Transcribe M4A to text, free
Upload an M4A file, such as an iPhone voice memo, and get the text with each speaker and their time. There’s no need to convert it to MP3 first. No account: the first 10 minutes of each file.
Drop your audio or video here, or choose a file
MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG and OPUS (WhatsApp voice notes), MP4, MOV, WEBM… Up to 200 MB.
Free, no account needed: the first 10 minutes of each file, 3 a day. The file is deleted when it’s done and the result after 24 hours.
What an M4A is
M4A is audio inside an MPEG-4 container, usually compressed with AAC. It’s the format Apple devices use by default to record speech and, at the same size, it sounds better than an MP3.
How to get the M4A off your device
These are the most common cases:
- iPhone: in Voice Memos, tap the recording, then the three dots and “Share”; save it to Files or send it to your Mac with AirDrop.
- Mac: in Voice Memos, drag the recording to the desktop and you’ll have the M4A file.
- Zoom: when you record a meeting on your computer, Zoom usually also saves an audio-only M4A file in the recording’s folder.
- Many Android recorders and dictation apps also save as M4A.
Tips
For a clean transcript:
- Upload the recording as it is: converting it to another format doesn’t improve the result.
- If the voice memo is long, trim it in Voice Memos with “Edit Recording” and upload only the part you need.
- Record with the phone close to whoever’s speaking and away from fans or air conditioning.
How to do it
- 1
Upload the M4A
Drag it into the tool on this page or choose it from Files on your iPhone, up to 200 MB.
- 2
Wait a moment
Echo detects the language, writes down what’s said and separates each speaker.
- 3
Copy or download the text
With times and speakers or just the text, to paste anywhere or save as TXT.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to convert the M4A to MP3?
No. The tool accepts M4A directly, and converting it only adds a step and some loss of quality.
Does it work with iPhone voice memos?
Yes, they’re M4A files. Save them to Files or send them to your computer and upload them here, from your phone or your computer.
What’s the M4A file Zoom leaves?
When you record a meeting on your computer, Zoom saves the video and, usually, the audio separately as M4A. To transcribe, upload the M4A: it’s much smaller than the video.
By format
Try it with your next meeting.
Create your account in a minute or ask us for a demo for your team.
