WhatsApp voice message to text

First: the transcripts in WhatsApp itself

WhatsApp has its own transcripts feature for voice messages. You turn it on via Settings > Chats > Voice message transcripts. According to WhatsApp's help page the feature is only available on certain devices, only the recipient sees the transcript, and a transcript cannot be edited, deleted or copied. Which languages work depends on your device.

For a short message that is fine. Murmel is more useful when:

• you want to use the text. In WhatsApp you cannot copy the transcript. In Murmel you edit the text and export it to Word, PDF or TXT.
• there are many messages. You upload several files at once and group them in a project, for example per client or per case.
• the message is long. A ten-minute monologue reads more easily as editable text with the audio next to it.
• the Dutch is full of names and jargon. Murmel is built for Dutch and you can set a vocabulary with names and terminology.
• you need an archive. For example to look up agreements with a contractor or a landlord later.

On an iPhone

1. 1
   Press and hold the voice messageOpen the chat, press and hold the voice message and choose Forward. The message is now selected.
2. 2
   Choose the share iconTap the share icon at the bottom right (the square with the arrow pointing up), not the forward arrow. The iOS share sheet opens.
3. 3
   Save to FilesChoose Save to Files and a folder, for example On My iPhone. The file usually ends in .opus.
4. 4
   Upload to MurmelOpen app.murmel.nl in Safari, log in and tap the upload area. Pick the file from Files. When it is done, the text is in your Studio.

On an Android phone

1. 1
   Select the voice messagePress and hold the voice message until it is highlighted.
2. 2
   Share the fileTap the three dots at the top right and choose Share, or tap the share icon if it is in the bar. Choose an app to save the file, for example Google Drive or Files. The exact menu names differ per phone and WhatsApp version.
3. 3
   Or find the file yourselfWhatsApp also stores voice messages in a folder called WhatsApp Voice Notes, with a subfolder per week. On newer Android versions it sits under Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media. The files end in .opus.
4. 4
   Upload to MurmelOpen app.murmel.nl in Chrome, tap the upload area and choose the file. Or move it to your computer first and drag it into the Studio there.

WhatsApp voice messages are Opus audio, often in an Ogg container. Murmel reads them directly; converting to mp3 is not necessary. More on the format at ogg to text.

Common problems

• The file is greyed out in the file picker. Some phones do not recognise .opus as audio. Upload the file from a computer instead: email it to yourself or put it in your cloud storage and drag it into the Studio.
• No Save to Files option on iPhone. Scroll down in the share sheet; the option is sometimes at the bottom of the list of actions.
• The message cannot be opened anymore. If the voice message was not downloaded or the media was deleted, the sender has to send it again.
• Many messages from one conversation. Upload them in one go and put them in a project. The file names often include the date, so the order is right.
• Background noise. Murmel does not invent text for silence or music, but wind or traffic can make words unintelligible. Replay those parts in the editor.

Frequently asked questions