Let Evernote AI do your transcribing

 

July 14 2025 | Issue 52 | Link to this issue | Subscribe

Hi Reader –

Ever wish you could just talk to your phone and have your thoughts magically appear as text in Evernote?

Good news: You can.

Evernote's voice recording and AI transcription features are available on mobile for all plans.

That means you can capture ideas while walking, driving (hands-free), or anytime typing isn't practical, then have AI convert your voice note to searchable text automatically.

Let me show you how it works and why it's become one of my favorite mobile features.

How Voice Recording + AI Transcription Works

Mobile Audio Transcription

The process is surprisingly simple:

  • Record: From the Insert menu in a note, tap the audio option. You'll see a red recording bar appear, and Evernote captures everything it hears.

  • Stop & Save: Hit the stop button in the red recording bar when you're done. Evernote saves your recording as an audio file in the note.

  • Transcribe: Tap the “Transcribe” button that appears on the .mp4 file, and AI converts your voice to text, appearing in quote format below the audio file.

The beauty of this system is that you get both the original audio (perfect for capturing tone and context) and searchable text (perfect for finding that idea later).

You can record and transcribe up to 1 hour and 100 mb of audio data. 

Best Use Cases for Voice Capture

Voice recording works especially well for:

  • Driving thoughts: Capture ideas safely without taking your hands off the wheel.

  • Walking meetings with yourself: Process complex problems out loud while getting some exercise.

  • Quick brain dumps: Get everything out of your head when you're feeling overwhelmed.

  • Meeting follow-ups: Record immediate thoughts and action items right after a call.

  • Creative inspiration: Capture ideas when they strike, no matter where you are.

  • Recording speakers: Capture speakers during meetings or live presentations so you don’t miss a moment.

The transcription feature makes all of this searchable later, turning voice notes into a powerful knowledge base.

🧠 Academy Members: Dive deeper into AI transcription with this masterclass, where we cover how to use Evernote’s AI features for transcribing images, audio, and video.

The Siri Question (And Why It Doesn't Work)

I get asked about this constantly: "Can I use Siri to create voice notes in Evernote?"

The short answer — not directly.

There's no native Siri-to-Evernote voice capture. While there's a workaround using Apple's Shortcuts app, it's clunky and not worth the complexity for most users.

Want Siri integration as much as I do? You can submit a feature request here. The more requests Evernote receives, the more likely it becomes a reality.

🧠 Academy Members: Get the details on Evernote’s iOS integration options and the Shortcuts app workaround in this Training Tour: iOS Customization & Integration Options.

Start Talking

Voice capture removes the biggest barrier to getting thoughts out of your head — the need to type them.

Try this: Next time you have an idea while away from your computer, open Evernote mobile and just start talking. Don't worry about being eloquent. Just get the thought captured.

Later, when you're processing your notes, you'll have both the audio context and searchable text to work with.

Your future self will thank you for not letting that brilliant idea slip away.

Cheers to your productivity —

Stacey

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Stacey Harmon