Audio Transcription & Subtitles
Turn an audio file into text — plus ready-to-use subtitle files (SRT and VTT) — free, with no signup and no minute counter. Pick a file, press Transcribe, download the result.
MP3, WAV, M4A and OGG work best. A video file (MP4/WebM) also works — your browser uses its audio track. English speech only in this version.
Check the transcript against the recording: press a segment's time to hear that part. You can fix any word in the boxes below — the downloads are made from your edited text. (Segment times themselves are not editable in this version.)
What Is Audio Transcription?
Audio transcription is the process of converting spoken words into written text. It is useful when you need to turn a recording into notes, prepare subtitles for a video or make spoken material easier to review.
Manually transcribing a recording requires listening carefully, typing what you hear and repeatedly checking difficult sections. Speech recognition software can create an initial transcript that you then review and correct.
The Fact Techz Transcribe Audio tool uses the Whisper AI speech-recognition model inside your browser to convert English speech into editable text with timestamps. It accepts MP3, WAV, M4A and OGG audio files, as well as audio from MP4 and WebM video files.
Your audio is processed on your device rather than uploaded to a transcription server. The first use requires downloading a recognition model of approximately 43 MB, which is then cached. You can edit the result and download it as TXT, SRT or VTT without signing up.
How to Transcribe Audio to Text
- Open the Fact Techz Transcribe Audio page.
- Choose an audio file in MP3, WAV, M4A or OGG format, or a supported MP4 or WebM video file.
- Allow the browser to download the approximately 43 MB recognition model if this is your first use.
- Start the transcription process and allow your device to analyse the recording.
- Review the generated English transcript and its timestamps.
- Listen to difficult sections and correct any recognition errors in the editable transcript.
- Choose TXT for ordinary text, SRT for subtitles or VTT for web video captions.
- Download the corrected result in your preferred format.
How Browser-Based AI Transcription Works
Speech recognition turns sound into text
Speech recognition software analyses audio signals and predicts the words being spoken. The recording contains changing sound patterns rather than written words. The recognition model must interpret those patterns and determine which words they most likely represent.
This process becomes more difficult when speech is unclear or when different words sound similar. The generated transcript is therefore an interpretation of the recording, not a guaranteed perfect copy of everything that was said.
Why the AI model downloads first
Fact Techz uses Whisper inside the browser. To perform recognition on your device, the browser needs access to the model's data. On first use, the recognition model is downloaded from the internet. The download is approximately 43 MB. After the download, the model is cached so the browser can reuse it.
The model download is separate from your recording. Your audio file is not uploaded to a server for recognition. This distinction matters for anyone who wants local processing but is concerned about the initial internet download.
What affects transcription accuracy?
Recording clarity is an important factor. A clear voice with minimal background noise gives the recognition model more useful information than a recording with overlapping sounds or heavy interference. Background music, traffic, wind and other noises can make spoken words harder to distinguish.
Accents can also affect recognition, particularly when pronunciation differs from patterns the model handles well. Audio quality and the way people speak matter more than the file extension alone. A recording saved as WAV is not automatically easier to transcribe than an MP3 recording. The clarity of the speech in the source recording is what matters.
Why timestamps need checking
A timestamp indicates where recognised speech belongs in the recording. Timestamps are particularly useful for subtitles because viewers need text to appear at an appropriate moment. However, automatic timing may not align perfectly with every spoken word or pause. Review the timing against the original recording when preparing subtitles for publication.
Editing the transcript before exporting
The Fact Techz tool provides editable transcript results. You can correct names, punctuation, misheard words and other errors before downloading. TXT is useful for ordinary written text. SRT and VTT preserve timed subtitle information. The same transcript content should be reviewed for both wording and timing when the output will appear on screen.
Why device memory matters
Browser-based recognition uses the visitor's device to perform processing. Long recordings require more resources, so available device memory becomes an important practical constraint. Fact Techz applies a safety bound of around 2 hours of audio. This is intended to reflect device-resource limitations, not a paid transcription allowance.
TXT vs SRT vs VTT — Which Transcription Format Do You Need?
| Format | What it contains | Common use | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXT | Plain transcript text | Notes, drafts, research and written records | Does not preserve subtitle timing |
| SRT | Subtitle text with timestamps | Video subtitles and caption workflows | Timing should be reviewed against the video |
| VTT | WebVTT subtitle text with timestamps | Web video captions and compatible players | Playback software must support WebVTT |
Quick choice: use TXT when you mainly need the words. Choose SRT or VTT when you need timed text for video playback.
Who Uses Audio Transcription and Why?
- Students: Convert recorded English lectures into text for review.
- Journalists: Prepare a working transcript of recorded interviews.
- Video creators: Produce editable subtitle text for videos.
- Researchers: Review spoken material in written form.
- Podcasters: Prepare text versions of recorded discussions.
- Content editors: Turn spoken explanations into draft written material.
- Accessibility teams: Prepare subtitle drafts that can be reviewed and corrected.
Common Transcription Mistakes and Good Practice
- Trusting every recognised word: Review names, technical terms and unclear passages against the recording.
- Ignoring background noise: Use the clearest available recording when possible.
- Assuming speaker identification: This version does not provide speaker labels.
- Publishing subtitles without checking timing: Review SRT and VTT timestamps against the original audio.
- Choosing the wrong format: TXT is for plain text; SRT and VTT are for timed subtitles.
- Assuming the first model download is an audio upload: The recognition model downloads to your browser; your recording is not sent to a transcription server.
Honest Limits
The tool recognises English speech and does not provide speaker labels in this version. The first use requires an internet download of approximately 43 MB for the Whisper model, which is then cached. Accuracy depends on recording clarity, noise and accents. Very long recordings are limited by device memory, with a safety bound around 2 hours of audio. This is not a paywall, and no sign-up is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I transcribe audio to text for free?
Open Fact Techz Transcribe Audio, select a supported recording and run the transcription. You can review and edit the generated English text before downloading it.
Can I transcribe an MP3 file without uploading it?
Yes. The recognition process runs inside your browser using the Whisper model on your device. Your MP3 recording is not uploaded to a server.
Can I convert MP4 video speech into text?
Yes. The tool can take audio from supported MP4 and WebM video files. It recognises English speech and produces an editable transcript.
Does Whisper transcription work without internet?
The first use requires an internet connection to download the approximately 43 MB recognition model. The model is then cached, and the recognition itself runs on your device rather than through a server upload.
How accurate is automatic audio transcription?
Accuracy depends on the recording, including speech clarity, background noise and accents. Automatic results should be reviewed, especially when exact wording matters.
Can I create SRT subtitles from an audio file?
Yes. Fact Techz can export the transcript as an SRT subtitle file with timestamps. Review both the text and timing before using the subtitles in a finished video.
Does the transcription tool identify different speakers?
No. This version does not provide speaker labels. If a recording contains several speakers, you will need to review the transcript and identify speakers yourself where necessary.