Convert MP3 to text online
From podcast episodes to lecture recordings and voice messages, MP3 is the audio format most of us have piles of. Upload an MP3 and get a timestamped transcript for free, with no login.
- Free
- Unlimited
- No login
Drop your MP3 here, or choose a file
MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, FLAC and more. There is no size or length limit set here. Your file never leaves your device.
What an MP3 transcript gives you
MP3 squeezes audio into a small file, which is why podcasts, voice recorders and downloaded lectures use it. That helps here too: your browser reads an MP3 quickly, and a one-hour MP3 at 128 kbps is only about 58 MB.
A transcript lets you search a long episode for one phrase, quote an interviewee exactly, write show notes without replaying the show, or keep a written record of a talk or voice message.
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How to convert an MP3 to text
Pick your MP3
Drop the .mp3 in the box at the top of this page, or press Choose a file. In the uploader you can add more than one, and each becomes its own transcript.
Choose the language
Select the spoken language or keep auto-detect. To get English text from another language, open More options and set Output to Translate to English.
Wait for the transcript
Text appears while the file is processed, with a progress bar. Fastest is quick, Best accuracy takes longest and makes the fewest mistakes.
Fix and download
Correct any line, then download TXT to read, or SRT and VTT if the audio belongs with a video or web player.
MP3 and other audio formats
MP3 is the most common audio upload. These other audio formats work the same way, and video files are accepted too.
Audio files you can upload
- MP3
- WAV
- M4A
- AAC
- FLAC
- OGG
- OPUS
Download the transcript as
- TXT the episode or talk as plain text
- Markdown show notes with timestamps
- SRT captions for a video version
- VTT a transcript track for web players
- PDF a transcript to print or send
- JSON structured lines for programs
Tips for transcribing MP3 files
- Upload the best copy. MP3 is lossy and every re-save loses a little more detail. If you still have the WAV or the original recording, upload that instead.
- Avoid very low bitrates. Speech survives compression well, but very low bitrates blur consonants and lower accuracy.
- Split long episodes. There is no length limit, but a two-hour episode takes a while on a slower device. Cut it into parts in any audio editor to read the first part sooner.
- Handle intros and music. Keep Skip silence & music switched on in More options, so jingles and long pauses do not produce made-up words.
- Spell out the guests. Put the host, guests, show name and brands in the vocabulary hint once, and they are far more likely to come out right.
MP3 to text: common questions
How long can an MP3 be?
We set no size or length limit, because the MP3 is transcribed in your browser on your own device. A 60-minute MP3 at 128 kbps is about 58 MB; longer files simply take longer, and the page warns you on a slower device. There is no daily or monthly quota.
Does MP3 compression hurt accuracy?
Not much at normal quality, because speech is the easy case for MP3. Noise, echo and overlapping voices hurt far more than the format, so prefer a clean original when you have one.
Can I transcribe several MP3 files at once?
Yes. Add them together and each becomes its own transcript in your session, which you can open and download separately.
Can I translate an MP3 into English?
Yes. In More options set Output to Translate to English. Translation is automatic, so read the English text before you use it. Other target languages are not offered.
Is my MP3 kept?
Only in this browser: your MP3 never leaves your device. It is deleted automatically after a period of inactivity, or when you press Delete my data now. No account is needed.