# YouTube Channel Transcripts — Bulk Extract by Influship (`influship/youtube-channel-transcripts`) Actor Extract transcripts from all recent videos on a YouTube channel in a single run. Returns full text with timestamps per video. Ideal for content research and AI training. No login required. - **URL**: https://apify.com/influship/youtube-channel-transcripts.md - **Developed by:** [Influship](https://apify.com/influship) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Videos - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event 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 Channel Transcripts — Bulk Extractor Extract full transcripts from any YouTube channel's videos in bulk. Provide a channel handle, choose how many videos to process and how to sort them, and get back complete transcript text for each video — ready for analysis, content repurposing, or building datasets. ### What is YouTube Channel Transcripts? YouTube Channel Transcripts lets you extract the spoken content from a YouTube creator's videos at scale. Instead of manually opening each video and copying subtitles, this actor fetches transcripts for up to 20 videos from any public channel in a single run. It supports multiple languages and can return timestamped segments for precise time-based analysis. ### What can this actor do? - **Bulk extraction** — Fetch transcripts for up to 20 videos from any YouTube channel in one run - **Sort control** — Choose which videos to transcribe by sorting by popularity (most views), newest uploads, or oldest uploads - **Multi-language support** — Request transcripts in a specific language with automatic fallback to whatever is available - **Timestamped segments** — Optionally include granular timestamped segments alongside the full transcript text - **Partial success handling** — If some videos lack transcripts (disabled captions, live streams, etc.), the actor still returns results for the videos that succeeded, reporting how many failed - **Rich metadata** — Each transcript includes the video title, URL, video ID, view count, publish date, word count, and transcript source (auto-generated or manual) ### What data can you extract? | Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | title | Video title | | url | Full YouTube video URL | | video_id | YouTube video ID | | full_text | Complete transcript as plain text | | transcript | Timestamped segments (when includeSegments is enabled) | | language | Transcript language code | | source | Transcript source (auto-generated, manual, etc.) | | view_count | Number of views on the video | | published_text | Human-readable publish date | | word_count | Total word count of the transcript | | error | Error message if transcript extraction failed for this video | ### How to use 1. Enter the YouTube channel handle (e.g. `@mkbhd`) 2. Set the video limit (default 5, max 20) 3. Choose how to sort videos — popular, newest, or oldest 4. Optionally set a language preference and enable timestamped segments 5. Run the actor 6. Download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel ### Input example ```json { "handle": "@mkbhd", "videoLimit": 10, "sortBy": "newest", "language": "en", "includeSegments": false } ```` ### Output example ```json { "title": "The Best Smartphones of 2025!", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123", "video_id": "abc123", "full_text": "Hey guys, MKBHD here. Today we're going to talk about the best smartphones...", "language": "en", "source": "auto-generated", "view_count": 5200000, "published_text": "2 weeks ago", "word_count": 3450, "error": null } ``` ### Use cases - **Content strategy** — Analyze what topics a competitor or industry leader covers most frequently across their video catalog - **Competitor analysis** — Extract and compare messaging, product mentions, and talking points across multiple channels - **Building training data** — Collect large volumes of spoken-word text for fine-tuning language models or building search indices - **SEO research** — Discover keywords and phrases that top-performing videos naturally use in their spoken content - **Content repurposing** — Convert video content into blog posts, social media threads, or newsletter material ### Pricing This actor uses **pay-per-event** pricing: - **Actor start**: Small fee per run - **Per transcript**: Fee for each video transcript returned Platform usage costs are included — you only pay the per-event fees. ### FAQ **What if a video doesn't have captions?** Videos without any captions (auto-generated or manual) will be skipped. The actor reports how many transcripts failed so you know the coverage. **Does it work with auto-generated captions?** Yes. Most YouTube videos have auto-generated captions which the actor can extract. The `source` field tells you whether captions were auto-generated or manually added. **Can I get transcripts in other languages?** Set the `language` field to your preferred language code (e.g. `es` for Spanish, `fr` for French). If a transcript in that language isn't available, the actor falls back to whatever language is available. **What's the difference between full\_text and transcript segments?** `full_text` is the complete transcript as a single string. When `includeSegments` is enabled, you also get the `transcript` array with individual segments including start times and durations — useful for building chapter markers or syncing text to video. # Actor input Schema ## `handle` (type: `string`): The YouTube channel handle (e.g. @mkbhd). Include the @ prefix. ## `videoLimit` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of videos to fetch transcripts for (1-20) ## `sortBy` (type: `string`): How to sort videos before selecting which ones to transcribe ## `language` (type: `string`): Preferred transcript language code (e.g. en, es, fr). Falls back to available languages if not found. ## `includeSegments` (type: `boolean`): Include timestamped transcript segments in addition to the full text. Useful for precise time-based analysis. ## Actor input object example ```json { "handle": "@mkbhd", "videoLimit": 5, "sortBy": "popular", "language": "en", "includeSegments": false } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `transcripts` (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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "handle": "@mkbhd" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("influship/youtube-channel-transcripts").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 = { "handle": "@mkbhd" } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("influship/youtube-channel-transcripts").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 '{ "handle": "@mkbhd" }' | apify call influship/youtube-channel-transcripts --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=influship/youtube-channel-transcripts", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "YouTube Channel Transcripts — Bulk Extract by Influship", "description": "Extract transcripts from all recent videos on a YouTube channel in a single run. Returns full text with timestamps per video. Ideal for content research and AI training. No login required.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "VThFoMhRTRVswPwcs" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/influship~youtube-channel-transcripts/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-influship-youtube-channel-transcripts", "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/influship~youtube-channel-transcripts/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-influship-youtube-channel-transcripts", "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/influship~youtube-channel-transcripts/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-influship-youtube-channel-transcripts", "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": [ "handle" ], "properties": { "handle": { "title": "YouTube Channel Handle", "type": "string", "description": "The YouTube channel handle (e.g. @mkbhd). Include the @ prefix." }, "videoLimit": { "title": "Video Limit", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 20, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of videos to fetch transcripts for (1-20)", "default": 5 }, "sortBy": { "title": "Sort By", "enum": [ "popular", "newest", "oldest" ], "type": "string", "description": "How to sort videos before selecting which ones to transcribe", "default": "popular" }, "language": { "title": "Language", "type": "string", "description": "Preferred transcript language code (e.g. en, es, fr). Falls back to available languages if not found.", "default": "en" }, "includeSegments": { "title": "Include Segments", "type": "boolean", "description": "Include timestamped transcript segments in addition to the full text. Useful for precise time-based analysis.", "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```