Memos format?
Yes. It reads the format itself and accepts audio and video up to 2 GB, so no conversion is needed.
Can I get speaker labels?
Yes. Switch them on before sending; replies are marked with numbers and times.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Share a recording in Voice Memos on Mac, Apple · checked
- Change Voice Memos settings on Mac, Apple · 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