Convert MP3 to Text

How It Works

1. Upload Your Recording

Select an MP3 containing speech. Choose its spoken language, or leave language detection on, and enable speaker labels if you need to distinguish voices. Check the detected duration and credit estimate before submitting. If the file cannot be read, re-export it as a playable MP3; changing a filename extension does not convert audio.

2. Review the Result

Upload progress, processing status, and the completed transcript stay on this page. Listen back to unclear passages and correct names, numbers, and punctuation in the editor. Speaker labels are a starting point for review, especially when guests interrupt one another. If processing fails, read the error before retrying.

3. Export Your Text

Save your edits, then download TXT for plain text or DOCX for a document you can continue editing. Exports use the saved transcript. Your task also appears in Recordings with tasks from the general workspace. Reopen its task link to return to the saved result without submitting the audio again.

Getting Clear Text from Compressed Audio

Start with the clearest copy you have. An MP3 is convenient to share, but repeated compression, a distant microphone, background noise, and loud music can obscure speech. Increasing the bitrate of an already damaged recording does not restore missing words. Listen to a difficult passage before relying on its transcript.

For an interview, check guest names and technical terms against your notes. For a lecture, verify numbers and abbreviations. For a podcast, separate spoken content from an intro song during review. This page focuses on the spoken record; it does not promise accurate music lyrics or a publication-ready episode.

See an Example

This original, synthetic podcast-style clip is a reusable practice input, not a customer recording. Download it and upload it above to try the real workflow. The text below is the authored reference script, not a claimed model result; punctuation and recognition may differ.

Download practice MP3 · Download reference text

Reference script and review exercise

Welcome to the Field Notes podcast. Today we are testing a small change: writing down one useful idea after every interview. Before publishing, replay the recording, check each guest's name, and keep the original audio with your notes.

After transcription, check “Field Notes” and the possessive in “guest's name.” Try adding a paragraph break before “Before publishing,” save, and export both document formats. The downloaded text should reflect that saved edit. Use the reference to spot differences, rather than treating this short, clean clip as an accuracy benchmark for noisy recordings.

Supported Files and Plan Limits

This converter accepts MP3 file uploads. The current cloud limits are 1GB per file and 60 minutes of audio. Split a longer podcast into shorter files before uploading; each submitted part creates a separate task. Variable bitrate MP3 files still need a readable duration and valid audio, so check the displayed duration against your player before submitting.

Credits depend on duration: a clip up to 30 seconds uses 0.5 credit; longer files use one credit per started minute. The server checks eligibility and available credits. Optional AI actions can cost additional credits. Consult the current plans rather than assuming unlimited free processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this transcribe speech over music?

It can attempt spoken passages, but music may mask words or cause errors. Review the audio yourself where speech overlaps an intro track. This is a speech transcription tool, and accurate lyrics are not guaranteed.

Does MP3 audio quality affect the transcript?

Yes. Low-quality audio, noise, and overlapping speakers can make recognition harder. Use a cleaner original when available and manually review uncertain passages. Converting a poor recording to a higher bitrate does not recover lost detail.

Is MP3 transcription free and local?

Processing runs in the cloud and uses account credits. Any available free allowance is shown through your account and current plan. Selecting a file does not mean it has been transcribed; sign in and submit to start processing.

Where can I find my transcript after leaving?

Open Recordings in the same account, or revisit this page with its task link. Saved results belong to the task owner. If you refresh before submitting, you may need to select the local file again; a filename alone cannot restore its contents.