Turn audio into text with AI, right in your browser
Typing out a recording by hand can take several times longer than the recording itself. An audio to text converter does the heavy lifting for you. Add a file or record straight from your mic, press one button, and get a full written transcript you can edit and download.
voicedesktop runs OpenAI's open source Whisper model directly in your browser. There is no upload step and no account. Your audio, and the words in it, stay on your device.
How to convert audio to text
- Choose your audio. Upload a file from your computer or phone, or switch to Record audio and speak.
- Choose the accuracy. Fast is quicker, Accurate makes fewer mistakes.
- Press Transcribe audio. The AI model downloads the first time and is then cached for next time.
- Follow the progress. You will see the model download progress and then the transcription progress, with text appearing as it is ready.
- Review and save. Edit the transcript in the box, then copy it, download a TXT file, or download SRT subtitles with timestamps.
What makes this converter different
- Private by design. Most transcription sites send your audio to a server. We do not. Everything runs locally.
- No limits on minutes. No free tier that runs out after 30 minutes. Transcribe as much as your device can handle.
- Works with almost any audio. MP3, WAV, M4A, WEBM, OGG, FLAC and the audio track in MP4 videos.
- Subtitle ready. SRT export makes it easy to add captions to videos.
- Fast when it can be. If your browser supports WebGPU, the tool uses your graphics card for a big speed boost.
- Built for real people. Simple controls, clear progress and plain English messages if anything goes wrong.
Who uses audio to text conversion?
- Business teams turn meeting recordings into notes and action points.
- Content creators repurpose videos and podcasts into blog posts, newsletters and captions.
- Students convert lectures and study group recordings into searchable notes.
- Writers dictate drafts while walking, then convert the audio to text at their desk.
- Researchers transcribe interviews and focus groups without sharing them with a third party.
- Anyone with hearing loss can read what was said in a voice message or recording.
How the technology works
When you press Transcribe, your browser decodes the audio and converts it to the format the AI expects. A background worker then loads the Whisper model with Transformers.js, an open source library that runs AI models in web browsers. The audio is processed in 30 second windows that overlap slightly, so words at the edges are not lost. The pieces are joined into one transcript, complete with timestamps.
Because all of this happens in a background thread, the page stays responsive. You can scroll, read and even start editing while the rest of the file is processed.
Get the most accurate transcript
- Record close to the mic in a quiet room. Check your setup first with our mic test.
- Avoid music under speech. Background music and loud noise are the biggest cause of errors.
- Pick the Accurate setting for interviews, accents and technical words.
- Proofread names. AI often guesses at unusual names and brand terms, so give them a quick check.
Converting a specific type of file? See our guides for MP3 to text and voice memo to text, or try voice typing if you want to dictate live instead of recording first.
Frequently asked questions
What is an audio to text converter?
It is a tool that listens to speech in an audio file and writes it down as text. This one uses the Whisper AI model, which runs inside your browser, so you get a transcript without uploading the audio anywhere.
Which audio formats can I convert to text?
MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, WEBM, OGG, OPUS and FLAC all work, as well as the sound from MP4 and MOV video files. Support for some formats depends on your browser. If a file will not open, convert it to MP3 or WAV first.
Is this audio to text converter really free?
Yes. There are no credits, no monthly minutes and no signup. Because the work happens on your own device, it costs us almost nothing to run, and the site is supported by ads.
Do you store my audio or transcript?
No. Your file is never uploaded. It is read and transcribed by your browser, and the text only exists on your device until you save or copy it.
How long does it take to convert audio to text?
It depends on your device and the setting you pick. On a modern laptop, the Fast setting often handles a 10 minute file in a few minutes. The Accurate setting takes longer but makes fewer mistakes. Devices with a supported graphics card are much faster.
Does it work with other languages?
Not at the moment. The transcriber is tuned for English speech only. It uses English trained Whisper models, which are more accurate for English than the multilingual versions.
Does it work on my phone?
It works on recent iPhones and Android phones, but transcription is slower and uses more battery than on a computer. For long files, a laptop or desktop is the better choice.
Can I edit the transcript?
Yes. The result appears in an editable text box. Fix any words, add speaker names or paragraphs, then copy the text or download it as TXT. The SRT download keeps the original timings.