How to Upload Audio Files to Beam Notes 🎤

If you have an existing recording from a dictaphone, smartphone, or external device, you can upload it directly to Beam Notes for summarisation.

To ensure the fastest and most accurate results, please follow these file requirements.

Supported File Types

Beam Notes works best with standard audio formats.

• Recommended: .mp3 (Highest reliability)
• Also Supported: .m4a, .wav, .webm
• Video Containers: .mp4 is supported, but because it is a video format, it is less reliable and takes longer to process. For large files, we recommend converting to MP3 first.

Using Dictaphones or External Devices

You can use files from a physical dictaphone as long as they are exported correctly.

• Important: Many dictaphones use .DSS or .DS2 formats. These are not supported by Beam Notes.
• The Fix: If your device uses these formats, use a file converter to turn them into an MP3 before uploading.

Troubleshooting Failed Uploads

If your file is "stuck" or fails to generate a summary, follow this checklist:

1. Check the Format: Is it a .dss, .ds2, or a very large .mp4? If so, convert it to .mp3.
2. Check the Length: Very long recordings (several hours) are more likely to encounter processing errors. Try splitting very long audio into smaller parts if possible.
3. Try Direct Recording: For the highest success rate, we recommend recording directly into the Beam Notes app on your mobile or web browser. This removes the need for file conversion and prevents upload errors.

Do This ✅	Avoid This ❌
Use MP3 files whenever possible.	Avoid DSS or DS2 files.
Record directly in the app.	Avoid uploading video files (MP4) for audio tasks.
Keep file sizes manageable.	Avoid uploading extremely long, multi-hour files.

Still having trouble? If your MP3 file still won't upload, please contact support and let us know the file type, recording length, and the time you tried to upload.