M4A transcription · 1 hour free
M4A to text: upload the file and get an editable transcript
Upload your M4A to Spirelight as it is, with 1 hour free and no card, and get an editable transcript with speaker labels and timestamps that you can export to Word. There is no need to convert it to MP3 first, and you can try the first 5 minutes of your file here without an account.
1 hour free · No card needed
Confirm your email with the code we send you. You get 1 hour free; earlier free use counts toward that hour. Buy more time when you need it.
No account needed.
How to do it
M4A to text in three steps
1. Check the file
An M4A file of 1 GB or less uploads as it is. Your account needs enough time for the whole recording, so a file longer than your free time needs bought time first.
2. Upload it and choose the language
Confirm your email with the code we send for 1 hour free, upload the M4A and pick the language of the recording, or let Spirelight detect it.
3. Correct it and export
Check the draft while it plays in the built-in player, then export to Word (.docx), plain text or SRT.
Files and limits
Transcribe an M4A file: what works and the limits
Spirelight turns M4A to text directly, so converting the file to MP3 or WAV first gains you nothing.
- Where M4A files come from: Voice Memos on iPhone exports .m4a by default (see voice memo to text for getting it off the phone), and Zoom recordings can include an audio-only file named audio followed by a number and .m4a. Other recorders vary, so look at the file ending.
- Size: up to 1 GB per file.
- Length: before transcription starts, your account must hold enough time for the whole recording. A 90-minute recording needs more than the free hour, so buy time or cut the file.
- Export: Word (.docx), plain text or SRT subtitles.
- Need an MP3 for something else? Our M4A to MP3 converter does that, but transcription does not need it.
After the upload
After you convert M4A to text: check the draft
What you get is a draft. Read it while the audio plays in the built-in player, and look hardest at the places where a mistake changes the meaning:
- Names and terms: people, places and specialist words.
- Numbers and negations: “fifteen” or “fifty”, “can” or “can’t”.
- Speaker changes: check that each turn has the right label. Rename a speaker once and it changes in the whole document.
- Where the file goes: transcription runs on servers in the US, with servers in the EU as a backup, and files and transcripts are stored in the US. Details are in our terms.
After your free time
Prepaid hours
€2
per audio hour
No subscription. Bought hours never expire.
Spirelight Plus
€14
per month
20 hours every month, cancel anytime. Unused Plus hours do not roll over.
Enterprise
For organisations that need a custom data processing agreement, invoicing or larger volumes.
Prices include applicable tax. If you have paid before, your account may use another currency. Review the final price at checkout.
Questions about M4A transcription
How do I convert M4A to text?
Upload the M4A to Spirelight, choose the language or let it be detected, then correct the draft and export it to Word, plain text or SRT. You do not need to convert it to MP3 or WAV first.
Can I transcribe an M4A file for free?
Yes. Confirm any email address with the code we send and you get 1 hour free, with no card; earlier free use counts towards the hour, and free time does not renew. After that it is €2 per hour of recording, or Spirelight Plus at €14 a month with 20 hours, and bought hours never expire.
Can I transcribe the M4A from a Zoom recording?
Yes. Zoom names its audio-only file audio followed by a number and .m4a by default. Upload that file, or the MP4 video, and make sure everyone agreed to be recorded.
Which languages can I transcribe from M4A?
Many, including English. Choose the recording’s language when you upload, or let Spirelight detect it. The transcript stays in the language that was spoken: Spirelight does not translate.
Where is my M4A file stored?
Transcription runs on servers in the US, with servers in the EU as a backup; files and transcripts are stored in the US, and optional AI summaries and chat are processed there too. Standard accounts include no data processing agreement; organisations can ask for one at contact@spirelight.net. For identifiable interviews, check your university’s rules first: Spirelight is not on any university’s approved list.
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Get started
Stop transcribing recordings by hand
Create an account, confirm your email and upload a recording. Correct the draft, then download it in Word, plain text or SRT.
1 hour free · No card · No trial