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🦜✨Use OpenAI to transcribe audio + summarize with AI + save to Google Drive

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🦜✨Use OpenAI to transcribe audio + summarize with AI + save to Google Drive preview
Open on n8n.io

Important notice

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

1. Workflow Overview

Automate Audio Transcription, AI Summarization, and Google Drive Storage Who is this for? Content Teams , Researchers , and Administrators who need to automatically process voice memos, meeting rec...

Best for

  • Document Extraction automation workflows
  • Multimodal AI automation workflows
  • advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.gmail, n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.set, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openai, n8n-nodes-base.filter, n8n-nodes-base.limit, n8n-nodes-base.googledrive, n8n-nodes-base.telegram

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Joseph LePage.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
🦜✨Use OpenAI to transcribe audio + summarize with AI + save to Google Drive
Workflow name
🦜✨Use OpenAI to transcribe audio + summarize with AI + save to Google Drive

Automate Audio Transcription, AI Summarization, and Google Drive Storage

Who is this for?

Content Teams, Researchers, and Administrators who need to automatically process voice memos, meeting recordings, or interview audio into structured, searchable documents.

What problem does this solve?

Eliminates manual transcription work by automatically converting audio files into organized text documents with AI analysis, while maintaining human oversight through approval workflows.

What this workflow does

  1. Smart Audio Processing:

    • Triggers when new .m4a files appear in Google Drive
    • Uses OpenAI's Whisper for accurate transcription
    • Implements dual-format reporting (JSON + Markdown)
  2. Human Oversight (optional):

    • Requires email approval before processing
    • 45-minute response window with escalation options
  3. AI-Powered Analysis:

    • Generates structured JSON reports with:
      • Key points & action items
      • Sentiment analysis
      • Technical terminology glossary
    • Creates Markdown versions for easy reading
  4. Document Management:

    • Stores raw transcripts + reports in Google Drive
    • Automatic file naming with timestamps
    • Sends completion alerts via Email/Telegram

Workflow visualization showing audio file processing path

Setup

  1. Credentials Needed:

    • Google Drive API access
    • OpenAI API key (GPT-4o-mini)
    • Gmail & Telegram integrations
  2. Configuration:

    • Set your Google Drive folder ID in 3 nodes
    • Update email addresses in Gmail nodes
    • Customize approval timeout in "Gmail User for Approval"
  3. Customization Points:

    • File extension filters (.m4a)
    • AI report templates and prompts
    • Notification channels (Email/Telegram)

How to customize

  • Approval Process: Add SMS/Teams notifications via additional nodes
  • File Types: Modify filter node for .mp3/.wav support
  • Analysis Depth: Adjust GPT-4 prompts in "Summarize to JSON" nodes
  • Storage: Connect to Notion/Airtable instead of Google Drive

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 - Gmail User for Approval

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.gmail - gmail
Config choices
Version 2.1

Block 2 - Sticky Note

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 3 - Set Config

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 4 - Transcribe with OpenAI

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
Config choices
Version 1

Block 5 - Sticky Note1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 6 - Sticky Note2

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 7 - Sticky Note3

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 8 - Sticky Note4

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 9 - Sticky Note5

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 10 - Sticky Note6

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 11 - Filter by .m4a extension

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.filter - filter
Config choices
Version 2.2

Block 12 - Limit to last file

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.limit - limit
Config choices
Version 1

Block 13 - Download audio file

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive - googleDrive
Config choices
Version 3

Block 14 - Search Google Drive

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive - googleDrive
Config choices
Version 3

Block 15 - Sticky Note7

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 16 - Send Telegram Message

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

Block 17 - Send Gmail Message

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.gmail - gmail
Config choices
Version 2.1

Block 18 - Email Content Formatter

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
Config choices
Version 1

Block 19 - Summarize to Structured JSON

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
Config choices
Version 1

Block 20 - Summarize to JSON

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
Config choices
Version 1

Block 21 - Convert JSON to Markdown

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
Config choices
Version 1

Block 22 - Get Filename for JSON

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 23 - Get Filename for Markdown

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 24 - Save JSON file to Google Drive

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive - googleDrive
Config choices
Version 3

Showing the first 24 of 33 workflow blocks. Download the JSON for the full node graph.

3. Summary Table

Workflow 🦜✨Use OpenAI to transcribe audio + summarize with AI + save to Google Drive
Complexity advanced
Nodes 33
Categories Document Extraction, Multimodal AI
Author Joseph LePage
Published 03 Mar 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/3076/3076.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 🦜✨Use OpenAI to transcribe audio + summarize with AI + save to Google Drive do?

Automate Audio Transcription, AI Summarization, and Google Drive Storage Who is this for? Content Teams , Researchers , and Administrators who need to automatically process voice memos, meeting rec...

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 Document Extraction, Multimodal AI use case.