Question · USB voice recorder

Can I transcribe a file from a USB recorder? Copy it off, then upload.

Yes: most USB voice recorders appear on a computer as an ordinary drive, and the MP3 or WAV files on it upload as they are, one file up to 10 hours or 5 GB. Transcription runs at about 2 minutes per audio hour with a free preview of the opening minutes, so a 90-minute interview is text in about 3 minutes and sits comfortably on the $4 pack of 300 minutes.

Packs from $4, credits never expire · then from $0.32/hour · Credits never expire · Never used to train AI
✓MP3 and WAV accepted · ✓About 3 minutes for 90 minutes · ✓Free preview of the opening minutes · ✓Never used for training

From the recorder to text

Getting the file off the device, and what to watch for.

Plug in and copy

Connect the recorder with its cable; it usually mounts like a USB stick. Recordings tend to live in a folder with a name such as RECORD, VOICE or a letter for each folder on the device. Copy the file to your computer before uploading rather than working from the recorder itself.

Know what format you have

MP3 is compact, roughly 60 MB an hour at a common setting. WAV is uncompressed: CD-quality stereo is about 600 MB an hour, so a long day in WAV can pass 2 GB. Some dictation recorders save in a format meant for their own software; export or convert that to MP3 or WAV first.

Large files and long days

This box takes files up to 500 MB; a bigger WAV continues on the upload page, up to 10 hours or 5 GB. A recording over 5 GB can be exported as MP3 to bring it well under the limit.

What comes back

A transcript with timestamps on every line, a brief with the thesis and takeaways, chapters, the names, numbers and dates that were said, and a chat you can ask about the recording. The interviewer and guest are named in the summary, key quotes and chapters.

Before and after

A recorder full of files, or a folder of transcripts.

✗ Files stuck on the device

Recorders fill up with numbered files nobody has time to replay.

  • File names that are just dates
  • Hours to listen back
  • Notes typed from memory
  • Memory card nearly full
  • No search for a name
  • Old files deleted unread

✓ Each file as text

Copy, upload, and every recording comes back readable and searchable.

  • MP3 or WAV as recorded
  • About 2 minutes per audio hour
  • Timestamps back to the audio
  • Speakers named in the summary
  • Chapters for long sessions
  • DOCX for notes, TXT for archives

Sample output

A recorded interview, as text.

Invented lines for illustration only; not from a real recording.

transcript · whipscribe.com/view/can-i-transcribe-a-file-from-a-usb-recorder
00:00:09 Is the light on? Good, it's recording, so go ahead whenever you're ready.
00:22:48 I started there in the spring and stayed for almost eleven years.
00:57:31 Can you spell the name of that street for me?
01:29:02 That's everything I wanted to ask, thank you for your time.

Export

One transcript. Five clean formats.

Every pack exports all five — no format is held back for a higher tier.

.txt

Plain text

De-ummed paragraphs. Ready to paste.

.srt

SRT captions

Timed to the speech. Every video editor reads this.

.vtt

WebVTT

HTML5 player + YouTube uploads.

.docx

Show notes

Formatted with chapters and pull-quotes.

.json

Machine-readable

Timestamped text for your own tools.

Pricing

Honest pricing, no surprises.

A pack from $4 (300 minutes) opens the full transcript. After that, no subscription and no auto-renew — every tier is a one-time minute pack, and credits never expire. Buy once, use the minutes whenever you need them.

Casual pack

$4/300 min

5 hours of audio — $0.80 an hour. One-time — credits never expire.

  • 300 minutes of audio
  • All export formats
  • AI chat over the whole transcript
  • Executive summary & key quote
Get 300 minutes

Best value

$18/3,000 min

50 hours of audio — $0.36 an hour. Credits never expire.

  • 3,000 minutes of audio
  • Summary, chapters and key quotes
  • All export formats
  • AI chat over the whole transcript
Get 3,000 minutes

Bulk pack

$32/6,000 min

100 hours of audio — $0.32 an hour. Credits never expire.

  • 6,000 minutes of audio
  • Summary, chapters and key quotes
  • API access for batch pipelines
  • All export formats
Get 6,000 minutes

FAQ

USB recorder files, answered.

My computer doesn't show the recorder. What now?

Check that the recorder is switched to its USB or data mode if it has one, and try a different cable, since some cables only charge. If it still does not mount, the recorder's own manual or software will describe how it transfers files.

The files have an unusual extension.

Many dictation recorders use a format tied to their own playback software. Open the file in that software and export it as MP3 or WAV, or use a converter you trust, then upload the result.

How much does a month of recordings cost?

Ten 90-minute interviews a month is 900 minutes, which goes on the $18 pack of 3,000 minutes. Four hours of lectures a week, around 960 minutes a month, fits the same pack. Credits are paid once and never expire.

Can I upload straight from the recorder?

It often works, but copying the file to your computer first is more reliable, especially for large files, and keeps a copy safe if the recorder is wiped.

The recorder made several files for one session.

Recorders often start a new file at a size or time limit, or each time you pause. Upload each one, or join them into a single file under 10 hours or 5 GB if you want one transcript.

Is the recording kept private?

Recordings are transcribed on our own servers and are never used for training, and you can delete a recording and its transcript from your Library whenever you like.

Related

More recorder pages.

The file on your recorder. Text in a few minutes.

Upload the file

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