YouTube Transcription

Transcribe YouTube videos and local audio files into Markdown transcripts.

2|Updated Jan 4, 2026

Search Tags:#transcript #markdown #video #youtube #transcription #audio #assemblyai

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/akaihola/skills-akaihola --skill youtube-transcription

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: YouTube Transcription
Source: https://github.com/akaihola/skills-akaihola/tree/main/youtube-transcription
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/akaihola/skills-akaihola --skill youtube-transcription

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

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

What problem does it solve?

Transcription of YouTube videos and audio into searchable, formatted Markdown transcripts to enable quick search, retention, and knowledge sharing.

Core Features & Use Cases

Transcribe YouTube videos to Markdown transcripts with timestamps and metadata
Transcribe local audio files (MP3, WAV, M4A) to text
Create searchable transcripts with metadata and proper formatting for knowledge bases or project docs

Quick Start

Provide your AssemblyAI API key and run the transcribe_video script with a YouTube URL or a local audio file.

Frequently Asked Questions about YouTube Transcription

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

FAQPage Schema

How do I transcribe a YouTube video into a searchable Markdown transcript?▼

To transcribe a YouTube video into a searchable Markdown transcript, you provide a YouTube URL to the transcription script. The tool uses yt-dlp to extract audio and AssemblyAI to generate structured text with timestamps and metadata.

Can I transcribe local audio files like MP3 or WAV to text?▼

Yes, you can transcribe local audio files such as MP3, WAV, and M4A to text. The tool processes local audio directly through AssemblyAI to create formatted Markdown transcripts without needing a video URL.

Do I need an AssemblyAI API key to use this transcription tool?▼

Yes, an AssemblyAI API key is required to use this transcription tool. You must configure the API key in your environment setup before running the script to convert audio or video into text.

What is the best way to generate metadata and timestamps from YouTube videos for a knowledge base?▼

Generating metadata and timestamps from YouTube videos is done by transcribing the audio into structured Markdown. This approach provides researchers and content teams with accurate, searchable transcripts formatted for knowledge bases.

Does this transcription method work with yt-dlp for extracting YouTube audio?▼

Yes, this transcription method works with yt-dlp for extracting YouTube audio. The script relies on yt-dlp to download the audio track from YouTube videos before sending it to AssemblyAI for processing.