youtube

Extract YouTube video transcripts via yt-dlp with whisper.cpp fallback.

Updated Aug 27, 2026

Search Tags:#transcript #youtube #yt-dlp #video-analysis #whisper-cpp

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/icyrainz/.dotfiles --skill youtube-icyrainz

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube
Source: https://github.com/icyrainz/.dotfiles/tree/main/claude/skills/youtube
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/icyrainz/.dotfiles --skill youtube-icyrainz

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires yt-dlp, whisper-cli, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Analyze YouTube videos by automatically extracting transcripts and enabling in-depth discussions about the video's content.

Core Features & Use Cases

Transcript extraction from YouTube videos via yt-dlp (captions or auto-generated) to enable quick summaries, Q&A, and content analysis.
Whisper.cpp fallback for uncaptioned videos to ensure coverage when transcripts are unavailable.
Contextual discussion with timestamp references, enabling precise references to video moments during conversations.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube URL to fetch its transcript and begin a contextual discussion based on the full transcript.

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I extract a transcript from a YouTube video for content analysis?▼

To extract a transcript from a YouTube video, you provide the video URL to the Skill. It uses yt-dlp to fetch existing captions or auto-generated transcripts, outputting a cleaned text file and metadata for in-depth analysis and discussion.

Can I get transcripts for YouTube videos that have no captions or subtitles?▼

Yes, you can get transcripts for uncaptioned YouTube videos. When yt-dlp cannot find available captions, the Skill falls back to whisper-cli, ensuring transcript coverage for video content analysis even without existing subtitles.

What is the best way to summarize and discuss YouTube video content using an AI?▼

The best way to summarize and discuss YouTube video content is to load the extracted transcript into context. This enables interactive Q&A, quick summaries, and contextual discussions with timestamp references to specific video moments.

Do I need yt-dlp and whisper-cli installed to analyze YouTube videos?▼

Yes, you need yt-dlp and whisper-cli installed as dependencies. yt-dlp handles the primary transcript extraction from YouTube, while whisper-cli serves as the necessary fallback for uncaptioned videos.

Does YouTube transcript extraction support timestamp references during conversations?▼

Yes, YouTube transcript extraction supports timestamp references. After fetching the transcript via yt-dlp or whisper-cli, it enables contextual discussions where you can reference precise moments in the video during your analysis.