# YouTube Audio Segment Downloader (`entertained_rattlesnake/youtube-audio-segment-downloader`) Actor Download YouTube audio tracks or selected audio segments as MP3, M4A, or WAV. - **URL**: https://apify.com/entertained\_rattlesnake/youtube-audio-segment-downloader.md - **Developed by:** [Entertained Rattlesnake](https://apify.com/entertained_rattlesnake) (community) - **Categories:** AI, Developer tools, Videos - **Stats:** 3 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $40.00 / 1,000 audio minute processeds This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. Actors are written with capital "A". ## 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. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## YouTube Audio Segment Downloader Download YouTube audio (or a specific segment), transcribe it, and push the transcript to the Apify Dataset. The Actor supports MP3, M4A, and WAV output formats. When `startTime` and/or `endTime` are provided, the Actor downloads only the requested section using `yt-dlp --download-sections` instead of downloading the full audio first. Audio files are stored in the Key-Value Store; the Dataset receives one item per successful video with the same minimal schema as `entertained_rattlesnake/youtube-subtitle-scraper-ai`. Use this Actor only for videos you own, videos licensed for reuse, or videos where you have permission to download and process the audio. ### Features - Download YouTube audio - Download only a selected audio segment (`90`, `1:30`, `00:01:30`) - Supports MP3, M4A, and WAV - Audio files saved to Key-Value Store - Built-in transcription via configurable HTTP endpoint (default: Whisper) - Optional `[HH:MM:SS.mmm]` timestamps in the transcript - Dataset schema compatible with `entertained_rattlesnake/youtube-subtitle-scraper-ai` - Built-in proxy fallback (residential → datacenter → auto → none) ### Input ```json { "videos": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb15hppy9rI" ], "format": "mp3", "audioQuality": "192k", "startTime": "00:01:30", "endTime": "00:03:00", "fileNamePrefix": "youtube-audio", "maxFileSizeMb": 500, "transcribe": true, "transcribeTimeoutSeconds": 600, "timestamps": false }``` - `videos` — list of YouTube URLs or 11-character video IDs. - `timestamps` — if `true`, each line of the returned `text` is prefixed with `[HH:MM:SS.mmm]`. - `transcribe`, `transcribeTimeoutSeconds` — control transcription behaviour. The transcription endpoint URL is hardcoded inside the Actor and is not user-configurable. - `startTime` / `endTime` — optional segment bounds. ### Output Each successfully transcribed video produces one Dataset item with the schema below. Failed runs are written to the Key-Value Store as `FAILED_.json` and are NOT pushed to the Dataset (this matters for pay-per-result monetization). | Field | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `videoUrl` | `string` (uri) | Canonical URL of the YouTube video. | | `videoId` | `string` | 11-character YouTube video identifier. | | `videoTitle` | `string \| null` | Video title as reported by YouTube. | | `channelName` | `string \| null` | Display name of the channel that published the video. | | `views` | `string \| null` | View count at the time of extraction. | | `text` | `string` | Full transcript. Includes `[HH:MM:SS.mmm]` prefixes when `timestamps` is `true`. | Example item: ```json [ { "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb15hppy9rI", "videoId": "qb15hppy9rI", "videoTitle": "З нами сьогодні Ігор Закотинський...", "channelName": "Example channel", "views": "1933", "text": "З нами сьогодні Ігор Закотинський, той самий син маминої подриги..." } ] ```` #### Side outputs (Key-Value Store) - `AUDIO__.` — converted audio file. - `TRANSCRIPT__.json` — full transcription response (segments, language, duration, etc.). - `FAILED_.json` — failure details for items that did not produce a Dataset record. - `SUMMARY` — run summary. #### Proxy The Actor uses Apify Proxy automatically — there is no input field for it. Each `yt-dlp` call iterates through a built-in fallback chain until one succeeds: 1. `RESIDENTIAL` group (preferred — YouTube blocks datacenter IPs aggressively) 2. Datacenter group (`BUYPROXIES94952`) 3. Default Apify Proxy (auto) 4. No proxy (last resort) A separate proxy session is used per video so retries for the same video stick to the same IP. #### Transcription When `transcribe` is `true`, the saved audio file is sent to the built-in transcription endpoint as `multipart/form-data` with a single `file` field. The endpoint is expected to return JSON with at least `status`, `language`, `duration_seconds`, `text`, and `segments`. If transcription fails, the video is treated as failed (no Dataset record). ### Pricing (Pay per event) The Actor is monetized via Apify's **Pay-per-event** model. Two events are emitted by the Actor and must be configured in the Apify Console (Actor → Monetization → Pay per event): | Event ID | When it fires | Recommended price (USD) | Covers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `video-started` | Once per video, immediately after YouTube metadata is fetched successfully. | **$0.05** | Fixed overhead: metadata fetch, proxy retries, KV-store writes, run startup. | | `audio-minute-processed` | Once per successful Dataset item, with `count = ceil(durationSeconds / 60)`. Duration is taken from the transcription response when available, otherwise from the requested segment / video metadata. | **$0.03** per minute | Residential proxy data transfer (~$8/GB), CPU/RAM compute, external data transfer, and transcription server time. | Failed videos are **not** charged for `audio-minute-processed` (only `video-started` is charged once the metadata fetch succeeds). #### Example prices for the end user | Audio length | Charge breakdown | Total | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 minute | `$0.05` + `1 × $0.03` | **$0.08** | | 5 minutes | `$0.05` + `5 × $0.03` | **$0.20** | | 15 minutes | `$0.05` + `15 × $0.03` | **$0.50** | | 30 minutes | `$0.05` + `30 × $0.03` | **$0.95** | | 60 minutes | `$0.05` + `60 × $0.03` | **$1.85** | #### How to configure in Apify Console 1. Open the Actor → **Monetization** → choose **Pay per event**. 2. Add the two events above with the exact IDs `video-started` and `audio-minute-processed` and the prices from the table. 3. Optionally set a global `maxTotalChargeUsd` per run as a safety cap. The SDK calls (`Actor.charge({ eventName, count })`) live in `src/charging.js` and are invoked from `src/processVideo.js`. If an event is not configured in the Console the SDK silently skips the charge — the Actor will still run, it just will not bill the user. # Actor input Schema ## `videos` (type: `array`): List of YouTube video URLs or video IDs. ## `format` (type: `string`): Audio format for the output file. ## `audioQuality` (type: `string`): Audio bitrate for MP3/M4A conversion. Use 64 kbps for transcription-only workflows to minimize proxy traffic and processing cost. ## `startTime` (type: `string`): Optional start time. Examples: 90, 1:30, 00:01:30. ## `endTime` (type: `string`): Optional end time. Examples: 180, 3:00, 00:03:00. ## `fileNamePrefix` (type: `string`): Prefix for output files. ## `maxFileSizeMb` (type: `integer`): Maximum output file size in MB. If exceeded, the result will not be saved. ## `transcribe` (type: `boolean`): If enabled, the saved audio file is sent to the transcription endpoint and the result is saved to the Key-Value Store. ## `transcribeTimeoutSeconds` (type: `integer`): Maximum time to wait for the transcription endpoint response. ## `timestamps` (type: `boolean`): If true, prepends each line of the returned text with a \[HH:MM:SS.mmm] timestamp. ## Actor input object example ```json { "videos": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb15hppy9rI" ], "format": "mp3", "audioQuality": "192k", "fileNamePrefix": "youtube-audio", "maxFileSizeMb": 500, "transcribe": true, "transcribeTimeoutSeconds": 600, "timestamps": false } ``` # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "videos": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb15hppy9rI" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("entertained_rattlesnake/youtube-audio-segment-downloader").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "videos": ["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb15hppy9rI"] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("entertained_rattlesnake/youtube-audio-segment-downloader").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "videos": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb15hppy9rI" ] }' | apify call entertained_rattlesnake/youtube-audio-segment-downloader --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=entertained_rattlesnake/youtube-audio-segment-downloader", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "YouTube Audio Segment Downloader", "description": "Download YouTube audio tracks or selected audio segments as MP3, M4A, or WAV.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "5nK8KTlZO4Ni4G99X" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/entertained_rattlesnake~youtube-audio-segment-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-entertained_rattlesnake-youtube-audio-segment-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/entertained_rattlesnake~youtube-audio-segment-downloader/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-entertained_rattlesnake-youtube-audio-segment-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/entertained_rattlesnake~youtube-audio-segment-downloader/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-entertained_rattlesnake-youtube-audio-segment-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "videos" ], "properties": { "videos": { "title": "YouTube videos", "type": "array", "description": "List of YouTube video URLs or video IDs.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "format": { "title": "Output audio format", "enum": [ "mp3", "m4a", "wav" ], "type": "string", "description": "Audio format for the output file.", "default": "mp3" }, "audioQuality": { "title": "Audio quality", "enum": [ "64k", "128k", "192k", "256k", "320k" ], "type": "string", "description": "Audio bitrate for MP3/M4A conversion. Use 64 kbps for transcription-only workflows to minimize proxy traffic and processing cost.", "default": "192k" }, "startTime": { "title": "Start time", "type": "string", "description": "Optional start time. Examples: 90, 1:30, 00:01:30." }, "endTime": { "title": "End time", "type": "string", "description": "Optional end time. Examples: 180, 3:00, 00:03:00." }, "fileNamePrefix": { "title": "File name prefix", "type": "string", "description": "Prefix for output files.", "default": "youtube-audio" }, "maxFileSizeMb": { "title": "Max output file size MB", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 2000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum output file size in MB. If exceeded, the result will not be saved.", "default": 500 }, "transcribe": { "title": "Transcribe audio", "type": "boolean", "description": "If enabled, the saved audio file is sent to the transcription endpoint and the result is saved to the Key-Value Store.", "default": true }, "transcribeTimeoutSeconds": { "title": "Transcription timeout (seconds)", "minimum": 10, "maximum": 3600, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum time to wait for the transcription endpoint response.", "default": 600 }, "timestamps": { "title": "Include timestamps", "type": "boolean", "description": "If true, prepends each line of the returned text with a [HH:MM:SS.mmm] timestamp.", "default": false } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```