Extract transcript text from Apple Memos M4A file

extract_apple_memos_transcript.sh

#!/bin/bash

if ! command -v mp4extract >/dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "Error: mp4extract is not installed or not in your PATH." >&2
  echo "Please install it and try again" >&2
  exit 1
fi

if ! command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
  echo "Error: jq is not installed or not in your PATH." >&2
  echo "Please install it and try again." >&2
  exit 1
fi

if [ -z "$1" ]; then
  echo "Usage: $0 <input_file>"
  exit 1
fi

temp_file=$(mktemp)
trap 'rm -f "$temp_file"' EXIT

mp4extract --payload-only moov/trak/udta/tsrp "$1" "$temp_file"

if [ ! -s "$temp_file" ]; then
  echo "Warning: mp4extract produced an empty file. No transcript data found or error in extraction path (moov/trak/udta/tsrp)." >&2
  exit 1
fi

cat "$temp_file" | jq '.attributedString.runs | map(if type == "string" then . else empty end) | join("")'

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# Copyright (c) 2025 Thomas Countz

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