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Convert M4A to Text
Got a recording from your iPhone or a Zoom call? Turn it into text in 99 languages. Free, no sign-up.
No file handy?
How to transcribe an M4A file
- 1. Add your file. Drop an M4A file on the box above, or click it to pick one from your device.
- 2. Press Transcribe. The first time, the speech model downloads to your browser and is saved for next time. Then the text shows up in the editor.
- 3. Copy or export. Fix anything that looks off, then copy the text or download it as TXT, PDF, Word, SRT or VTT.
Transcribe an M4A file
M4A is an audio file, usually AAC inside an MP4 container. Apple devices use it a lot, and so do many recorder apps and meeting tools. TextFromAudio reads the M4A and returns the words as text. Drop the file in, press Transcribe, and fix anything that looks off in the editor.
The free mode has no limits: no cap on file length, number of files or languages. It uses lighter speech models, so it is a little slower and less accurate than Pro.
Where M4A files come from
iPhone Voice Memos. Voice Memos saves recordings as M4A. Share a recording to the Files app, or send it to your computer with AirDrop or email, then choose it here.
Zoom. The audio-only recording of a Zoom meeting is an M4A. It works as it is, with no need to convert it first.
Recorder and dictation apps. Many save M4A because it keeps speech clear at a small file size.
Downloaded audio. Some podcasts and lectures are offered as M4A rather than MP3.
M4A or MP4?
An MP4 is the video version of the same container. If you have a screen recording or a video call saved as MP4, drop it in too: we transcribe the audio track, so you do not need to extract the audio yourself.
What you get
The transcript opens in an editor. Fix names and numbers, switch timestamps on to see where each line starts, and click a line to play the recording from that point. Then copy the text, or download it as TXT, PDF, Word, SRT or VTT. The Translate button (Pro) translates the transcript with AI.
Getting a cleaner M4A transcript
- Hold the phone close to the speaker. Distance matters more than anything else.
- Put the phone on a stable surface so the microphone does not pick up handling noise.
- Turn off fans, music and notifications that buzz.
- Check names and technical words once the text is ready.
Working with another format? See MP3 to text, WAV to text or voice memo to text.
FAQ
What is an M4A file, and can it be transcribed?
M4A is an audio file, usually AAC inside an MP4 container. It is what iPhone Voice Memos, many recorder apps and Zoom's audio-only recordings produce. Drop it on the box and it is transcribed like any other audio.
How do I transcribe an iPhone Voice Memo?
In Voice Memos, share the recording and save it to Files, or send it to your computer with AirDrop or email. Then choose that M4A file here. Voice memos are usually short and clear, so they transcribe well.
Can I transcribe a Zoom recording?
Yes. Zoom's audio-only file is an M4A and works as it is. The video file (MP4) works too: we transcribe its audio track.
Is M4A to text free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, and no cap on length, number of files or languages. The free mode uses lighter speech models, so it is a bit slower and less accurate than Pro.
Is my M4A file uploaded?
Not in the free mode. The speech model runs in your browser, on your own device, so a private voice memo stays on it. In Pro, your file is processed on our servers and deleted automatically afterwards.
Audio to text by file type
- Audio to Text. Any audio or video file, in 99 languages.
- MP3 to Text. Podcasts, lectures, interviews and calls saved as MP3.
- WAV to Text. Interviews, call recordings and studio audio saved as WAV.
- OGG to Text. OGG and Opus files, including voice notes from chat apps.
- Voice Memo to Text. Phone voice memos and other short personal recordings.