By Nikola, founder of TraScrivo · updated
M4A is the format used by iPhone Voice Memos, by many recorder apps and by Zoom for the audio-only file it saves when you record a meeting. You don't need to convert it to MP3: upload the file to TraScrivo as it is and get the text with timestamps in a few minutes, ready to copy or download as Word, PDF or subtitles. Free and without an account, for files up to 30 minutes.
Updated 7 November 2026 · a TraScrivo guide
Transcribe now, free →Your file doesn't stay with us: the audio is only used for the transcription and is deleted as soon as the transcript is ready; the text appears in your browser.
| Source | How to get the file |
|---|---|
| Voice Memos (iPhone) | From the recording, tap Share > Save to Files, then upload it from Files. Step by step in our iPhone Voice Memos guide. |
| Call recordings on iPhone | Starting with iOS 18.1 (where available), recorded calls are saved in Notes: from the recording's menu, save the audio to Files. See transcribing recorded phone calls. |
| Zoom | If you record on your computer, at the end of the meeting Zoom puts an MP4 video and an audio-only M4A file in its folder: upload the M4A, which is smaller. See transcribing a meeting. |
| Android recorders | Many apps save recordings as M4A (Samsung's Voice Recorder usually does). Share the file from the app or find it in Files (My Files on Samsung). More in our Android voice recorder guide. |
No. M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually compressed with AAC: at the same quality it's as small as an MP3, or smaller. Converting it to MP3 doesn't improve the transcript; it only adds a step and a second round of compression.
| Format | What it is | Size per hour |
|---|---|---|
| M4A | MPEG-4 audio, usually compressed with AAC | about 58 MB at 128 kbps |
| MP3 | compressed audio, the most common format | about 58 MB at 128 kbps |
| WAV | uncompressed audio | about 635 MB at CD quality |
The size depends on the quality chosen when recording: these figures are calculated for the settings shown.
What matters for the transcript is the quality of the recording (how close the speaker is to the microphone and how much background noise there is), not the file format.
No: upload the M4A as it is. Converting doesn't improve the transcript and adds a second round of compression.
Yes. Tap Share > Save to Files, then choose the file in TraScrivo from your iPhone's browser (or from your computer, if you saved it to iCloud Drive).
Yes: files up to 30 minutes, no account and no limit on the number of files (fair use). For longer files the first 30 minutes are free and the rest can be unlocked with a Pass, from €3.90 for 10 hours that never expire.
From 7 October to 6 November 2026, a 30-minute file was ready in about 2 minutes and a 5-minute file in 17 seconds (medians). The exact time depends on the file and your connection.
Yes, one after another, with no limit on the number of files (fair use). With Pro you can also upload several at once and process them on the server.
No. The audio is only used for the transcription and is deleted as soon as the transcript is ready; the text stays in your browser. With Process on the server (Pass and Pro), the audio is deleted within 24 hours and the text is kept encrypted in your account for 30 days. Details in our privacy policy.