Transcribe MP4 to text for free
Transcribe MP4 to text free in the browser: upload the video, keep the audio track in place, and export an editable transcript with timecodes, SRT, or VTT.
Free sign-up, 60 min/month · 99+ languages · Up to 500 MB per file
What is MP4 Transcription?
Transcribing an MP4 to text means reading the audio inside the video container and writing the speech out as editable text. The video does not need to be stripped to MP3 first, and the picture is not analysed. MP4 files from phones, screen recorders, and meeting tools are accepted directly; the spoken language is detected, speaker turns can be labelled, and the transcript keeps the timecode of each line.
Why choose MP4 Transcription?
MP4 is the format most recordings arrive in, so the free path should not require a converter first. Uploading the video keeps one file and one pass: no extraction step, no second upload, and no quality loss from re-encoding. The file is deleted when the job finishes, and the transcript stays editable until it is exported.
Converting MP4 to MP3 Before You Can Read It?
Most free tools ask for an audio file, which means exporting the sound track first, waiting for a second upload, and keeping two copies of the same recording. That extra step is where quality and time are lost. Reading the MP4 directly removes it: the video goes in once, the speech comes out as text, and the timecodes still match the original clip. For a phone video or a screen recording, that is the shortest path from file to searchable transcript.
What makes MP4 Transcription different?
It keeps one file and one pass, so the transcript stays tied to the video instead of a re-encoded copy of the sound track.
No MP3 extraction step
Timecodes match the video
Free to start, no card
Formats, languages, limits
- Languages
- 99
- Detected automatically. Set it by hand when a recording mixes languages or carries a heavy accent.
- File types
- 13
- MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, MP4, MOV, WebM and more. Video is processed directly — no separate audio step.
- Per file
- 500 MB
- Large files upload straight to storage with a visible progress bar, up to 500 MB.
- Exports
- TXT · SRT · VTT
- Plain text, SRT and VTT subtitles, ready for a document, an editor, or a caption track.
How to use MP4 Transcription in 3 steps
Choose the MP4
Pick a video you own or have permission to use; phone, screen, and camera files all work.
Let the audio be read
The language is detected automatically; set it by hand if the clip mixes languages.
Edit and export
Fix names and numbers, then export text, SRT, or VTT.
MP4 Transcription
Start with an MP4 you already have. Sign up free and get 60 minutes a month to turn it into text.
Free sign-up, 60 minutes a month, no credit card. Export when you are done.
Transcribe MP4 to textFrequently asked questions about MP4 Transcription
Is MP4 to text really free?
A file can be uploaded, transcribed, and exported without payment, and no card is requested to start. Free sign-up includes 60 minutes a month; paid plans raise limits. The per-file size cap and the two-job limit apply to every plan, so one long video and a batch of short clips follow the same rules.
Do I need to separate the audio track first?
No. The MP4 is read directly, including the audio track inside it. A separate extraction step is only useful when the codec is unusual or the video is damaged. Keeping the original file also keeps the timecodes aligned with the picture, which helps when a line has to be checked against the clip.
Which MP4 files are supported?
Standard MP4 video from phones, cameras, screen recorders, and meeting tools is accepted, along with MOV, WebM, M4A, WAV, and MP3. A file with no audio track cannot produce words and is rejected with a message rather than a blank transcript. If the browser cannot preview a codec, exporting the sound as M4A is the reliable fallback.
How large can the video be?
A single file can be up to 500MB, and uploads go straight from the browser to storage. There is no separate duration cap during the demo, so a long screen recording is accepted as long as it fits the size limit. Processing time grows with length, and progress stays visible.
Will the transcript keep the video's timestamps?
Yes. Each block carries a start and end time taken from the MP4, and those times are preserved on export. That makes the transcript usable beside the original video and lets a passage be located by timecode. SRT and VTT exports use the same timings, so a caption file lines up with the clip.
Can I transcribe a phone screen recording?
Yes, when the recording contains speech and the uploader owns it. Screen recordings often mix a voice track with notification sounds or music; the speech is transcribed and stray noises are usually dropped. Reviewing the first minute is a quick way to confirm that the recording carries usable audio.
What happens to the MP4 after the job?
The file is stored only long enough for the recognizer to read it and is deleted when the job finishes or fails. The transcript remains in the account until it is deleted. Audio is not used to train models, and the provider processes it only on Dictawave's instructions.
Can I get subtitles from the same upload?
Yes. The transcript can be exported as SRT or VTT without uploading the video again. Caption line length may need a small edit, but the timing is already attached to each block. One upload therefore produces both a reading copy and a caption file for the same clip.