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Kotrotsos
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youtube-transcript

Download YouTube transcripts as VTT or plain text via yt-dlp and Whisper.

Updated Aug 27, 2026
Search Tags:#transcript#subtitles#captions#youtube#transcription
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/Kotrotsos/Content-Marketing --skill youtube-transcript-kotrotsos
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-transcript
Source: https://github.com/Kotrotsos/Content-Marketing/tree/main/.claude/skills/youtube-transcript
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/Kotrotsos/Content-Marketing --skill youtube-transcript-kotrotsos

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill automates downloading YouTube transcripts and captions, making it easy to extract text for summaries, research, or content generation. It supports manual subtitles, auto-generated subtitles, and Whisper-based transcription with explicit user confirmation when needed.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Subtitle retrieval: Check available subtitles with yt-dlp and download manual or auto-generated subtitles.
  • Whisper transcription: If no subtitles exist, offer Whisper-based transcription after user confirmation.
  • Post-processing: Deduplicate and convert VTT to plain text for easy reading.
  • Output formats: .vtt and .txt outputs.

Quick Start

Example: Download English subtitles for a YouTube URL and save as a transcript text. If subtitles aren’t available, offer Whisper transcription and produce a plain text file.

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube-transcript

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I download transcripts from YouTube videos?▼

Download transcripts by providing a YouTube URL; the Skill retrieves available manual or auto-generated subtitles using yt-dlp, then outputs them as .vtt or plain-text .txt files for easy reading and analysis.

What happens if a YouTube video doesn't have subtitles?▼

If manual or auto-generated subtitles aren't available, the Skill offers Whisper-based transcription with your explicit confirmation, then produces a plain-text transcript file.

Do I need to install anything before downloading YouTube captions?▼

Yes, yt-dlp must be installed on your system; the Skill verifies this prerequisite and will prompt you if it's missing before attempting subtitle retrieval.

Can I get transcripts in plain text instead of VTT format?▼

Yes, the Skill post-processes subtitles and deduplicates content to convert VTT captions into clean plain-text .txt files alongside the original .vtt output.

What's the difference between manual subtitles and auto-generated captions?▼

Manual subtitles are creator-provided and typically more accurate; auto-generated captions are YouTube-created. The Skill attempts manual first, then falls back to auto-generated if unavailable.

Can I use this Skill to transcribe videos without any captions at all?▼

Yes, when captions don't exist, the Skill can invoke Whisper transcription after you confirm, converting the video's audio directly into text.

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