To convert a TS file to text, send the .ts video to the Potok bot on Telegram and read the transcript in the chat. The speech is taken from the audio track. Files up to 2 GB are accepted, so a long broadcast recording usually fits in one piece.
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
- MPEG transport stream (.ts) is used for broadcast and for HLS streaming segments, so one stream may be saved as many small files.
- A TV recorder or capture card usually writes one long .ts file, which is easy to send as it is.
- A web stream saved by a downloader often arrives as hundreds of short .ts pieces that need joining.
- Transport streams can carry several audio tracks, for example different dubbed versions.
How to do it
- Check how the file was made. One long .ts from a recorder can be sent directly. A folder of short segments should be joined into a single file first.
- Join the segments if you have a folder of them. Use a video tool that merges files in order, and keep the numbering of the pieces. Sending them out of order scrambles the text.
- Open the bot. Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram.
- Send the file. Attach the .ts as a document. For a file up to 2 GB, use the Upload button of the mini app.
- Read and export. A short result is shown in the chat, a long one comes as a file. Save TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT or VTT.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Good evening. Our main story tonight is about the new bridge.
[00:06] Speaker 2: Thank you. I am standing at the site where work began this week.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sending segments one at a time in random order | Sentences are cut in the middle and the pieces cannot be read as one story. | Join the segments in their numbered order before sending. |
| Not knowing which audio track is spoken | A broadcast file with several tracks may give you commentary in one version and music only in another. | Play the file and check which track you hear by default. |
| Sending a whole day of recording | The file may pass 2 GB, and the transcript is too long to use. | Cut the part you need with a video tool and send only that. |
| Expecting broadcast captions to be copied | Captions that came with the broadcast are not part of the audio, so they do not appear. | Treat the transcript as a fresh text made from the speech. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .ts file?
It is an MPEG transport stream. It is used for broadcast and for the segments of HLS streaming.
Do I need to join the pieces of a stream?
Yes, when you have many short segments. Join them in order so the transcript reads as one piece.
Is a TypeScript .ts file the same?
No. TypeScript source files also end in .ts, but they are code and contain no audio. Send only video files.
How large can the file be?
Up to 2 GB, with the Upload button of the mini app for large files.
Can I get subtitles from it?
Yes. Export the transcript as SRT or VTT to get lines with time ranges.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- MPEG transport stream (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Bit rate (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Megabyte (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