How to convert a video to text (phone, Zoom, course or YouTube)
Short answer
To convert a video to text, upload the file (mp4, mov or webm) to a transcription tool; only the audio is transcribed. For YouTube, open the video's description and click "Show transcript" to copy the existing text. Dolcenota accepts files up to 4 hours and 2 GB but doesn't import links.
Turning a video into text is really about its audio: what people say is what ends up in the transcript. So the first question is simple. Do you have the video file, or is it a video you watch online?
If you have the file (a video from your phone, a camera, a Zoom recording, a course you downloaded with permission), you can upload it and get the text in minutes. If it's on YouTube, the platform may already have a transcript you can open for free. This guide covers both.
Convert a video file to text in 3 steps
- 1
Find the video file
Phone videos are usually mp4 or mov in your gallery or Photos. Zoom local recordings save an mp4 in a Zoom folder in Documents. Screen recordings and some browsers produce webm.
- 2
Upload it to Dolcenota
Open Dolcenota in your browser, tap "Upload file" and choose the video. Only the audio track is transcribed; the images are never analyzed. Each file can be up to 4 hours and 2 GB.
- 3
Read, name the speakers and export
In a few minutes you get the transcript split by speaker with a timestamp on each line. Rename Speaker 1 and Speaker 2, read the summary, ask questions, and export TXT, PDF or Word.
Videos you watch online, like YouTube
Many YouTube videos already have a transcript, built from the creator's captions or YouTube's automatic captions. On a computer, open the video, expand the description, scroll to the end and click "Show transcript". The transcript opens next to the video, with timestamps you can turn off from its menu, and you can copy the text into a document. Automatic captions can have errors, especially with names, music or several people talking.
Dolcenota doesn't import links from YouTube or any other site. It only works with files you upload, and you should only upload videos you have the right to use: your own recordings, your company's meetings, or course material whose terms allow it. If the YouTube video is yours, you can download the original file from YouTube Studio and upload it.
Which video files work
| Where it comes from | What to upload |
|---|---|
| iPhone or Android camera | The mp4 or mov from your gallery or Photos |
| Zoom, Google Meet or Teams | The meeting recording (mp4) or, if offered, the audio-only m4a |
| Screen or browser recording | The webm or mp4 file |
| A course or webinar you own | The downloaded video, if the terms allow it |
Tips for large or long videos
- Videos are heavy. If a file is over 2 GB, upload the audio only. On a Mac, QuickTime Player's File > Export As > Audio Only creates a much smaller audio file.
- Large files upload in parts, so a short connection drop doesn't start the upload over.
- A class or event recorded in several clips can be combined into one transcript: up to 3 files on the free plan, 20 on paid plans.
- A video longer than 4 hours needs to be split into parts.
What you get, and what you don't
You get a full transcript with speakers separated and timestamps, an automatic summary (for a class, the key concepts; for a meeting, decisions and action items by person), and a chat to ask questions about the video. It works in English and Spanish, detected automatically.
Dolcenota doesn't create subtitle files (SRT or VTT) to put on top of a video. If you need captions, use the captions tool in your video editor or YouTube Studio.
Frequently asked questions
Can I paste a YouTube link into Dolcenota?
No. Dolcenota only works with files you upload. For YouTube videos, try the built-in "Show transcript" option first.
Does Dolcenota analyze what's in the video?
No. Only the audio track is transcribed; images are never analyzed.
Is it faster to upload the video or just the audio?
Audio-only files are smaller, so they upload faster. The transcript is the same.
Can I get subtitles for my video?
Not from Dolcenota: it doesn't export subtitle files. It gives you the transcript, summary and exports in TXT, PDF or Word.
Is it free?
You can start free with 60 minutes a month and every feature. Plus is $7.99 a month for 400 minutes.
Turn your video into text
Upload an mp4, mov or webm and get the transcript by speaker, a summary and answers in minutes. Free to start.
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