# Chinese Video Transcriber: Bilibili to Text & SRT (`bossless/chinese-video-transcriber`) Actor

Transcribe Bilibili (B站) videos, or any audio/video link such as podcasts and mp4 files, into timestamped text with AI, then translate to English or 12 other languages. Get plain text, segments and SRT subtitles. Paste links, no login. Pay per minute.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/bossless/chinese-video-transcriber.md
- **Developed by:** [Alexander Daskalov](https://apify.com/bossless) (community)
- **Categories:** AI, Social media, Videos
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $8.50 / 1,000 transcript minutes

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Chinese Video Transcriber: Bilibili to Text, English & SRT

**Chinese Video Transcriber turns Bilibili (B站 / 哔哩哔哩) videos, or any audio or video file link, into a timestamped transcript with AI, then translates it into English or 12 other languages.** You get plain text, timestamped segments and ready-to-use **SRT subtitles** for both the original and the translation. Paste links; no login, no browser, no proxy setup.

Use it to read and quote Chinese videos without speaking Chinese, add subtitles, research Chinese creators and markets, feed transcripts to AI and RAG pipelines, or transcribe podcasts and lectures.

- 🎬 **Bilibili links, b23.tv share links or BV IDs**, plus **any direct audio/video file URL** (mp3, m4a, wav, ogg, mp4, webm …).
- 📝 **Transcript with timestamps**: one line per sentence, start and end in seconds, in the spoken language (Chinese in simplified characters).
- 🌍 **Translation** into English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Arabic or Simplified Chinese, with the same timestamps.
- 🎞️ **SRT subtitles** for the transcript and for the translation.

### What can it transcribe?

| Input | Example | Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Bilibili video link | `https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL` | ✅ |
| Bilibili share link | `https://b23.tv/…` | ✅ |
| Bilibili BV ID | `BV12G4y1Y7EL` | ✅ |
| Direct audio/video file | `https://example.com/episode-12.mp3` | ✅ |
| Douyin (抖音) | | Not yet: Douyin now blocks access without its app security checks |

Multi-part Bilibili videos are transcribed from their first part.

### How much does it cost?

Pay per minute of audio. There is no monthly fee.

| Event | Price (FREE/BRONZE) | Lower on paid plans |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript minute | **$0.01** / started minute | down to $0.0085 |
| Translation minute (optional) | **$0.005** / started minute | down to $0.0045 |
| Actor start | $0.00005 / run | — |

A 10-minute video costs $0.10 to transcribe, or $0.15 with an English translation. Nothing is charged for a video that fails. Set **Max minutes per video** to cap the cost of very long videos (they're transcribed up to that length and marked `truncated`), and a **maximum cost per run** to cap the whole run.

**Free plan:** the AI runs on paid infrastructure, so free-plan runs include a 3-minute trial; upgrade to transcribe full videos.

### How to transcribe a Bilibili video

1. Click **Try for free**. The example input transcribes a 68-second Bilibili clip (a parody of regional Chinese news broadcasts) and translates it into English.
2. Paste your own links into **Video links**, one per line.
3. Pick **Translate to**, or "No translation".
4. Download the results as JSON, CSV or Excel, or open the **Subtitles (SRT)** view.

#### Input example

```json
{
  "videoUrls": ["https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL", "https://example.com/podcast/ep12.mp3"],
  "translateTo": "en",
  "maxMinutesPerVideo": 60
}
```

### Ready-made tasks

Open one, change the links, and run:

- [Bilibili Video to English Subtitles (SRT)](https://apify.com/bossless/chinese-video-transcriber/examples/bilibili-english-subtitles)
- [Bilibili Video to Text (Chinese Transcript)](https://apify.com/bossless/chinese-video-transcriber/examples/bilibili-video-to-text)
- [Chinese Video Translator (13 Languages)](https://apify.com/bossless/chinese-video-transcriber/examples/chinese-video-translator)

### Output

One record per video. Real output from the example input (shortened):

```json
{
 "type": "transcript",
 "platform": "bilibili",
 "videoId": "BV12G4y1Y7EL",
 "url": "https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL",
 "title": "模仿我国各地新闻播报",
 "author": "五十岚上夏",
 "durationSeconds": 68.1,
 "transcribedSeconds": 68.1,
 "truncated": false,
 "language": "zh",
 "text": "我国各地新闻播报的区别。\n中国内地\n…",
 "segments": [
  {
   "start": 0,
   "end": 2.5,
   "text": "我国各地新闻播报的区别。"
  },
  {
   "start": 2.5,
   "end": 4.5,
   "text": "中国内地"
  },
  "…"
 ],
 "srt": "1\n00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,500\n我国各地新闻播报的区别。\n…",
 "translationLanguage": "English",
 "translatedText": "The differences in news reporting across various regions of China.\nMainland China\n…",
 "translatedSegments": [
  {
   "start": 0,
   "end": 2.5,
   "text": "The differences in news reporting across various regions of China."
  },
  {
   "start": 2.5,
   "end": 4.5,
   "text": "Mainland China"
  },
  "…"
 ],
 "translatedSrt": "1\n00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,500\nThe differences in news reporting across various regions of China.\n…"
}
```

A translation is saved only when every line was translated, so you never get a half-translated file. If translation fails, the transcript is still saved and only the transcript is charged.

### Use it with AI agents (MCP)

```
https://mcp.apify.com?tools=bossless/chinese-video-transcriber
```

Ask your assistant to "transcribe this Bilibili video and translate it to English", and it runs this actor and reads back the transcript.

### Use the API from code

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/bossless~chinese-video-transcriber/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"videoUrls": ["https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL"], "translateTo": "en"}'
```

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient
client = ApifyClient("YOUR_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("bossless/chinese-video-transcriber").call(run_input={"videoUrls": ["BV12G4y1Y7EL"], "translateTo": "en"})
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item["translatedSrt"])
```

### FAQ

**Do I need a Bilibili account or a proxy?** No. Paste public links.

**What happens with a deleted or private video?** It's skipped with a clear message and not charged. A run where every link was invalid still succeeds, with "No results … Check the input".

**Can I transcribe podcasts or my own files?** Yes, if the file has a public http(s) link. Links to private or local network addresses are refused.

**How are minutes counted?** Per started minute of audio actually transcribed, so a 61-second clip is 2 minutes.

**Is this an official Bilibili product?** No. This is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bilibili.

**Is it legal?** It processes publicly available media. You are responsible for how you use the transcripts and for respecting copyright and the platforms' terms.

### More China data tools

- [Bilibili Scraper (B站 / 哔哩哔哩)](https://apify.com/bossless/bilibili-scraper): videos, danmaku, comments, trending and creators.
- [Weibo Scraper (微博)](https://apify.com/bossless/weibo-scraper): hot search, profiles, post search and timelines.
- [Zhihu Scraper (知乎)](https://apify.com/bossless/zhihu-scraper): hot list, hot searches, suggestions and column articles.
- [China Hot Search in English](https://apify.com/bossless/china-hot-search): Weibo, Douyin, Baidu, Zhihu and Bilibili trending topics with English summaries.

***

#### 视频转文字（B站视频转文字 / 字幕生成 / 中译英）

粘贴 B站视频链接或任意音视频文件链接，AI 自动生成带时间戳的文字稿和 SRT 字幕，并可翻译成英语等 13 种语言。按分钟计费，无需登录。

# Actor input Schema

## `videoUrls` (type: `array`):

Bilibili links (bilibili.com/video/BV…, b23.tv/… share links or BV IDs), or any direct audio/video file URL (mp3, m4a, wav, mp4, … e.g. a podcast episode). Douyin links aren't supported yet.

## `translateTo` (type: `string`):

Also translate the transcript (charged per minute). Skipped when the video is already in that language.

## `maxMinutesPerVideo` (type: `integer`):

Longer videos are transcribed up to this length (and marked truncated). Caps the cost of a surprise 3-hour stream.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "videoUrls": [
    "https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL"
  ],
  "translateTo": "en",
  "maxMinutesPerVideo": 60
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "videoUrls": [
        "https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("bossless/chinese-video-transcriber").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "videoUrls": ["https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("bossless/chinese-video-transcriber").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "videoUrls": [
    "https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12G4y1Y7EL"
  ]
}' |
apify call bossless/chinese-video-transcriber --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,bossless/chinese-video-transcriber"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/afriiArTxrlbeFbUa/builds/n0QK5FIvSH6KMlNC0/openapi.json