A radio broadcast is ephemeral by design - aired once, then archived and largely forgotten. Yet its editorial content - interviews, debates, expert analysis, live reporting - represents substantial journalistic value. Transcription transforms perishable audio into searchable, shareable, reusable text.
Importing and transcribing radio archives
Listen supports importing audio files from the iPhone Files app (M4A, MP3, WAV, AAC formats). A recorded broadcast can therefore be transcribed after the fact. Files must be under 25 MB (approximately 50 minutes in standard M4A). For natively digital podcast formats, see our article on podcast transcription.
From archive to evergreen content
Public service broadcasters - the BBC in the UK, NPR in the US - have long invested in transcript archives precisely for this reason. Listen brings the same capability to a mobile workflow at a fraction of the cost.
Import via the Files app: tap the download button in the Listen library, then select your audio file. Transcription starts automatically.
Explore our plans for broadcast media.