Transcribe your long audio files in minutes.

What counts as a "long" audio file for transcription?

Most quick transcription tools cap files at 30 to 60 minutes. Anything beyond that is typically considered a long audio file: full-day conference recordings, multi-hour interviews, university lectures, podcast episodes, or legal depositions. These files present specific challenges around file size, processing time, and accuracy consistency across the full duration.

Vook supports audio files with no duration limit, up to a maximum file size of 6 GB. Processing runs at less than one minute per hour of audio, so even a 4-hour file is ready in under 4 minutes.

Why long files are harder to transcribe accurately

Longer recordings introduce several factors that can reduce transcript quality compared to short clips:

Vook reaches up to 99% accuracy on clear audio in supported languages. For sections where accuracy dips, the integrated editor lets you fix errors, merge speaker labels, and re-export without starting over.

• Multiple speakers. Conversations with several participants increase the chance of overlapping speech, which is harder for any AI to separate cleanly.
• Variable audio quality. A recording that starts in a quiet room may shift to a noisier environment mid-way through, affecting accuracy in those segments.
• Accents and domain vocabulary. Technical jargon or strong regional accents can lower accuracy. The built-in editor in Vook lets you correct these quickly without re-uploading.
• File size limits. Many tools reject files above a few hundred MB. Vook accepts files up to 6 GB.

How to prepare your long recording for best results

A few simple steps before uploading can make a meaningful difference in transcript quality:

• Use a lossless or high-bitrate format. WAV or FLAC preserves audio detail. If you must use MP3, aim for 128 kbps or higher.
• Reduce background noise at the source. Record in a quiet space, or use noise-reduction software before uploading if the recording is already done.
• Keep one speaker per channel where possible. For interviews, dual-channel recordings (one channel per speaker) improve diarization accuracy.
• Avoid phone recordings for critical content. Telephone-quality audio (8 kHz) limits accuracy. Use a dedicated recorder or a quality microphone app instead.

Speaker diarization and timestamps in long recordings

For long recordings with multiple participants, speaker diarization is one of the most valuable features in a transcription tool. Vook automatically identifies and labels each speaker throughout the file, so you can follow who said what without re-listening to hours of audio.

Every transcript also includes timestamps at the segment level. This means you can click a line in the editor and jump directly to that moment in the audio. For journalists pulling quotes, researchers coding data, or legal teams reviewing depositions, this saves hours of manual work. You can also merge speakers if the AI has split one person into two labels, or mask names before sharing the transcript externally.

Privacy considerations when uploading long audio

Long recordings often contain sensitive content: confidential interviews, legal proceedings, medical consultations, or internal business discussions. Before uploading to any transcription service, it is worth checking where your data goes and how it is handled.

Vook stores and processes all files on servers in France (EU). Files are encrypted with AES-256 at rest. Audio files are deleted automatically after 7 days unless you actively save them to your account. Vook never uses your audio to train AI models, never sells your data, and never analyzes it for advertising. A Data Processing Agreement (DPA) is available on request for organizations that need it.

Choosing the right export format for your transcript

Once your long audio is transcribed, the right export format depends on what you plan to do with the text:

• PDF. Best for archiving, printing, or sharing a read-only version. Formatting is locked and consistent across devices.
• DOCX. Ideal for editing in Word or Google Docs, sharing with colleagues, or submitting to a publisher. Speaker labels and timestamps are preserved.
• MD. Useful for developers, bloggers, or anyone publishing to a CMS that accepts Markdown. Clean structure with speaker labels intact.
• SRT. Ready-to-use subtitles for video. Each line carries the timestamps generated during transcription.
• HTML. Drop the transcript straight into a web page, with speaker labels and structure preserved.