A messaging system, which hosts a backend service for an associated messaging client application, includes a voice notes system that addresses the technical problem of serving an audio message to the recipient in a manner that permits the recipient to consume the message in a text format as a transcription. A chat user interface (UI) provided with the voice notes system permits a user to play an audio message or request generation of the transcription of the audio message on-demand to prevent unnecessary cluttering of the UI real estate.