To transcribe a podcast episode, send the final audio to the Potok bot on Telegram with speaker labels and timestamps on. Files up to 2 GB work, so a full-length show fits. Export 6 formats; pick SRT or VTT for the player and DOCX or TXT for the blog post.
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
- SRT or VTT for the player gives listeners captions, while DOCX or TXT feeds the written episode page.
- Host and guest labels arrive as Speaker 1 and Speaker 2, so rename them before publishing.
- Send the finished mix, not the raw tracks, so the text follows what listeners actually hear.
How to do it
- Export the final mix. Use the edited episode that you publish. Removed pauses and cut sections change the timing.
- Open the bot. Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram and start a chat with it.
- Switch on labels and timestamps. Do it first. Panel shows with three or four voices need the labels, and captions need the times.
- Send the episode. Attach the audio as a file. Episodes up to 2 GB are fine; use the Upload button of the mini app when the file is big.
- Rename the speakers. Swap Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 for host and guest names. Do it once in DOCX, then reuse the file.
- Fix guest names and brands. Product names, sponsors and place names are the likely misses. Keep a list of them for every episode.
- Publish text and captions. Upload the SRT or VTT beside the audio and paste the cleaned text on the episode page.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Welcome to the show. Today we talk about growing herbs on a balcony.
[00:07] Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. Most people start with basil.
[00:12] Speaker 1: And what goes wrong first?
[00:15] Speaker 2: Too much water, nearly every time.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Transcribing before the edit is final | Captions drift out of step with the published audio. | Send only the finished file. |
| Leaving filler words in a public transcript | The page reads slowly and puts off new readers. | Decide on a style: full verbatim for the archive, lightly cleaned for the page. |
| Forgetting the ad reads | Sponsor names get misspelled in the text. | Check sponsor lines against the script. |
| Publishing without a read-through | Wrong names reach search results and stay there. | Skim the whole text once while listening at faster speed. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put the transcript on my episode page?
Yes, once you have read it and fixed the names. A clean text page also helps listeners who want to skim.
Which file do I give my podcast player?
Use SRT or VTT if your player supports captions. Check which of the two your hosting platform accepts.
How long an episode can I send?
The limit is a file of 2 GB. A long show usually fits, and the mini app Upload button handles the big ones.
Can it tell the host from the guest?
It separates voices into numbered speakers. You decide who is who and rename them.
Should I also make show notes?
A transcript is a good base for show notes. Pick key points and times from it, then write a short summary yourself.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Podcast (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- WebVTT (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