Have you been trying to figure out the best way to transcribe MP4 video files to text and slowly dying inside in the process? Not anymore! This quick and easy guide will have you transcribing MP4 to text quicker than you can say “I need my audio in text format!”

Not only will we cover the basics of transcribing MP4 to text, we’ll also cover other file formats: WAV, MOV, and MKV. In fact, they’re all as simple as each other once you’ve got the greatest free companion tool known to mankind.

How to Transcribe MP4 to Text

What is MP4?

At its most simple, MP4 is the name of a digital multimedia container format that allows you to store and play video and audio files. These types of files can also include still images and subtitles. The format is widely supported by various devices and platforms, making it popular for distributing videos over the internet.

MP4 files typically have the file extension “.mp4” and utilize video and audio compression codecs to reduce file size while maintaining reasonable quality. 

If you’re reading this, you probably have one of these bad boys that you want a transcript of. To transcribe MP4 to text doesn’t mean you have to listen in slow mo and write it up yourself. No, no, no. Those days are long gone. Now, we have AI to do this kind of thing for us. And there is a tool we’d like you to meet that can transcribe all your video files to text for free. Oh, and it also transcribes live online meetings too!

Meet tl;dv

tl;dv is a meeting recorder that transcribes and translates in more than 25 languages. It uses state-of-the-art AI to simplify tasks that were once the bane of your life. And its generous free plan is free forever.

Not only does it transcribe video files like MP4, MKV and MOV to text, it also allows you to edit video transcripts, creating highlights, reels, and clips from videos, or even mashing multiple videos together. You can also add timestamps, tagging friends or colleagues at key moments so they can skip straight to the good bits. It’s perfect for a whole bunch of disciplines, including remote UX research, HR and hiring, and product management.

It’s hard to deny the impact of AI transcriptions on the workplace. From universities to businesses, everybody is cutting time by using AI to do their dirty work. With the rise of ChatGPT and the array of tools that use their plug-ins, it seems this impact will only increase.

However, tl;dv is also available to use in whichever way you please. Fancy converting MKV to text because you just want to read what was said in the video? No problem. tl;dv’s industry-leading speaker recognition will make sure you keep track of who’s talking, regardless of your video file.

Step-by-Step Guide for Transcribing MP4 to Text

1. To get started, simply create an account over at tldv.io.

2. Select your target language.

Select a language on tl;dv

tl;dv offers more than 25 languages to choose from, including:

  • English
  • German
  • Dutch
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese
  • Polish
  • Italian
  • French

3. Click on “Upload video”.

Click "Upload video" to upload a file for transcription

4. Select your file and wait until it’s processed. It won’t take long.

Receive a transcript and an AI summary of your file after its processed

5. Receive a transcript and an AI summary of the video.

Voila. Problem solved.

To summarize:

  1. Create an account with tl;dv
  2. Select your language
  3. Click “Upload video”
  4. Select your file and wait until it’s processed
  5. Receive your transcript with an AI summary

Which File Types Does tl;dv Transcribe?

With tl;dv, you can transcribe MP4, but you can also upload other files that you want transcripts for. Upload any of the following:

  • MP4
  • MKV
  • WAV
  • MOV
  • MPEG

Dust Off Your Videos and Get Transcribing

So whether you’re looking to convert WAV to text or transcribe a virtual meeting live, tl;dv is the free tool for you.

For more business-related interests, tl;dv offers competitive paid plans that feature all the top integrations (including Salesforce, Hubspot, Notion, and Slack), and a wider range of features. 

In the meantime, the free plan allows for unlimited recording and transcription minutes (during live meetings) and fantastic AI services that are top of the line. You can download it for Zoom or Google Meet.