Convert AAC to text
Upload an AAC audio file and get an editable transcript with timestamps and speaker labels.
Turn AAC into text
- Check that the AAC plays in a normal audio player.
- Upload the file and pick the spoken language.
- Edit the transcript while listening, paying attention to names and numbers.
- Export the result as text or subtitles.
About AAC files
- What it is
- Advanced Audio Coding, a lossy codec and the successor to MP3 in many uses.
- Raw AAC and M4A
- A bare .aac file is an AAC stream with little container information. The same audio inside .m4a carries proper metadata.
- Typical source
- Radio and streaming captures, some dictation devices and exports from audio editors.
- Seeking and duration
- Raw AAC often has no stored length, so players may estimate it. The transcript timestamps follow the audio itself.
- Maximum file size
- Up to 5 GB per file.
AAC is the codec behind a large share of the audio on your devices. It sits inside M4A files from iPhones, inside MP4 videos and inside much of the streaming audio you hear, which means the sound you want transcribed is very often AAC even when the file ends in something else. A file that actually ends in .aac is the plain stream with the wrapper removed.
That bare form is the one to be a little careful with. With no container, there is no stored duration, no tags and sometimes no reliable seek points. Most players cope, but you may see an odd length or jumpy scrubbing. The words themselves are intact, and Scribewren builds the transcript from the audio, not from the header.
If the file will not play
If an AAC file does not open in an ordinary player, it may be truncated or a different format with the wrong extension. Re-export it from the source, or remux it into an M4A container with a free tool such as ffmpeg. A file that plays end to end on your own computer is ready to upload.
Questions
What is the difference between AAC and M4A?
AAC is the codec; M4A is a container that normally holds AAC. A .aac file is usually the bare stream, while an .m4a file has a header with duration and tags.
Why does my player show the wrong length for my AAC?
Raw AAC streams often lack a stored duration, so the length is guessed. This is a player quirk and does not stop the transcription.
Should I convert AAC to MP3 first?
No. Both are lossy, and converting one to the other degrades the audio a second time. Upload the AAC.
Free files over 30 minutes: what happens?
Only the first 30 minutes are transcribed. Unlimited takes files up to 10 hours.
Is the AAC kept after transcription?
Originals are deleted within 24 hours of processing, and your audio is never used for training.
Try it on your own recording
Free includes a few transcriptions a day. No card needed. Compare plans.
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