Deadline is 40 minutes away and the source just sent a 5-minute voice message answering the question you asked. You need to listen to all of it, find the exact line that works as a quote, and double-check the name they said too fast to catch. Multiply that by three different sources on the same day.
Audio is great for whoever's sending it — faster than typing. But for whoever's receiving it and needs to quote it accurately, listening over and over so you don't get a word wrong eats up time reporting doesn't have, especially close to deadline.
ZapVox reads the audio messages received on WhatsApp Web: it transcribes what the source said, word for word, and even lets you search for a specific passage inside what's already been said — no calls recorded, just what already arrived as a voice message.
In one sentence: the quote you need is in the text, not buried inside 5 minutes of audio you've already listened to twice.
Quote accurately, without re-listening
A text transcript means you can re-read the source's line as many times as you need without hitting play again — and copy the exact quote into the story, without risking a misquote of something that should be in quotation marks.
A long briefing recap summarizing a 40-minute press conference? ZapVox's topic summary pulls out the key points before you decide whether it's worth listening to the whole audio.
A source in another language, or a foreign correspondent
A foreign source sends audio in Portuguese, Spanish, or any of the 99+ supported languages? Automatic translation shows up right in the audio card, without switching tabs to paste it into a translator.
Where this helps, in practice
| Situation | How ZapVox solves it |
|---|---|
| Source sends a 5-minute audio close to deadline | Transcribes automatically; you read and quote it in seconds |
| Press officer sends a 40-minute briefing recap by voice | Topic summary with the key points |
| Need to find a specific passage said 3 days ago | Keyword search inside the week's audios |
| International source sends audio in another language | Automatic translation (99+ languages) right in the card |
| Need to note the tone of a controversial statement | Sentiment analysis flags the tone of the message |
| A story tip arrives spoken, at the end of the day, with several points | Transcription + summary sort it out before the editorial meeting |
What it costs
Free gives you 10 transcriptions a day, no card — enough to try it on a real story. Pro costs R$29.90/month (about US$6, or R$199.90/year), for anyone dealing with source audio every single day who can't afford to misquote.
Quote accurately, without listening three times
Free to start — 10 transcriptions a day, no card.
Install ZapVox on ChromeFrequently asked questions
Can the transcript be used as an official source to quote in a story?
The transcript is a reporting aid — always check the passage against the original audio before publishing it as a direct quote, the same way you would with any transcript, human or automated.
Does ZapVox record interviews done over voice or video calls?
No. It transcribes audio messages received on WhatsApp Web — it doesn't record voice calls or video calls.
Does it work with protected sources, without exposing the conversation?
Audio is processed and discarded, not stored indefinitely. For sensitive reporting, the BYOK option sends the audio straight from your browser to the API provider you choose, without passing through ZapVox's servers.
Can I search for a specific word across several sources at once?
Keyword search covers the transcribed audios from the last 7 days in your WhatsApp Web, so yes — you can quickly find who mentioned a given term.