Transcribe M4A Files: iPhone & Free AI Options (2024 Guide)

How do I transcribe M4A files recorded on my iPhone or iPad?

M4A files recorded with the Voice Memos app on your iPhone or iPad can be transcribed directly without conversion by using an AI transcription app or website that supports M4A.

What's more, there are free apps and websites available, so you can easily convert audio to text right away.

This article explains how to transcribe M4A files, covering both methods: uploading directly from an iPhone and transcribing after transferring to a PC.

What you'll learn in this article:

• Steps to transcribe M4A files directly from an iPhone or via a PC (Windows or Mac)
• Recommended AI transcription websites and apps that support M4A
• Troubleshooting tips when transcription doesn't work well
• Characteristics of M4A files

Now, let's dive into the specific steps for transcribing M4A files recorded with the Voice Memos app on your iPhone or iPad, using the AI transcription web app 'Mr. Transcription' as an example!

There are two ways to convert M4A files to text: uploading directly from your iPhone, or transferring them to a PC and then uploading.

Method 1: Transcribe directly from the iPhone Voice Memos app

This method allows you to complete the transcription solely on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Record with the Voice Memos app

Record your meeting or interview content using the Voice Memos app on your iPhone or iPad.

Voice Memos on iPhone or iPad (iOS) do not automatically save when you stop recording, so be sure to save after you finish recording.

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2. Open the Mr. Transcription website

Mr. Transcription is a web app that you use through browser apps like Safari or Google Chrome.

Open the Mr. Transcription top page from here.

3. Upload the M4A file

Tap "Select File".

The iOS menu will appear, so tap "Choose File".

Select the recorded audio file.

The file has now been selected.

Tap "Upload" to start the upload and transcription process for the recorded audio file.

*Do not close the browser window during upload.

4. Free transcription process complete

Once the M4A file upload is complete, transcription will start automatically.

*If you are registered and logged in, you can close the screen after the upload is finished.

*If you are transcribing without an account registration, wait for the transcription to complete without closing the screen.

Once transcription is complete, the screen will change and display the transcription results.

You can also play back the audio for each section of the transcription results and edit the text.

Email notifications and history features available with registration/login

You will be notified by email when transcription is complete (if registered and logged in).

■ Example of email notification

If you closed the screen, you can view the transcription results again from the email link or from the "History" section on the Mr. Transcription website.

Method 2: Transcribe M4A files on a Windows or Mac PC

This method involves transferring M4A files recorded with the iPhone Voice Memos app to a Windows or Mac computer before transcribing them.

This is recommended if you want to review and edit transcription results on a larger computer screen.

1. Transfer M4A files to Windows or Mac

There are several ways to transfer M4A files from an iPhone to Windows or Mac:

• AirDrop (Mac): Send via AirDrop from the Voice Memos share button.
• iCloud Drive: From the Voice Memos share button, select "Save to Files" → save to iCloud Drive, then access from your computer.
• Email/Messages: Send via email or messages from the Voice Memos share button.
• USB connection (Windows): Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable to transfer.

2. Transcribe from a browser app on Windows or Mac

Open the Mr. Transcription website in your computer's browser.

You can upload M4A files by simply dragging and dropping them.

After that, transcription will be performed automatically, just like when uploading directly from an iPhone.

On the results screen, you can edit and download text, export SRT subtitle files, and create AI summaries and meeting minutes.

You can also play back audio for each section of the transcription results and edit the content.

[Free options available] Recommended AI transcription apps/sites that support M4A

Unlike MP3 or WAV files, M4A files may not be readable by some apps or websites.

Therefore, it's important to choose a service that supports M4A files from the start.

Here, we introduce recommended AI transcription apps and websites that can transcribe M4A files recorded on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Mr. Transcription: Recommended free M4A-compatible web app

'Mr. Transcription' is an AI transcription service recommended for those who want to transcribe M4A files.

Mr. Transcription is an AI transcription web app that supports M4A files, as well as audio files like MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, and even video, image, and PDF transcription.

Using the latest AI speech recognition engine, it can transcribe long files with high accuracy in just about 1 minute.

It supports 100 languages, including Japanese and English, making it ideal for transcribing foreign language audio.

Furthermore, it also features a function to automatically create AI summaries and meeting minutes from transcription results! (Learn more here)

This is perfect for those who want to transcribe meeting or interview recordings and summarize them directly into minutes.

You can also output SRT subtitle files to use for video captions.

Since it's a web app used through a browser, no installation is required.

You can use it the same way from iPhone/iPad (iOS) and Windows/Mac.

You can transcribe for free for up to 3 minutes per day without registration/login, and up to 10 minutes per day (maximum 3 minutes per file) if you register an account.

If you're wondering how to transcribe M4A files, why not try Mr. Transcription first?

2. RIMO Voice

RIMO Voice is an AI meeting minutes tool for businesses that supports both in-person and online meetings.

It supports over 30 languages, including Japanese, and features highly accurate transcription that recognizes even specialized terminology.

In addition to transcribing by uploading audio files, it can also record and transcribe web conference apps.

Pricing starts from 4,950 yen (tax included) per month, and a 7-day free trial (no credit card required) is available.

This service is for teams and corporations looking to implement AI meeting minutes.

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3. Texter

Texter is an AI transcription app compatible with iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac (Apple Silicon).

It supports both real-time transcription and transcription by uploading audio and video files.

You can also import M4A files from iPhone Voice Memos for transcription.

In addition to AI summarization, it offers unique features like topic maps (automatic topic classification and visualization) and topic summaries to organize transcribed content structurally.

However, the free plan has somewhat strict limitations, allowing only 1 minute of real-time transcription and short file transcriptions.

For serious use, a paid plan (starting from 1,500 yen per month) is required.

Texter

Troubleshooting: When M4A file transcription fails or doesn't work well