Turn a Dictaphone Recording into Text
A dictaphone records audio; it does not write text. To get a transcript, move the recording onto a computer or phone and run it through a transcription tool. ScreenApp does that part: upload the file, or record directly if you would rather skip the handheld device, and get a transcript back with speaker identification and timestamps.
What you get:
- A transcript in 100+ languages
- speaker identification, useful when a dictated letter includes a second voice
- Export as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT
- AI notes and chat on the recording, so you can ask a question about it instead of rereading the whole thing
- Free plan: 2 transcriptions of recordings up to 45 minutes each
How to Transcribe a Dictaphone Recording
- Get the audio onto a computer or phone: Most digital dictaphones connect by USB and let you copy the recording off as a file. Check your device’s manual for the transfer steps; older cassette dictaphones need to be played and re-recorded through a microphone instead, since there is no file to copy.
- Upload it: ScreenApp accepts MP3, M4A, MP4A, M4B, AAC, WAV, OGG, OPUS, FLAC, AIFF, WMA, WEBMA, MKA, AC3, EAC3, WV, AMR, DSF, DFF. If your dictaphone saves in a different format, such as DSS or DS2, convert it to MP3 or WAV first with your dictaphone manufacturer’s software, since ScreenApp does not read those formats directly.
- Review the transcript: The transcript is ready a few minutes after upload, with speaker identification and timestamps. Export it as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT.
Accuracy depends on the recording, not just the transcription engine. A dictaphone held close to your mouth in a quiet room transcribes cleanly; a recording made across a room, with a fan or traffic noise behind it, will have more gaps. See how we measure accuracy.
Dictaphone Transcription vs Other Services
| Feature | ScreenApp | Rev | Sonix | HappyScribe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 2 transcriptions, up to 45 min each | 45 min/month (AI) | 30 min, one-time trial | 10 min, one-time trial |
| Transcription pricing | Included in the plan | $25.49/mo (AI, billed annually), $1.99/min (human) | $25/month, or $10/hour pay as you go | $8.50/month annual |
| Export formats | PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT | Not stated | DOCX, PDF, TXT, SRT, VTT | TXT, SRT on the free tier |
| Languages | 100+ | Not stated | 54+ | 60+ |
| Speaker identification | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Paid plan | $19/month annual | $25.49/month annual | $25/month | $8.50/month annual |
Sources, checked 2026-09-16: screenapp.io/accuracy#languages, ScreenApp pricing, rev.com/pricing, sonix.ai/pricing, happyscribe.com/pricing
- vs Rev: Rev’s recorder app is free, but AI transcription costs $25.49/month (billed annually) and human transcription $1.99 a minute, so a stack of dictated files adds up per file. ScreenApp’s plans include transcription rather than billing it separately.
- vs Sonix: Sonix gives a one-time 30-minute trial, then charges $25 a month or $10 an hour with no subscription. ScreenApp’s free plan renews rather than being a one-time trial.
- vs HappyScribe: HappyScribe’s free trial is 10 minutes, and its free-tier exports are limited to TXT, SRT. ScreenApp exports PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT on the free plan.
Who Needs Dictaphone Transcription
Doctors and clinicians dictate patient notes and letters between appointments, then need the recording turned into text for the file. Speaker identification helps when a nurse or patient is also on the recording.
Lawyers and paralegals dictate memos, case notes, and correspondence, and need a written record for the file rather than an audio one that has to be replayed to find a detail.
Executives and their assistants dictate memos and meeting follow-ups on the move, then hand the transcript to someone else to act on instead of sending the audio file itself.
Authors and journalists dictate notes, interview recaps, and story ideas into a handheld recorder, then want the words in a document they can edit and search.
Anyone replacing an old dictaphone workflow who has a drawer of digital voice files and wants them as searchable text instead of a folder of audio.