convert M4A Audio to Text
transcribe iphone voice memos, garageband recordings, and apple audio files with ease. perfect for the apple ecosystem.
made for apple users
seamless transcription for the format apple devices use natively.
iphone & mac optimized
native support for voice memos, garageband exports, and all apple audio recordings.
100+ languages
transcribe your iphone recordings in over 100 languages with excellent accuracy.
aac & alac support
handle both compressed aac and lossless alac audio in the m4a container.
privacy first
your voice memos and personal recordings are encrypted and never shared.
Apple's Audio Format of Choice
M4A is Apple's standard audio format, used by Voice Memos, iTunes, GarageBand, and Logic Pro. It delivers excellent quality in a compact size, making it perfect for everyday recordings and professional music production alike.
voice memos native
iphone voice memos app saves recordings directly as m4a files.
aac high efficiency
aac codec delivers better quality than mp3 at the same bitrate.
alac lossless option
apple lossless in m4a container for studio-quality recordings.
technical specifications
full support for all m4a configurations from basic voice memos to high-resolution alac.
codecs
AAC, ALAC
sample rates
44.1 - 96 kHz
bit depth
16 - 24 bit
max file size
500 MB
max duration
4 hours
channels
mono & stereo
pro tip: voice memos typically record at 128kbps aac. this quality is perfect for speech transcription with excellent accuracy.
how to transcribe m4a files
from voice memos to text in four simple steps.
upload m4a file
upload voice memos, music files, or any m4a recording directly from your device or cloud.
codec detection
we automatically detect whether your file uses aac or alac and optimize accordingly.
AI Transcription
Our AI processes your audio with high accuracy, handling Apple's audio characteristics perfectly.
download & sync
export to text, word, or notes apps. copy to apple notes or share via airdrop.
perfect for apple users
Whether you use Voice Memos daily or produce music in GarageBand, we've got you covered.
iphone voice memo users
transcribe voice memos recorded on your iphone. meeting notes, ideas, reminders - all converted to searchable text.
apple musicians
garageband and logic pro export to m4a. transcribe vocal recordings, lyric ideas, and session notes.
apple podcasters
many podcast apps export to m4a. get transcripts for show notes, seo, and accessibility.
business professionals
transcribe client calls, voice notes, and dictations recorded on your apple devices.
loved by apple users
see why iphone and mac users trust us with their voice memos.
"i record all my meeting notes as voice memos. being able to transcribe them instantly has made me so much more organized. it just works!"
Sarah Mitchell
iphone user
"i export vocal tracks from garageband as m4a. this tool transcribes my lyrics and vocal notes perfectly - way faster than typing them out."
Kevin O'Brien
garageband producer
"my podcast editing workflow is all apple. transcribing m4a exports for show notes used to take hours. now it takes minutes."
Amy Chen
Podcast Host
Frequently Asked Questions
everything you need to know about m4a transcription.
how do i export voice memos from my iphone?
open voice memos, tap the recording you want, tap the three dots (...), select "share", then "save to files" or upload directly to our app. voice memos are saved as m4a files by default.
What's the difference between M4A and MP3?
M4A uses the AAC codec which is Apple's preferred format. At the same bitrate, AAC typically sounds better than MP3. M4A also supports lossless ALAC encoding, which MP3 cannot do. Both work great for transcription.
can i transcribe garageband recordings?
Yes! GarageBand exports audio as M4A by default. Use "Share > Song to Files" and choose M4A format. Upload the exported file and we'll transcribe it perfectly.
does m4a quality affect transcription accuracy?
voice memos typically record at 128kbps aac, which is excellent for speech transcription. higher quality exports (256kbps or alac lossless) can provide marginally better results for complex audio.
can i transcribe audiobooks from apple books?
drm-protected audiobooks from apple books cannot be transcribed. however, drm-free m4a audiobooks or your own recordings work perfectly.
how do i get transcripts into apple notes?
after transcription, use the "copy to clipboard" feature and paste directly into apple notes. alternatively, export as a text file and open it on your mac or iphone.
transcribe voice memos directly
download our ios app to transcribe voice memos directly from your iphone. share from voice memos right to our app.
ready to transcribe your m4a files?
from voice memos to garageband exports, get accurate transcriptions in minutes.
start free transcription