Transcribe a podcast for text and captions
Prepare a transcript, notes or captions from an episode or clip.
Use the corrected transcript as source material. Whisper Web exports text and timed captions. Write show notes and summaries yourself, and add speaker labels during review.
Start with the episode or clip
Choose the right file
Use standard transcription up to 300 MB and 20 minutes. For a longer local episode, use the large-file tool up to 1 GB and 1 hour. Split files that exceed either limit.
Set the language and transcribe
Choose the spoken language and start processing. Keep the tab open and the device awake; unfinished progress cannot be restored after a refresh or closed tab.
Correct the draft
Check guest names, brands and passages with music or overlapping speech. Add speaker labels and section headings yourself.
Prepare the output you need
| Output | What to do |
|---|---|
| Show notes or a written excerpt | Export TXT, then select verified topics and quotations. Write and edit the notes yourself. |
| Timestamp data for another tool | Export JSON and keep the transcript data for the next processing step. |
| Captions for a video clip | Export SRT or VTT. Check line breaks, reading speed and timing in the final edit. |
Review and save before publishing
Listen again to every passage you plan to quote. Background music, cross-talk and compressed remote audio can make words harder to recognize. Check captions against the final video, especially if it has been trimmed or rearranged.
Export the files you need to keep. Transcription history stores text and timestamps in this browser, not the episode audio. If local saving fails, download the current result before closing the page.
Common questions
Can I transcribe a one-hour podcast episode?
Yes. Use the large-file tool for a local episode up to 1 GB and 1 hour. Both limits apply. Shorten or split a larger or longer episode before importing it.
Do I need to convert a podcast video to MP3 first?
No. You can select a supported video directly in the transcription tool if the browser can decode its audio. MP4 to MP3 conversion is useful when you want an audio file as the output.
Will exported captions match a newly edited clip?
The timestamps refer to the recording you transcribed. If the final clip has been trimmed or rearranged, review and adjust caption timing in the destination editor.