• TEXT
  • AUDIO
  • FILES
  • HUMAN

How to transcribe audio files with your AI

Connect LocalAI to your agent to process audio files locally. Once connected, you can send batches of recordings to be converted into text.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I transcribe audio files using my AI?

You use the LocalAI MCP to run transcription models on your own machine. Your AI sends audio files to these local models to generate text outputs. You'll get clean transcripts for every file you process.

The results.

Where your data lands.

The AI routes your audio through local models to produce these outcomes.

TEXT

Written transcripts

The AI converts speech into raw text. You get a written version of everything said in the recording.

AUDIO

Speech generation

You can turn text back into spoken words. This uses models to create new audio from your written notes.

FILES

Batch processing

The AI handles multiple files at once. You can feed it a whole folder of recordings to transcribe in one go.

HUMAN

Manual review

You must check the transcripts for accuracy. The AI handles the conversion, but you handle the final proofreading.

The workflow

What your AI does when the audio arrives.

The AI manages the heavy lifting of running local models on your hardware.

  1. Receive audio

    Your agent receives the audio files you provide and prepares them for the local model.

    transcribe_audio

  2. Run transcription

    The AI triggers the local model to listen to the audio and write down the words.

    transcribe_audio

  3. Convert text to speech

    If you need to hear the text read aloud, the AI uses a voice model to generate audio.

    text_to_speech

  4. Deliver results

    The AI presents the finished text or audio files back to you in your chat interface.

    transcribe_audiotext_to_speech

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to kick off the transcription process.

Starting points

Replace the bracketed text with your specific file names or folder paths.

LocalAI Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_rNQOAeEr0Jny5r5Ag0JD5dh4JLxiMfgFSBUDjX1k/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — LocalAI capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "localai-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_rNQOAeEr0Jny5r5Ag0JD5dh4JLxiMfgFSBUDjX1k/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Transcribe the audio file located at ./recordings/meeting_01.mp3

  • Convert all the mp3 files in my /interviews folder into text transcripts

  • Take the text from the transcript in ./notes.txt and turn it into speech

  • Transcribe the recording from the client call in my downloads folder

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect LocalAI once, then ask.

Click the link to connect the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start transcribing immediately.

Connect LocalAI to your AI

FAQ

How the transcription works

  • 01

    Does the AI upload my audio to the cloud?

    No. The transcription happens using local models on your machine.

  • 02

    Can the AI edit the audio files?

    No. The AI can only read audio to create text or create new audio from text.

  • 03

    Can I transcribe video files?

    No. The tools are specifically for audio files.

  • 04

    Will the AI automatically fix my typos in the transcript?

    No. The AI provides the transcription, but you are responsible for correcting any errors.

  • 05

    Can the AI delete my original recordings?

    No. The AI only reads the files to process them; it cannot delete or modify your source files.

  • More questions about LocalAI? The Connector page answers them. See everything the LocalAI Connector can do

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