Import audio files into Noter AI and turn old recordings into notes
Noter AI can turn a recording you already have into a full note. Tap the Import button, pick an M4A, MP3, WAV or other audio file, and the app writes a transcript, a summary and action items. It works on iPhone, iPad and Android, for files up to three hours long.
By Yousef Zuriqi Updated
How it works
- 1Put the file on your device. Save the recording to your phone or tablet, for example in the Files app on iPhone or in the Downloads folder on Android.
- 2Open Noter AI and tap Import. The Import button is inside the app on iPhone, iPad and Android.
- 3Pick the audio file. Choose an M4A, MP3, WAV or another common audio format.
- 4Wait for the note. Processing takes about 2 minutes for a 1-hour file.
- 5Read, search or share the note. Open the transcript, check the action items, or export the note as PDF, Word or plain text.
Noter AI records, transcribes and summarizes your meetings on iPhone, iPad & Android, in 60+ languages.
Which recordings you can import
Any audio file in a common format works. The table shows recordings people often bring in.
On iPhone you can also send a file to Noter AI from another app through the share sheet. This needs iOS 17.6 or later and takes one file at a time. For memos made in Apple's own recorder, see Apple Voice Memos.
| Where the recording came from | What to do with it |
|---|---|
| A digital recorder or dictaphone | Copy the file from the recorder to your phone, then import it |
| A Zoom local recording saved as audio | Move the audio file (often M4A) to your phone, then import it |
| Another recording app on your phone | Save or export the recording as an audio file, then import it |
| An audio file a colleague emailed you | Save the attachment to your device, then import it |
| A lecture or interview you recorded months ago | Import it like any other file and get a note today |
What you get
- A transcript with speaker labels. Each line has a timestamp. Tap a line to play the audio from that point. You can rename the speakers once you know who is who.
- A summary, a detailed analysis and action items. Each action item names the person it belongs to.
- A choice of output style. Run the same file as minutes of meeting, key bullet points, an email, a to-do list, a formal report, or a format you describe in your own words.
- Automatic language detection. Noter AI detects 60+ languages, including recordings where people switch between two languages.
- Translation. The transcript can be translated into 46 languages with the speaker labels and timestamps kept. See translation.
- A searchable archive. Imported notes sit next to your other notes, so you can ask questions across all of them.
Sample output
This is an invented example. Omar recorded a 40-minute supplier meeting on a dictaphone last week. He copies the MP3 to his Android phone and imports it.
| Part of the note | Example |
|---|---|
| Summary | The supplier can deliver the Q4 launch packaging by 20 November if the order is confirmed this month. Price per unit drops for orders above 5,000. |
| Decision | Order 6,000 units to get the lower price. |
| Action item | Omar: send the signed order form by 31 October. |
| Action item | Sara: check warehouse space for 6,000 units. |
| Transcript line | [00:23:05] Supplier: Above five thousand, the price goes down by eight percent. |
Limits and honest notes
- Importing needs the Premium plan. A free user who taps Import sees the plans screen first. The same applies to sharing audio into the app. See pricing.
- Audio files only. Noter AI does not import video files, YouTube links or PDFs. If you have a video, save its audio track as an audio file first with another tool.
- Up to three hours per file. Split a longer recording into parts and import each part.
- Quality depends on the recording. A file recorded far from the speakers, or in a noisy room, gives a weaker transcript than a clear one.
- Consent still matters. If the recording has other people in it, they should have known they were being recorded. The rules differ by country.
Importing compared with typing notes from a recording
Without a tool, turning a one-hour recording into notes means listening again, pausing and typing. This often takes longer than the meeting did, and names and numbers are easy to miss.
With an import, the work is picking the file and reading the result. You still check the note, because a name or a number can be heard wrong. The timestamps make that check fast: tap the line and listen to the few seconds that matter.
Frequently asked questions
Which audio formats can I import into Noter AI?
M4A, MP3 and WAV work, along with other common audio formats. Video files, YouTube links and PDFs cannot be imported.
How long can an imported recording be?
Each file can be up to three hours. For a longer recording, cut it into parts and import them one by one.
Can I import audio on Android?
Yes. Open Noter AI on your Android phone, tap the Import button and pick the file from your device.
Can I import on the free plan?
No. Importing files and sharing audio into the app are part of the Premium plan. A free user sees the plans screen when they try. Every subscription starts with a free trial.
Can I import a Zoom recording?
Yes, if you have it as an audio file. When Zoom saves a local recording with a separate audio file, move that file to your phone and import it. A video file of the call cannot be imported.
Will Noter AI tell the speakers apart in an old recording?
Yes. The transcript has speaker labels, the same as a recording made in the app. You can rename each speaker after you listen to a few lines.
Is my imported file used to train AI models?
No. Your audio and notes are encrypted in transit and at rest, and they are not used to train AI models. You can delete a note or your whole account at any time.
Let Noter AI take your meeting notes
Record, transcribe, and summarize meetings on iPhone, iPad & Android, or send a bot to Zoom, Teams, Meet, or Webex. In 60+ languages.
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