Transcribe Files
Stenox can transcribe audio and video files — not just live dictation. Perfect for meetings, interviews, podcasts, or any recorded content.Supported Formats
Audio Files
| Format | Extension |
|---|---|
| MP3 | .mp3 |
| WAV | .wav |
| M4A | .m4a |
| AAC | .aac |
| FLAC | .flac |
| OGG | .ogg |
| WMA | .wma |
| AIFF | .aiff |
| CAF | .caf |
Video Files
| Format | Extension |
|---|---|
| MP4 | .mp4 |
| MOV | .mov |
| AVI | .avi |
| M4V | .m4v |
| WebM | .webm |
| MKV | .mkv |
For video files, Stenox extracts and transcribes the audio track only.
How to Transcribe a File
1
Open Stenox
Click the Stenox menu bar icon
2
Select Transcribe File
Click Transcribe File in the dropdown menu
3
Choose Your File
Select an audio or video file from Finder
4
Wait for Processing
Stenox will transcribe and optionally enhance the text
5
Review Results
The transcription appears in the Stenox window. Copy or save as needed.
Provider Considerations
For Short Files (< 5 minutes)
Any provider works well:- WhisperKit — Local, private
- Groq Whisper — Fast, free tier
- DeepGram — Accurate
For Long Files (> 5 minutes)
Cloud providers recommended:- DeepGram — Best for long-form content
- Groq Whisper — Fast processing
- AssemblyAI — Good for meetings
Tips for Best Results
Audio Quality
- Use the highest quality recording available
- Clear audio with minimal background noise transcribes best
- Multiple speakers work best with DeepGram or AssemblyAI
File Size
- Smaller file sizes upload and process faster
- Consider compressing large files before transcription
- MP3 is a good balance of quality and size
Language
- Set the correct language in your Profile settings
- Use multilingual models for non-English content
- Auto-detect works but explicit setting is more accurate
AI Enhancement
File transcriptions can be enhanced just like live dictation:- Grammar correction — Fix spoken language patterns
- Punctuation — Add proper punctuation
- Formatting — Clean up for readability
Usage Limits
File transcription counts against your plan limits:| Plan | Limit |
|---|---|
| Free | 5 minutes/day total (including files) |
| Plus | Unlimited |
| Lifetime | Unlimited (with BYOK) |
| Lifetime Plus | Unlimited |
Using BYOK providers bypasses Stenox limits. Only your provider’s limits apply.
Troubleshooting
Transcription is very slow
Transcription is very slow
- Use a cloud provider for faster processing
- Switch from WhisperKit to Groq or DeepGram
- For local processing, use base.en instead of small.en
File format not supported
File format not supported
Convert your file to a supported format:
- Use QuickTime (File → Export As) for video
- Use online converters for audio
- MP3 and MP4 are widely compatible
Poor transcription quality
Poor transcription quality
- Check audio quality in the original file
- Try a different provider (DeepGram often works best)
- Set explicit language instead of auto-detect
- Add technical terms to Vocabulary
File too large
File too large
- Compress the file before transcribing
- Split into smaller segments
- Use cloud providers for large files