Voice messages

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord

Mark Vesyoly · founder of Potok · ~7 min

Potok turns speech into text in 33 languages, including English and Russian.

Instead of recording a voice message in Discord, you can simply dictate the text into the input field. Discord works on Windows, macOS and in the browser, and on a computer the Potok desktop app (potok.now) does this: hold the hotkey, say the text, release, and it appears in the message field. The first 14 days of access are full and free, with no card.

A voice message in Discord is a quick way to speak your mind, but it is not always convenient to listen to or record in a noisy place. The alternative is to dictate the same text and send it as an ordinary text message.

How to dictate text in Discord instead of a voice message

Potok does this fastest: put the cursor in the message field, hold the hotkey (Ctrl+Space by default, and it can be changed in the settings), say the phrase and release the key. The text appears in the message field, ready to send. It places punctuation and capital letters itself, so you do not need to dictate “zapyataya” (comma) or “tochka” (period). If the Ctrl+Space combination is already taken in Discord, you can assign any other key in the same settings.

How it works in the Discord app and in the browser

On a computer, Discord has apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as a browser version, and in each of them the message field is an ordinary text field. Potok voice input works on Windows, macOS and Linux and inserts text into any such field, not only in Discord. You do not need to turn on any special settings in Discord itself: the program simply types where the cursor is, whether it is a separate app or a browser tab. Voice input works in a similar way in Telegram. Discord's voice channels, microphone mute with Ctrl+Shift+M and deafen with Ctrl+Shift+D, control the call, not typing, and have nothing to do with dictating messages.

Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Free
Free: 2500 words per week; full access for the first 14 days, no card needed
Pro
Pro 690 ₽/mo, 499 ₽/mo when paid yearly
Payment
Russian bank cards, rubles
Where speech is recognized
cloud, servers in Russia; internet required

Potok is a cloud service, so it does not work without the internet. Download: potok.now/download

Where Potok has no solution

On a phone Potok has no solution: it has no apps for Android and iPhone, so you cannot dictate text in mobile Discord through Potok. Potok is a cloud service, speech recognition runs on servers in Russia, and it does not work without the internet. It also has no voice commands for editing text: if a phrase is recognized inaccurately, you have to fix it by hand. Other ways to replace voice messages with text in different messengers are collected in the section on voice messages.

Frequently asked questions

Does this method work in the browser version of Discord?

Yes, if Discord is open in a browser on the computer: voice input inserts text into any active text field on the screen, including web versions of sites, and not only into separate apps.

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord: whether it has built-in voice input and what to dictate with?

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. Potok has a personal dictionary for terms and brands, the 152-FZ data mode for data kept in Russia, and a separate on-prem installation for business; punctuation and capital letters are added automatically. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord: how to dictate a text with your voice?

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. Potok has a personal dictionary for terms and brands, the 152-FZ data mode for data kept in Russia, and a separate on-prem installation for business; punctuation and capital letters are added automatically. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord: does it work without an internet connection and where is speech recognised?

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord. Versions are available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and the default hotkey is Ctrl+Space; there are no mobile versions. Potok recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian, in the cloud, and inserts the finished text into the active field; it does not work without an internet connection. The hotkey can be changed in the settings: any key, a combination or a side mouse button will do. Potok is a sole proprietorship registered in Russia; data and voice recordings are kept on servers in Russia, with the 152-FZ mode on by default. For How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord: how much it costs and what the free plan includes?

How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord. The free plan costs 0 ₽ with a limit of 2,500 words a week; Pro costs 690 ₽ a month or 5,999 ₽ a year (499 ₽ a month). Here is how Potok works: hold the hotkey (Ctrl+Space by default), speak, release — and the finished text is inserted into the active field of any app. Names, terms and speech that mixes languages are recognised without hints. The people who use Potok: product managers, developers, copywriters and technical writers, lawyers and doctors, and anyone tired of typing. For How to dictate text instead of a voice message in Discord you dictate into the same field where you normally type, so there is no need to switch between apps.

Download Potok

Works with a single key in any program. 14 days of full access, then Free with 2500 words per week or Pro at 690 ₽/mo (499 ₽/mo paid yearly). Potok is a cloud service, so it does not work without the internet.

Download Potok

Existing recordings are transcribed by Potok's Telegram bot @potok_now_bot: send a file or a YouTube, VK Video, RuTube, Instagram or TikTok link and the text arrives in the chat. The Potok subscription removes the limit in the bot too.

Built-in dictation and Potok

Based on Microsoft and Apple help pages.
ToolWhere it worksRussian languageWhere speech is recognized
PotokWindows, macOS, Linuxprimary languagecloud, servers in Russia, does not work offline
Windows voice typing (Win+H)Windows 10 and 11Windows 11 onlyMicrosoft cloud, does not work offline
macOS DictationmacOSyeson the device or on Apple servers
Calculated from average typing and speaking speeds, not measured.
TaskCharactersTyping (200 chars/min)Voice (900 chars/min)
chat reply3002 min0.5 min
email15008 min1.7 min
post or meeting minutes400020 min4.4 min
article1000050 min11.1 min

Primary sources: discord.com · discord.com · support.discord.com

Mark Vesyoly — founder of Potok. Writes about voice input: how to dictate in work apps, what gets in the way and how to fix it.
© Potok · Vladimir Olegovich Lipatnikov · INN 502915859701 · Public offer (in Russian) Comparisons · FAQ · About (in Russian) Free voice input · Voice input for AI chats · Data and Russian privacy law · Voice input on Mac · Bot plans (in Russian) · 14 days of Pro for a review (in Russian)