You want to turn an audio file into text without typing every word. Perplexity Pro can transcribe audio files directly in your browser. This article explains the feature, its requirements, and the exact steps to get a clean transcript. You will learn how to upload audio, adjust settings, and export the final text.
Key Takeaways: Using Perplexity Pro for Audio Transcription
- Perplexity Pro subscription: Required to access audio upload and transcription features.
- Audio file upload button: Located in the query input area; accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, and FLAC formats.
- Export transcript as text: Copy the transcription from the answer or use the share function to save it.
What Perplexity Pro Does With Audio Files
Perplexity Pro includes a built-in audio transcription feature. It converts spoken words in an uploaded audio file into written text. The feature uses a language model to process the audio and generate a transcript in the same conversation thread.
You do not need third-party transcription software or browser extensions. The entire process happens inside the Perplexity web interface. The feature works with English and a limited set of other languages. Perplexity does not transcribe live audio streams or real-time microphone input. It only processes pre-recorded files.
Prerequisites include an active Perplexity Pro subscription and a stable internet connection. The audio file must be under 100 MB and in a supported format. Supported formats are MP3, WAV, M4A, and FLAC. Longer files may take several minutes to transcribe depending on file size and server load.
Steps to Transcribe Audio With Perplexity Pro
- Open Perplexity Pro in your browser
Go to perplexity.ai and sign in with your Pro account. Confirm that your subscription is active by checking your account settings. - Start a new conversation
Click the New Thread button or the plus icon in the top-left corner. This ensures the transcription appears in a fresh context without prior chat history interfering. - Locate the audio upload button
In the query input box at the bottom of the screen, look for a paperclip icon or a microphone icon. Click it to open the file picker. The exact icon may vary slightly between updates. - Select your audio file
Choose an MP3, WAV, M4A, or FLAC file from your computer. The file size must be under 100 MB. If your file exceeds this limit, compress it using a tool like Audacity or an online compressor before uploading. - Wait for the upload to complete
A progress indicator shows the upload status. Depending on your internet speed and file size, this may take a few seconds to a minute. Do not close the browser tab during upload. - Add an optional prompt
After the file is attached, you can type a prompt in the query box. For example, type “Transcribe this audio file” or “Convert this recording to text.” The prompt helps the model understand your intent. - Press Enter or click Send
Submit the query. Perplexity processes the audio and generates a transcript. The transcript appears in the conversation as a text response. Processing time varies from 30 seconds to several minutes. - Review and edit the transcript
Read the generated text. Correct any misheard words or names. You can ask Perplexity to rephrase the transcript or fix errors by typing follow-up commands like “Correct the names in this transcript.” - Copy or export the transcript
Select the text with your mouse and press Ctrl+C to copy it. Alternatively, use the Share button in the conversation menu to copy the entire thread. Paste the text into a document editor like Word or Google Docs.
Common Mistakes and Things to Avoid When Transcribing
Audio File Too Large or Unsupported Format
Perplexity rejects files over 100 MB or files in unsupported formats like AAC or OGG. Use a free audio converter to change the format to MP3 or WAV. Compress long recordings with a lower bitrate to stay under the size limit.
Background Noise Reduces Accuracy
Loud background music, overlapping speakers, or poor microphone quality cause transcription errors. Record audio in a quiet room with a single speaker whenever possible. If the file already has noise, run it through a noise reduction filter in Audacity before uploading.
Multiple Speakers Not Labeled
Perplexity does not automatically label different speakers. The transcript appears as one continuous block of text. To add speaker labels, edit the transcript manually after copying it. You can also prompt Perplexity with “Identify each speaker and label them as Speaker 1, Speaker 2.”
Long Files May Time Out
Audio files longer than 60 minutes may cause the session to time out. Split the file into 15-minute segments using a tool like Audacity or an online splitter. Transcribe each segment separately and combine the results.
Transcript Missing Punctuation
The raw transcript may lack periods, commas, or paragraph breaks. Ask Perplexity to “Add punctuation and paragraph breaks to this transcript.” The model will reformat the text with proper sentence structure.
Perplexity Pro Audio Transcription vs Manual Transcription
| Item | Perplexity Pro Transcription | Manual Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Time required | Seconds to minutes per file | Hours for a 30-minute recording |
| Cost | Included with Pro subscription | Free but requires labor or paid service |
| Accuracy | High with clear audio, lower with noise | Near 100% with careful listening |
| Speaker identification | Not automatic | Manual labeling possible |
| File size limit | 100 MB | No limit |
| Format support | MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC | Any playable format |
You can now transcribe audio files directly in Perplexity Pro without leaving your browser. Start by uploading a short test file to verify the feature works with your audio quality. For best results, use recordings with clear speech and minimal background noise. The transcript can be copied into any document editor for further editing or sharing.