The five methods
| Method | Speed | Cost | Best for | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Type while listening | Slow, several times the audio length | Your time | A few sentences | Tiring, error prone |
| 2. Dictation (re-speaking) | Fast for new writing | Often free | Notes in your own voice | Not for other people's recordings |
| 3. Built-in app feature | Instant | Free | Short voice notes in the same app | Limited languages, length and no file |
| 4. Browser transcription tool | Minutes | Free tier or subscription | Meetings, interviews, lectures, podcasts | Quality depends on the audio |
| 5. Human transcription | Hours to days | Highest | Legal, medical, official text | Price and wait |
Which one should you use
| Your situation | Method |
|---|---|
| A 30 second voice note | 3 (built-in) |
| A 20 minute meeting recording | 4 |
| A recording for court or a regulator | 5, or 4 plus a careful human check |
| Notes for your own blog post | 2 or 4 |
| A podcast episode | 4 |
| Sensitive recording | See privacy below |
How to use a browser tool
- Prepare the file: audio or video, any common format.
- Open TooLongToListen and drag it in. For video, the browser extracts the audio.
- Sign in with Google and start. 10 minutes are free at sign-up.
- Copy the text, or tick the subtitles option and download SRT or VTT.
- Review while listening.
Limits: 3 hours of audio per file, 100 MB per audio file after extraction, source files up to 16 GB, speakers are not separated, and the speech model detects language automatically (Portuguese is our main focus; check other languages).
How to get a better transcript
- Record near the speaker and cut background music.
- One person speaking at a time.
- Say names and numbers clearly, and repeat important ones.
- Use a quiet room.
- Provide a list of terms to check during review.
Privacy by method
| Method | What leaves your device |
|---|---|
| Typing | Nothing |
| Dictation | Depends on the system; read its settings |
| Built-in app feature | Reports say some run on the device |
| Browser tool | The file or audio, to a server |
| Human service | The file, to a person |
With TooLongToListen the video stays on your device and the audio is processed on our own server. See privacy-first transcription.
Beyond text: subtitles
If you need timing, ask for SRT. Read how to create an SRT file. For WhatsApp notes specifically, see transcribe WhatsApp voice messages.
Try it
Convert one file at video to text and judge the draft yourself.
Sources
- SubRip format overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SubRip
- English (USA) Timed Text Style Guide: https://partnerhelp.netflixstudios.com/hc/en-us/articles/217350977-English-Timed-Text-Style-Guide
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to convert audio to text?
Upload the audio file to a browser transcription tool, wait for the text and review it. That avoids typing and works on any computer. Short voice notes may be covered by a feature already built into your messaging app.
What is the difference between dictation and transcription?
Dictation turns your live speech into text as you speak. Transcription converts an existing recording. Dictation is for writing; transcription is for meetings, interviews and voice notes you already have.
Can I transcribe a file without uploading it?
Some tools run the speech model on your device. TooLongToListen sends only the audio, extracted in your browser, to its own server and keeps video on your device.
How accurate is automatic transcription?
It depends on audio quality, accents, noise and vocabulary. We publish no accuracy figures. Clear single speaker audio gives the best drafts, and every transcript should be reviewed.
When should I pay for a human transcriber?
When the text must be right, such as legal records, medical notes or published quotes, or when audio is very difficult. Automatic drafts plus your own review cover most other cases.
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