Why Import Audio?
Not every recording starts inside 12scribe. You might have audio files from a hardware voice recorder, a podcast episode downloaded for analysis, an interview recorded in another app, or lecture recordings shared by a professor. The import feature lets you bring those files into 12scribe so you can transcribe, search, mark, and analyze them with the same powerful tools you use for live recordings.
Imported audio files are treated exactly like recordings made inside the app. You can add markers, run transcription, generate AI Smart Notes, search through the transcribed text, and share specific moments via links. The only difference is that imported files skip the live recording stage — everything else in the workflow is identical.
This makes 12scribe useful not just as a recording tool, but as a processing hub for any audio content you need to analyze, review, or study. Import a semester's worth of lecture recordings from a colleague, transcribe them all, and build a searchable knowledge base in one afternoon.
Supported Formats
12scribe supports the most common audio file formats used across devices and platforms:
- .m4a — the default iOS recording format. Best compatibility and quality within the Apple ecosystem. Files from Voice Memos, GarageBand, and most iOS recording apps use this format.
- .mp3 — the universal audio format. Works with files from any source — downloads, web recordings, podcast exports, or files shared from Android devices.
- .wav — uncompressed audio. Larger file sizes but highest audio quality. Common output from professional recording equipment and audio editing software.
- .aac — compressed format widely used in podcasts, streaming services, and media production. Offers good quality at smaller file sizes than MP3.
Maximum file size depends on your subscription plan and available device storage. Free users can import files up to 500 MB. Pro users have a higher limit suitable for multi-hour uncompressed recordings. Before importing, check that you have sufficient free storage on your device — the app needs space to store the imported file alongside any generated transcripts.
How to Import
Follow these steps to import an audio file into 12scribe:
- Open an existing project or create a new one. Choose the appropriate project type — Lecture, Meeting, or Other — to get the best results from AI analysis later. The project type affects the kind of Smart Notes generated from the content.
- Inside the project, tap the Import button. This opens the iOS file picker, which gives you access to files on your device, in iCloud Drive, and in any connected cloud storage providers (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive).
- Select the audio file you want to import. You can preview the file name and size before confirming. For large files, make sure you are on a stable connection if the file is stored in the cloud.
- 12scribe copies the file into the project and adds it as a new recording session. This processing step takes a few seconds for typical files and slightly longer for multi-hour recordings or large uncompressed .wav files.
- Once imported, the session appears in your project just like a live recording — with its full duration displayed. You can now play it back, add markers manually during playback, or tap Transcribe to convert the audio to searchable text.
If you have auto-transcription enabled on the project, transcription begins automatically as soon as the import finishes — no extra tap needed.
Auto-Markers and Processing
After importing and transcribing an audio file, you can generate AI Smart Notes to create structured markers at key moments throughout the recording. The AI analyzes the full transcript and identifies topic changes, definitions, key statements, and conclusions — then creates markers at each of those moments with descriptive titles. This is especially powerful for processing a backlog of recordings from other sources. Learn how Smart Notes work in AI Smart Notes: From Audio to Structured Knowledge.
The complete processing pipeline for imported audio follows these stages:
- Import — the file is copied into the project (instant for small files, a few seconds for large ones)
- Transcription — speech is converted to searchable text, typically taking 2-5 minutes per hour of audio. The server splits long files into chunks for parallel processing. See How Transcription Works for the full pipeline.
- AI Analysis — optional Smart Notes generation, taking 1-3 minutes. This step requires a completed transcription first.
For large files (over one hour of audio), the transcription is automatically split into chunks and processed in parallel on the server. This means even a three-hour lecture recording finishes transcription in a reasonable time — you do not need to split the file yourself.
You can also add manual markers during playback of imported files. Play the audio, listen for important moments, and tap Add Marker exactly as you would during a live recording. Combined with AI-generated Smart Notes, this gives you comprehensive coverage of any imported content. For details on the full live recording workflow, see How to Record Audio.