Transcriv

MP3 to text converter

Got an interview, a voicemail or a podcast episode saved as MP3? Upload it and read it as text. Copy it, or download TXT or Word. A free account covers 60 minutes of audio.

Upload an MP3 file

Click to upload or drag and drop

MP3 files · Free: 60 min / 100MB per file · Pro: 5 hours / 2GB per file

How to transcribe MP3 to text

  1. Choose the MP3 above. No need to convert it to WAV first.
  2. Wait for the transcript. Minutes are counted from the length of the audio.
  3. Pick Plain text or, when offered, With timestamps. Then copy it or open the Download menu.

Before you quote it, play back the parts with names, numbers and jargon. That is where mistakes hide.

Where MP3s usually come from

  • Interviews. Exported from a recorder or an audio editor. See interview transcription.
  • Voicemails. Many phones and carriers let you share a voicemail as an audio file. Save it, then upload it.
  • Podcast episodes. Use the MP3 from your editor or host. See podcast transcription.

The file has to be on your device. Links are not imported.

MP3 to text with timestamps, or without

When the transcript has timing data, you can switch between two views. Plain text gives you the words to paste. With timestamps puts each segment on its own line, starting with its time, such as (4:12), so you can find a quote in the recording. Copy and the TXT, Word, PDF and Markdown downloads follow the view you pick.

Without timing data, you get Plain text only. More on the format: timestamped transcripts. Try it with your MP3.

Get the text into Word, Google Docs or a TXT file

The Download menu gives you TXT, DOCX (Word), PDF, Markdown and JSON. For Google Docs, copy the text and paste it, or upload the DOCX to Drive. SRT and VTT show up too when the transcript has valid timing. Subtitles from audio have their own page: MP3 to SRT.

Large MP3 files: check size and length

MP3 to text is free for files up to 60 minutes and 100MB. Both limits apply. For a one-hour MP3, the bitrate decides whether it fits:

Approximate size of a one-hour MP3 by bitrate and whether it fits the free 100MB limit
BitrateOne hour of audioFits a free upload?
64 kbps29 MBYes
128 kbps58 MBYes
192 kbps86 MBYes
320 kbps144 MBNo, about 41 minutes fit

Constant bitrate, decimal MB. Metadata and variable bitrate shift the numbers, so check your actual file. Re-saving at a lower bitrate shrinks the file; re-saving at a higher one adds nothing.

Longer recordings need Pro, at $9.99/month: 10 transcription hours a month, files up to 5 hours and 2GB. See pricing or how free minutes work.

What it won't do

  • Label who is speaking.
  • Fetch an MP3 from a link or a YouTube page.
  • Get past the limits: a file longer than your remaining minutes will not start, and no minutes are used.

Have WAV, M4A or another format? See audio to text. Recorded on an iPhone? See voice memo to text. Upload your MP3.

MP3 to text questions

Can you convert MP3 to text for free?

Yes. A free account includes 60 transcription minutes for the lifetime of the account. Each MP3 can be up to 60 minutes long and 100MB.

Is there an unlimited free MP3 to text converter here?

No. The 60 free minutes are a one-time allowance and do not reset. Pro ($9.99/month) gives you 10 transcription hours each month, for files up to 5 hours and 2GB.

Can I convert MP3 to text without signing up?

You can upload before signing in, but guest uploads have limits. After the first two, guest results are locked previews that show only the first 75 characters. Sign in to get the full transcript and keep it in My files.

What audio formats can I upload besides MP3?

M4A, WAV, WEBM and MPEG go in as they are. OGG, Opus, AAC, FLAC, AIFF and AMR are converted on upload, so you do not need to change them first. The free limits are the same for every format. See Audio to text.

My MP3 is longer than 60 minutes. What can I do?

Use Pro. A free account has 60 minutes in total, so an MP3 over an hour needs Pro ($9.99/month), which takes files up to 5 hours and 2GB. A file over the limit does not start, so it is not cut short and no minutes are used.

Do I need to download an MP3 to text converter?

No. Transcriv runs in your browser on a computer or phone. Upload the MP3 here and download the transcript instead.

Does it work on a Mac, Windows PC or Android phone?

Yes. Any device with a web browser and a file picker works. It does not work offline: the MP3 is uploaded and transcribed online, so you need an internet connection.

Can I transcribe audio from a YouTube video or a link?

Not from a link. Transcriv only works with files on your device. If you own the audio or have permission, save it as an MP3, then upload the file.

How do I turn an MP3 into a TXT or Word file?

Open the Download menu and pick TXT for a plain text file or DOCX for Word. Both are included on the free plan, with timestamps if you chose the With timestamps view.

Does it label speakers?

No. The transcript is the spoken words in order, without speaker names. For an interview, add the names yourself while you check the text.

Can I convert an MP3 on my iPhone?

Yes, if the MP3 is saved in Files. Choose it from the browser's file picker. If the recording lives inside another app, export or save it as a file first.

Does a low-bitrate MP3 give a worse transcript?

Clear speech matters more than bitrate. A heavily compressed MP3 can lose detail, and converting it to WAV will not bring that back. Use the cleanest copy you have.

Can I turn an MP3 into subtitles?

Yes. When the transcript has valid timing segments, the Download menu also offers SRT and VTT. Locked previews cannot export subtitles. See MP3 to SRT on the Audio to SRT page.

Turn your MP3 into text

60 free transcription minutes for the lifetime of your account.

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