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Transcribe voice messages from Telegram using OpenAI Whisper-1

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Transcribe voice messages from Telegram using OpenAI Whisper-1 preview
Open on n8n.io

Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

This n8n workflow processes incoming Telegram messages, differentiating between text and voice messages. How it works: 1. Message Trigger : The workflow initiates when a new message is received via...

Best for

  • Support Chatbot automation workflows
  • Multimodal AI automation workflows
  • intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.telegram, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openai, n8n-nodes-base.telegramtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.switch

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Aitor | 1Node.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Transcribe voice messages from Telegram using OpenAI Whisper-1
Workflow name
Transcribe voice messages from Telegram using OpenAI Whisper-1

This n8n workflow processes incoming Telegram messages, differentiating between text and voice messages.

How it works:

  1. Message Trigger: The workflow initiates when a new message is received via the Telegram "Message Trigger" node.
  2. Switch Node: This node acts as a router. It examines the incoming message:
    • If the message is text, it directs the flow along the "text" branch.
    • If the message contains voice, it directs the flow along the "voice" branch.
  3. Get Audio File: For audio messages, this node downloads the audio file from Telegram.
  4. Transcribe Audio: The downloaded audio file is then sent to an "OpenAI Transcribe Recording" node, which uses OpenAI's whisper-1 speech-to-text model to convert the audio into a text transcript.
  5. Send Transcription Message: Regardless of whether the original message was text or transcribed audio, the final text content is then passed to a "Send transcription message" node.

Setup Requirements:

  • Telegram Bot Token: You will need a Telegram bot token configured in the "Message Trigger" node to receive messages.
  • OpenAI API Key: An OpenAI API key is required for the "Transcribe audio" node to perform speech transcription.

Additional Notes:

This workflow provides a foundational step for building more complex AI-driven applications. The transcribed text or original text message can be easily piped into an AI agent (e.g., a large language model) for analysis, response generation, or interaction with other tools, extending the bot's capabilities beyond simple message reception and transcription.

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1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Get audio file

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 2 - Transcribe audio

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
Config choices
Version 1.8

Block 3 - Message Trigger

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegramTrigger - telegramTrigger
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 4 - Send transcription message

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 5 - Route Chat Input

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.switch - switch
Config choices
Version 3.2

3. Summary Table

Workflow Transcribe voice messages from Telegram using OpenAI Whisper-1
Complexity intermediate
Nodes 5
Categories Support Chatbot, Multimodal AI
Author Aitor | 1Node
Published 31 May 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/4528/4528.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

    Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.

  4. 4. Test with sample data

    Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.

  5. 5. Activate and monitor

    Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Frequently asked questions

What does Transcribe voice messages from Telegram using OpenAI Whisper-1 do?

This n8n workflow processes incoming Telegram messages, differentiating between text and voice messages. How it works: 1. Message Trigger : The workflow initiates when a new message is received via...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Support Chatbot, Multimodal AI use case.