Potok transcribes Russian speech; this site has been translated into English for convenience.
Telegram has its own transcription of voice messages and video notes: a transcription button right under the recording, a few times a week without Premium and as many as you like with Premium. If you need to transcribe other people's files, video links or get a ready summary, there is Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: its limit is shared, 60 minutes per month for free, not counted by the number of messages.
A voice message or video note in Telegram has a transcription button: without a Premium subscription it works a few times a week, with Premium there are no limits. If you need to transcribe a file someone sent, a video link or get a short summary, Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot fits better. A broader overview of transcription services is in the comparison of transcription services.
What a Telegram transcription bot can do
The bot accepts voice messages and video notes, sent to it or forwarded from any chat, as well as audio and video files and links to YouTube, VK Video and RuTube: the transcription button under a message in Telegram itself does not take files or links. The bot does not limit the number of messages; its limit is shared: in minutes of recordings per month, not in the number of transcriptions per week.
- a short recording comes back as text right in the chat, a long one as a file (TXT or DOCX, as chosen in the settings);
- the Summary button gives a short summary and tasks by speaker, which Telegram's built-in button does not do;
- the Tasks and deadlines button lists separately who does what and by when;
- the Ask button answers your own question about the text of the recording;
- timestamps and speaker labels, Speaker 1 and Speaker 2, are turned on in the /settings settings.
In groups the bot also transcribes voice messages, video notes and audio of up to 10 minutes if it is an administrator in the group.
Who needs the bot rather than the built-in button
The bot comes in handy when the built-in Telegram button is not enough:
- the recording is not a voice message but a file (audio or video) or a YouTube, VK Video or RuTube link;
- a couple of transcriptions a week without Premium is not enough, and you do not want to subscribe;
- instead of the text itself you need a summary, a list of tasks by speaker or an answer to your own question about the recording;
- the recording came to a group chat rather than a private chat: the bot will accept it if it is an administrator in that group.
The difference between this kind of transcription and ordinary voice input of text is covered on the page transcription and voice input: what is the difference.
When the bot will not fit
If a couple of voice message transcriptions a week is enough or you already have Telegram Premium, it is simpler to use the transcription button right under the message in Telegram; Potok's bot is not needed here. The bot will not fit if the video is not in Russian: it recognizes only Russian speech and has no translation. If you need the speakers' real names instead of the numbers Speaker 1, Speaker 2, the bot does not know them. The bot does not transcribe during a call, only a finished recording. It will not accept Instagram and TikTok links either. Potok's bot is cloud-based: recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet.
Frequently asked questions
The built-in button transcribes only voice messages and video notes and, without Premium, is limited by the number per week. The bot also accepts audio and video files and video links, and its limit is shared, in minutes per month, not in the number of messages.
Yes, if the bot is an administrator in the group: voice messages, video notes and audio of up to 10 minutes.
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.
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.
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.
Try it on your own recording
Potok's Telegram bot transcribes a voice message, video note, audio or video, and its buttons make a summary and a task list. 60 minutes per month for free.
Open @potok_now_bot in TelegramPrimary sources: core.telegram.org · www.ixbt.com · developers.sber.ru · t.me
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.