# Xiaohongshu (RedNote) AI Transcript API – Video to Text (`lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api`) Actor

Transcribe public Xiaohongshu (RedNote) videos with AI. Get clean text, timestamped segments, SRT and WebVTT subtitles, with optional translation, metadata, and downloadable video URLs.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/lance\_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api.md
- **Developed by:** [LanceAPI](https://apify.com/lance_api) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, AI, Videos
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $17.00 / 1,000 url processings

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?

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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.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
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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

## RedNote (Xiaohongshu) AI Transcript API – No xsec\_token Required

**Convert public RedNote/Xiaohongshu videos into clean text, timestamped segments, SRT, and WebVTT subtitles—with optional translation, note metadata, and downloadable video URLs.**

**No `xsec_token` is required for normal use. If you already have a valid token for a public note, provide it in the URL or through the optional `xsecToken` input.**

Submit a 24-character note ID, full Xiaohongshu URL, supported XHS short link, or app share text. Process 1–1,000 inputs and receive one structured Dataset record per item. Select only the transcript formats and optional features your workflow needs.

Pay only for the processing you use: note resolution, AI transcription by started media minute, optional translation by character volume, and an optional downloadable-video URL add-on.

- One transcription, four output formats: get plain text, timestamped segments, SRT, and WebVTT without paying for four separate transcriptions
- Optional translation preserves the original transcript
- AI-minute visibility whenever an AI transcription charge occurs, plus translation-unit visibility on completed translations
- Optional metadata and downloadable video URL output
- Batch processing with isolated failures and duplicate-aware billing

### ✨ Key features

#### AI transcript from RedNote video audio

Convert spoken RedNote/Xiaohongshu video content into clean text for search, research, indexing, accessibility, and downstream AI workflows.

#### Four transcript formats from one result

Return plain text, timestamped segments, SRT subtitles, and WebVTT subtitles from the same transcription. Selecting multiple formats does not create additional AI-minute charges.

#### Optional translation that preserves the source

Translate the completed speech transcript to a selected language while keeping the original `transcript` unchanged. Translation never overwrites the source-language result.

#### Flexible public-note inputs

Accept note IDs, supported full URLs, `xhslink.com`/`xhslink.cn` short links, Markdown-wrapped links, and complete app share text.

#### Output controls for cleaner datasets

Turn note metadata off when you need only speech text. Request a downloadable video URL only when the downstream workflow needs the media address.

#### Batch up to 1,000 inputs

Process large lists with bounded concurrency. One failed, deleted, inaccessible, image-only, or silent item does not stop the remaining inputs.

#### Duplicate-aware processing and billing

Every submitted input receives a Dataset record. Equivalent notes are processed and charged only once; later records are marked with `duplicate` and `duplicateOf`.

### 🚀 Quick start

Use the Actor in Apify Console:

1. Add a public video note ID or supported URL to `urls`.
2. Click **Start**.
3. Open the run's **Dataset**.
4. Read `transcript.text`.
5. Enable subtitles, translation, metadata, or downloadable video URLs only when needed.

The smallest valid input is:

```json
{
  "urls": ["6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"]
}
```

By default, the Actor returns `text` and `segments`, includes note metadata, does not translate, and does not return the paid downloadable video URL add-on.

### Supported RedNote / Xiaohongshu inputs

The Actor accepts:

- A 24-character hexadecimal note ID, such as `6a87dbad0000000005030ca4`
- `https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/{noteId}`
- `https://www.xiaohongshu.com/discovery/item/{noteId}`
- `https://www.xiaohongshu.com/red_video/{noteId}`
- HTTP or HTTPS short links from `xhslink.com` and `xhslink.cn`
- Complete app share text containing a supported link
- Markdown-wrapped supported links

A note ID is usually the cleanest input. Find it in a supported note URL after `/explore/`, `/discovery/item/`, or `/red_video/`, or in the `noteId`/`id` field returned by another RedNote search or user-notes workflow.

Profile URLs, user pages, search pages, and unrelated Xiaohongshu pages are unsupported. Image-only notes can be submitted but cannot produce a transcript and return `unsupported_note_type`.

Short-link redirects, tracking parameters, and equivalent supported paths are normalized to a canonical explore URL. Duplicate detection uses the canonical note ID.

#### Note IDs and `xsec_token`

`xsec_token` is optional, and normal use does not require it. The Actor can use a valid token already present in a supported public note URL, or you can provide one through the separate `xsecToken` field.

If both are supplied, the separate `xsecToken` field takes precedence over the URL token. The separate field applies to the whole run, so keep note-specific tokens in their matching URLs for mixed batches. An absent token is allowed. An expired or invalid supplied token can cause a resolution failure.

The separate `xsecToken` field is not returned in Dataset records, and request URLs are sanitized before logging. Because `input` preserves the submitted value, a token embedded directly in a submitted URL remains visible in that record's `input` field.

### Input

| Field | Type | Required | Default | Limits | Description |
|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| `urls` | `string[]` | Yes | None | 1–1,000 items | Note IDs, supported full URLs, short links, Markdown links, or app share text. Items are normalized and deduplicated by canonical note identity. |
| `xsecToken` | `string` | No | Empty | One run-level value | Optional token for the same public note. Overrides a token in the URL. For mixed batches with note-specific tokens, keep each token in its matching URL. Missing tokens are allowed; invalid, expired, or mismatched tokens can cause resolution failure. |
| `formats` | `string[]` | No | `['text', 'segments']` | Unique values from `text`, `segments`, `srt`, `vtt` | Select transcript and translation representations. An empty array also falls back to `text` and `segments`. |
| `includeMediaMetadata` | `boolean` | No | `true` | — | Include title, description, author, engagement, and tags. Turn off for a smaller transcript-focused record. |
| `includeVideoUrl` | `boolean` | No | `false` | — | Paid add-on. Return `media.videoUrl` when a downloadable URL is successfully available. No returned URL means no video URL charge. |
| `translate` | `boolean` | No | `false` | — | Add a translated copy while preserving the original transcript. No translation service or translation charge is used when disabled. |
| `targetLanguage` | `string` | No | `en` | One supported dropdown value | Translation target. Used only when `translate` is `true`; users select a language name in the Console. |
| `webSession` | `string` | No | Empty | One run-level value | Optional Xiaohongshu `web_session` value for direct requests to public content you are authorized to access. Most users do not need it. It does not automate login, access private content, or bypass access controls. |

The target-language dropdown includes English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Greek, Romanian, and Hungarian.

Only need the transcript? Turn metadata and the downloadable video URL off.

Need subtitles? Add `srt` or `vtt` to `formats`.

Need translation? Enable it only when needed; the original transcript remains available.

### Input examples

#### All transcript formats

```json
{
  "urls": ["6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"],
  "formats": ["text", "segments", "srt", "vtt"],
  "includeMediaMetadata": false
}
```

#### Translate to English

```json
{
  "urls": ["6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"],
  "formats": ["text", "segments", "srt"],
  "translate": true,
  "targetLanguage": "en"
}
```

#### Include metadata and downloadable video URL

```json
{
  "urls": ["https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"],
  "formats": ["text"],
  "includeMediaMetadata": true,
  "includeVideoUrl": true
}
```

#### Batch input

```json
{
  "urls": [
    "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
    "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/red_video/6a84418900000000270212b1",
    "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a840ef900000000270231e6"
  ],
  "formats": ["text"],
  "includeMediaMetadata": false
}
```

### Transcript formats

All selected formats are generated from the same speech-recognition result. Asking for four formats does not mean four transcriptions and does not multiply `ai-transcription-minute` billing.

#### `text`

Plain transcript text for LLM prompts, search, indexing, summaries, and content databases.

#### `segments`

Timestamped speech segments for quote extraction, timeline analysis, editing, and synchronization. `start` and `end` are measured in seconds.

#### `srt`

SubRip subtitle text generated locally from the returned segments. Timestamps use `HH:MM:SS,mmm`.

#### `vtt`

WebVTT subtitle text generated locally from the same segments. Suitable for web players and accessibility workflows; timestamps use `HH:MM:SS.mmm`.

### Translation

Translation is optional and disabled by default.

- The source-language result always remains in `transcript`.
- The translated copy is returned in `translation` and never overwrites `transcript`.
- `translation.language` is the selected target language.
- Translation uses the same selected `formats`, including translated text, segments, SRT, and VTT when requested.
- Translated segments preserve the original segment timestamps and order.
- Only speech transcript content is translated; note title, caption, author, tags, and other metadata are not translated.
- Long transcripts are processed in ordered batches while preserving segment order.
- If translation fails after transcription succeeds, the result remains successful with `status: "partial_success"`, the original transcript is kept, and `translation` is `null`.
- A failed translation does not emit a translation charge.
- When both the recognized language and target are English, the original transcript is reused with language `en`, and translation units are `0`.

Successful actual translation is billed from the original transcript's Unicode character count:

```text
translationUnits = max(1, ceil(originalTranscriptCharacters / 1,000))
```

Examples: 1–1,000 characters use 1 unit; 1,001–2,000 use 2 units; 2,001–3,000 use 3 units. English-to-English reuse uses 0 units.

### Short output example

```json
{
  "input": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "normalizedUrl": "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "success": true,
  "status": "success",
  "noteId": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "media": {
    "durationSeconds": 61,
    "coverUrl": "https://sns-webpic.example/cover.webp"
  },
  "transcript": {
    "source": "ai_transcription",
    "language": "zh",
    "text": "Example transcript text.",
    "segments": [
      { "start": 0, "end": 3.4, "text": "Example transcript text." }
    ]
  },
  "translation": null,
  "billing": {
    "billableMinutes": 2
  },
  "scrapedAt": "2026-08-22T03:00:00.000Z"
}
```

### Output

Results are written to the default Dataset in input order. Every submitted input receives one record, including failures and duplicates.

`success: true` means the video reached a valid processed transcript outcome. This includes `status: "no_speech"`, where the media was processed successfully but contained no detectable speech.

Metadata, downloadable video URL, transcript formats, and translation fields follow the selected input switches. Optional or unavailable fields are omitted unless the documented behavior uses `null`, such as `translation`.

### Complete output field reference

#### Core processing

| Field | Type | Availability | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `input` | `string` | Always | Exact submitted input value. |
| `normalizedUrl` | `string` | Processed transcript results | Canonical explore URL without tracking parameters. |
| `success` | `boolean` | Always | `true` for completed transcript processing, including `no_speech` and `partial_success`. |
| `status` | `string` | Always | Stable overall outcome. See **Status values**. |
| `noteId` | `string` | Processed transcript results | Canonical RedNote/Xiaohongshu note ID. |
| `scrapedAt` | `string` | Processed transcript results | UTC ISO 8601 result timestamp. |

#### Content metadata

The `content` object is omitted when `includeMediaMetadata` is `false`.

| Field | Type | Availability | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `content.title` | `string` | Metadata enabled | Native note title; can be an empty string. |
| `content.description` | `string` | Metadata enabled | Native note description/caption. |
| `content.author.userId` | `string` | Metadata enabled | Xiaohongshu user ID; can be empty if unavailable. |
| `content.author.nickname` | `string` | Metadata enabled | Author display name. |
| `content.author.avatarUrl` | `string` | When available | Direct avatar URL. |
| `content.author.profileUrl` | `string \| null` | Metadata enabled | Locally generated public profile URL, or `null` without a user ID. |
| `content.author.redId` | `string` | When available | Source-provided Red ID. |
| `content.author.verified` | `boolean` | When available | Source-provided verification flag. |
| `content.engagement.likes` | `number` | Metadata enabled | Normalized like count. |
| `content.engagement.comments` | `number` | Metadata enabled | Normalized comment count. |
| `content.engagement.collects` | `number` | Metadata enabled | Normalized collection/save count. |
| `content.engagement.shares` | `number` | Metadata enabled | Normalized share count. |
| `content.tags` | `object[]` | Metadata enabled | Native topic/tag list. |
| `content.tags[].id` | `string` | When available | Source tag ID. |
| `content.tags[].name` | `string` | Per tag | Tag name. |

#### Media

| Field | Type | Availability | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `media.durationSeconds` | `number` | Processed transcript results | Source media duration in seconds. |
| `media.coverUrl` | `string` | When available | Direct note/video cover URL. |
| `media.videoUrl` | `string` | When requested and available | Optional downloadable video URL. Omitted when `includeVideoUrl` is false or no downloadable URL is returned. |

The Actor returns URLs; it does not permanently host the source video.

#### Transcript

| Field | Type | Availability | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `transcript.source` | `string` | Processed transcript results | `ai_transcription`. |
| `transcript.language` | `string` | When detected | Recognized source-language code. |
| `transcript.text` | `string` | When `text` selected | Plain source-language transcript. Can be empty for `no_speech`. |
| `transcript.segments` | `object[]` | When `segments` selected | Timestamped source-language segments. |
| `transcript.segments[].start` | `number` | Per segment | Start time in seconds. |
| `transcript.segments[].end` | `number` | Per segment | End time in seconds. |
| `transcript.segments[].text` | `string` | Per segment | Segment text. |
| `transcript.srt` | `string` | When `srt` selected | Locally generated SRT subtitle content. |
| `transcript.vtt` | `string` | When `vtt` selected | Locally generated WebVTT subtitle content. |

#### Translation

`translation` is `null` when translation is disabled, skipped for `no_speech`, or fails. When present, it follows the selected formats.

| Field | Type | Availability | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `translation.source` | `string` | Translation present | `translation`. |
| `translation.language` | `string` | Translation present | Selected target-language code. |
| `translation.text` | `string` | `text` selected | Translated transcript text. |
| `translation.segments` | `object[]` | `segments` selected | Translated segments preserving source timestamps. |
| `translation.segments[].start` | `number` | Per segment | Original segment start in seconds. |
| `translation.segments[].end` | `number` | Per segment | Original segment end in seconds. |
| `translation.segments[].text` | `string` | Per segment | Translated segment text. |
| `translation.srt` | `string` | `srt` selected | SRT generated from translated segments. |
| `translation.vtt` | `string` | `vtt` selected | WebVTT generated from translated segments. |

#### Billing visibility

| Field | Type | Availability | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `billing.billableMinutes` | `integer` | Whenever `ai-transcription-minute` was charged | Started media minutes charged for the canonical item. Minimum 1. It remains present on `transcription_failed` and `transcription_timeout` records when media submission had already incurred the AI charge. |
| `billing.translationCharacters` | `integer` | Successful translation or English reuse | Unicode character count of the original transcript text. |
| `billing.translationUnits` | `integer` | Successful translation or English reuse | Started 1,000-character units; `0` for English-to-English reuse. |

The output has no separate base-processing or video-URL billing indicator. Their event conditions are documented in **Pricing**.

#### Duplicate and error fields

| Field | Type | Availability | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `duplicate` | `boolean` | Duplicate inputs | `true` when the canonical note was already processed earlier in the run. |
| `duplicateOf` | `string` | Duplicate inputs | Original input value of the first matching record. |
| `error.code` | `string` | Failed or partial results | Stable machine-readable error code. |
| `error.message` | `string` | Failed or partial results | Safe user-facing explanation. |

### Status values

| Status | Meaning | Transcript | Translation | Billing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `success` | Speech processing completed with transcript content. | Present | Present or `null` | Base + AI minutes; optional successful add-ons |
| `no_speech` | Media was processed but no speech was detected. Valid processed result. | Empty selected fields | `null` | Base + AI minutes; optional video URL if returned |
| `partial_success` | Transcript succeeded but optional translation failed. | Preserved | `null` | Base + AI minutes; no translation charge; optional video URL if returned |
| `invalid_input` | Input was empty, malformed, or could not become a note URL. | None | None | No charge |
| `unsupported_url` | Domain, protocol, or Xiaohongshu path is unsupported. | None | None | No charge |
| `short_link_resolution_failed` | A supported short link could not be resolved. | None | None | No charge |
| `note_not_found` | Canonical input was valid, but the note was missing or unavailable. | None | None | Base processing only |
| `access_denied` | Canonical input was valid, but the public request was denied. | None | None | Base processing only |
| `page_fetch_failed` | Canonical input was valid, but note data retrieval failed. | None | None | Base processing only |
| `parse_failed` | Canonical input was valid, but returned note data could not be parsed. | None | None | Base processing only |
| `unsupported_note_type` | The note is image-only or otherwise not a video. | None | None | Base processing only |
| `media_not_found` | Video note was found but no usable speech media was available. | None | None | Base processing only |
| `transcription_failed` | Speech recognition could not start or complete. | None | None | Base; AI minutes only if media submission began |
| `transcription_timeout` | Speech recognition timed out after media submission. | None | None | Base + AI minutes |
| `internal_error` | Unexpected per-input processing error. | None | None | Depends on the completed processing stage |

Only statuses reachable in the current Transcript Actor are listed here.

### Error codes

| Error code | Status | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| `EMPTY_INPUT` | `invalid_input` | The item was empty. |
| `URL_NOT_FOUND` | `invalid_input` | No supported note URL or note ID was found. |
| `INVALID_URL` | `invalid_input` | Extracted URL syntax was invalid. |
| `INPUT_REQUIRES_RESOLVABLE_URL` | `invalid_input` | Input could not be converted into a public note URL. |
| `UNSUPPORTED_PROTOCOL` | `unsupported_url` | Protocol is not HTTP or HTTPS. |
| `UNSUPPORTED_DOMAIN` | `unsupported_url` | Domain is unsupported. |
| `UNSUPPORTED_PATH` | `unsupported_url` | URL is not a supported note page. |
| `SHORT_LINK_RESOLUTION_FAILED` | `short_link_resolution_failed` | Short-link redirect failed or returned an invalid destination. |
| `NOTE_NOT_FOUND` | `note_not_found` | Note was missing or unavailable. |
| `ACCESS_DENIED` | `access_denied` | Public note request was denied. |
| `PAGE_FETCH_FAILED` | `page_fetch_failed` | Public note page could not be fetched after retries. |
| `INITIAL_STATE_NOT_FOUND` | `parse_failed` | Expected public note state was missing. |
| `INITIAL_STATE_INVALID` | `parse_failed` | Public note state was incomplete or invalid. |
| `NOTE_DATA_INVALID` | `parse_failed` | Note data had an unexpected structure. |
| `NOT_A_VIDEO_NOTE` | `unsupported_note_type` | The note contains no video to transcribe. |
| `VIDEO_MEDIA_NOT_FOUND` | `media_not_found` | No usable public speech media was found. |
| `TRANSCRIPTION_FAILED` | `transcription_failed` | Speech recognition could not process the media. |
| `TRANSCRIPTION_TIMEOUT` | `transcription_timeout` | Speech recognition timed out. |
| `TRANSLATION_FAILED` | `partial_success` | Transcript succeeded, but optional translation failed. |
| `INTERNAL_ERROR` | `internal_error` | Unexpected per-input processing error. |

### Output examples

#### Successful transcript with all formats

```json
{
  "input": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "normalizedUrl": "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "success": true,
  "status": "success",
  "noteId": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "media": {
    "durationSeconds": 61,
    "coverUrl": "https://sns-webpic.example/cover.webp"
  },
  "transcript": {
    "source": "ai_transcription",
    "language": "zh",
    "text": "大家好，今天我们来聊这个话题。",
    "segments": [
      { "start": 0, "end": 3.45, "text": "大家好，今天我们来聊这个话题。" }
    ],
    "srt": "1\n00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,450\n大家好，今天我们来聊这个话题。",
    "vtt": "WEBVTT\n\n00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.450\n大家好，今天我们来聊这个话题。"
  },
  "translation": null,
  "billing": { "billableMinutes": 2 },
  "scrapedAt": "2026-08-22T03:00:00.000Z"
}
```

#### No speech

```json
{
  "input": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "normalizedUrl": "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "success": true,
  "status": "no_speech",
  "noteId": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "media": { "durationSeconds": 61 },
  "transcript": {
    "source": "ai_transcription",
    "text": "",
    "segments": []
  },
  "translation": null,
  "billing": { "billableMinutes": 2 },
  "scrapedAt": "2026-08-22T03:00:00.000Z"
}
```

`no_speech` is a valid processed result, not a system failure. AI minutes are charged because the media was processed for speech recognition.

#### Translation success

```json
{
  "input": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "normalizedUrl": "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "success": true,
  "status": "success",
  "noteId": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "media": { "durationSeconds": 61 },
  "transcript": {
    "source": "ai_transcription",
    "language": "zh",
    "text": "大家好，今天我们来聊这个话题。"
  },
  "translation": {
    "source": "translation",
    "language": "en",
    "text": "Hello everyone. Today we are discussing this topic."
  },
  "billing": {
    "billableMinutes": 2,
    "translationCharacters": 15,
    "translationUnits": 1
  },
  "scrapedAt": "2026-08-22T03:00:00.000Z"
}
```

#### Translation failure with preserved transcript

```json
{
  "input": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "normalizedUrl": "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "success": true,
  "status": "partial_success",
  "noteId": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "media": { "durationSeconds": 61 },
  "transcript": {
    "source": "ai_transcription",
    "language": "zh",
    "text": "大家好，今天我们来聊这个话题。"
  },
  "translation": null,
  "billing": { "billableMinutes": 2 },
  "error": {
    "code": "TRANSLATION_FAILED",
    "message": "The transcript was created, but its optional translation could not be completed."
  },
  "scrapedAt": "2026-08-22T03:00:00.000Z"
}
```

#### Optional downloadable video URL success

```json
{
  "input": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "normalizedUrl": "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "success": true,
  "status": "success",
  "noteId": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "media": {
    "videoUrl": "https://sns-video.example/video.mp4",
    "durationSeconds": 61,
    "coverUrl": "https://sns-webpic.example/cover.webp"
  },
  "transcript": {
    "source": "ai_transcription",
    "language": "en",
    "text": "Example transcript."
  },
  "translation": null,
  "billing": { "billableMinutes": 2 },
  "scrapedAt": "2026-08-22T03:00:00.000Z"
}
```

#### Image-only note

```json
{
  "input": "6a840ef900000000270231e6",
  "success": false,
  "status": "unsupported_note_type",
  "error": {
    "code": "NOT_A_VIDEO_NOTE",
    "message": "This RedNote post does not contain a video to transcribe."
  }
}
```

#### Invalid input

```json
{
  "input": "https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/example",
  "success": false,
  "status": "unsupported_url",
  "error": {
    "code": "UNSUPPORTED_PATH",
    "message": "This Xiaohongshu URL is not a supported note page."
  }
}
```

#### Missing or inaccessible note

```json
{
  "input": "6a67603c000000000503be3f",
  "success": false,
  "status": "note_not_found",
  "error": {
    "code": "NOTE_NOT_FOUND",
    "message": "The RedNote note could not be found or is no longer publicly accessible."
  }
}
```

#### Transcription timeout after media submission

```json
{
  "input": "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4",
  "success": false,
  "status": "transcription_timeout",
  "billing": { "billableMinutes": 2 },
  "error": {
    "code": "TRANSCRIPTION_TIMEOUT",
    "message": "Speech recognition timed out."
  }
}
```

### API usage

The Actor slug is `lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api`.

#### JavaScript

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

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN });

const run = await client.actor('lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api').call({
  urls: ['6a87dbad0000000005030ca4'],
  formats: ['text', 'segments'],
  includeMediaMetadata: false,
  translate: false,
});

const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items[0]?.transcript?.text);
```

#### Python

```python
import os
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient(os.environ["APIFY_TOKEN"])

run = client.actor("lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api").call(run_input={
    "urls": ["6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"],
    "formats": ["text", "segments"],
    "includeMediaMetadata": False,
    "translate": False,
})

items = client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).list_items().items
print(items[0].get("transcript", {}).get("text"))
```

#### cURL

This synchronous endpoint runs the Actor and returns the default Dataset items:

```bash
curl -X POST \
  "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/lance_api~rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api/run-sync-get-dataset-items?format=json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "urls": ["6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"],
    "formats": ["text", "segments"],
    "includeMediaMetadata": false,
    "translate": false
  }'
```

In the returned JSON array, read `[0].transcript.text`.

### 💰 Simple, transparent pricing

RedNote note processing starts from **$0.017 per canonical operation ($17 per 1,000)**, while AI transcription starts from **$0.003 per started media minute — $3 per 1,000 started media minutes** with eligible Apify Store discounts.

Optional translation starts from **$0.07 per started 1,000 Unicode characters**, and downloadable video URLs start from **$0.017 per successful URL ($17 per 1,000)**.

A 1,600-character transcript uses 2 translation units: **$0.14** at the lowest eligible rate or **$0.20** at the standard Free rate.

Standard Free pricing is:

- Note processing: **$0.020 per canonical operation — $20 per 1,000**
- AI transcription: **$0.006 per started media minute — $6 per 1,000 started media minutes**
- Translation: **$0.10 per started 1,000-character unit**
- Optional downloadable video URL: **$0.020 per successful URL — $20 per 1,000**

Check the Actor's **Pricing** tab for the current rate available to your Apify plan.

#### What triggers each charge?

- `url-processing`: once when a normalized canonical input begins note/media resolution. Invalid or unsupported inputs and failed short-link normalization are not charged. A valid canonical input that later proves missing, inaccessible, image-only, media-less, or unparseable still uses this base operation.
- `ai-transcription-minute`: one unit for each started media minute after usable media is ready for speech recognition. `0:01`–`1:00` = 1 minute, `1:01`–`2:00` = 2 minutes, and 61 seconds = 2 minutes. Once submitted, silence, music, no detected speech, timeout, or recognition failure can still consume the charged AI minutes.
- `translation-1k-characters`: charged only after actual translation succeeds, using the original transcript's Unicode character count rounded up to started 1,000-character units. English-to-English reuse and failed translation use 0 units.
- `video-url-result`: charged once only when `includeVideoUrl: true`, transcription reaches a completed transcript outcome (`success`, `no_speech`, or `partial_success`), and a downloadable `media.videoUrl` is returned. No returned URL means no video URL charge.

Duplicate-only records do not repeat any of the canonical item's charges. **Choose one transcript format or all four—the AI transcription charge is the same.**

### Use cases

- **RedNote video transcription:** Convert spoken public video content into reusable text.
- **Subtitle generation:** Create SRT or WebVTT content for editing, review, or accessible playback.
- **Content research:** Build timestamped datasets for reviewing public RedNote/Xiaohongshu videos.
- **Creator and competitor research:** Collect authorized public speech and metadata for downstream analysis.
- **Searchable transcript databases:** Index transcript text and segments in your own search system.
- **International content analysis:** Add optional translated transcripts while retaining the original language.
- **AI and RAG workflows:** Supply source transcripts and timestamps as context for downstream LLM systems.
- **API automation:** Connect video-to-text processing to n8n, Make, Zapier, backend jobs, or data pipelines.

### How it works

1. Parse the note ID, full URL, short link, Markdown link, or app share text.
2. Normalize the input and deduplicate equivalent note identities.
3. Resolve publicly accessible video media.
4. Submit usable media for AI speech recognition.
5. Generate the selected text, segments, SRT, and WebVTT representations.
6. Optionally translate the completed transcript while preserving source timestamps.
7. Optionally return a downloadable video URL.
8. Save one normalized Dataset record per submitted input.

### 🤖 Use with AI agents

Use this Actor through the Apify MCP Server from ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Codex, or another MCP-compatible client. MCP runs use the same Actor pricing as normal Apify runs.

Example prompt:

> Use the Apify Actor `lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api` to transcribe these public RedNote/Xiaohongshu video notes. Return the original language, plain transcript text, timestamped segments, and SRT subtitles. Translate to English only when requested, and include billable AI minutes and translation units in the summary.

### FAQ

#### Which RedNote/Xiaohongshu URLs are supported?

Supported note paths are `/explore/{id}`, `/discovery/item/{id}`, and `/red_video/{id}`. The Actor also accepts `xhslink.com`/`xhslink.cn` short links and app share text containing a supported link.

#### Can I submit note IDs directly?

Yes. A 24-character hexadecimal note ID is the preferred input.

#### Can I process up to 1,000 notes?

Yes. `urls` accepts 1–1,000 items, and every submitted item receives one Dataset record.

#### What transcript formats are available?

Plain `text`, timestamped `segments`, `srt`, and `vtt`.

#### Do four transcript formats cost four times?

No. All selected formats are generated from one transcription result and share the same AI-minute charge.

#### What happens when a video has only music or silence?

It can return `success: true` and `status: "no_speech"` with empty transcript content. AI minutes are still charged because the media was processed.

#### How are AI minutes calculated?

Each started media minute is one unit: up to 60 seconds is 1, 61–120 seconds is 2, and so on. The implementation uses `max(1, ceil(durationSeconds / 60))`.

#### How is translation charged?

Only successful actual translation is charged. Units are the original transcript's Unicode character count rounded up per started 1,000 characters. English-to-English reuse is free.

#### Does translation replace the original transcript?

No. `transcript` always remains the source-language result; `translation` is an additional object.

#### What happens if translation fails?

The original transcript remains available, `status` becomes `partial_success`, `translation` is `null`, and no translation event is charged.

#### Do I pay for an image-only note?

It uses one base `url-processing` operation after canonical resolution starts, but it has no AI-minute, translation, or video URL charge.

#### How much does the optional video URL cost?

Standard Free pricing is $0.020 per successful URL ($20 per 1,000); the lowest eligible rate starts from $0.017 per URL ($17 per 1,000).

#### Does requesting a video URL always produce a charge?

No. `includeVideoUrl` must be enabled and a downloadable URL must be returned after a completed transcript outcome (`success`, `no_speech`, or `partial_success`). Otherwise there is no `video-url-result` charge.

#### Are media URLs permanent?

No. RedNote/Xiaohongshu CDN URLs can contain temporary signatures and can expire. Copy permitted media to your own storage when you need long-term access.

#### Do I need `xsec_token`?

Usually not. Provide a valid matching token only when you already have one for a public note that requires it. The separate field overrides a token in the URL.

#### Do I need `webSession`?

Usually not. It is optional and should only be used for direct public-page requests with a session you are authorized to use. It does not automate login, access private content, or bypass access controls.

#### Can AI agents use this Actor?

Yes. Use `lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api` through the Apify API or Apify MCP Server.

### Limitations

- Publicly accessible content only; no login automation or access-control bypass
- Image-only notes cannot produce transcripts
- Deleted, unavailable, or restricted notes can fail
- Profile, user, and search pages are unsupported
- Short-link handling depends on a valid redirect response
- `xsec_token` values can expire or become invalid
- Background music, noise, overlapping speakers, accents, and audio quality can affect recognition
- Silence or music-only media can return `no_speech`
- Returned CDN media URLs can expire or stop working
- Optional note metadata can be empty, null, or omitted
- The Actor does not permanently host the source media
- Platform or speech-recognition changes can temporarily affect results

### Public data and responsible use

Use this Actor only for lawful access to public content. Respect RedNote/Xiaohongshu terms, Apify terms, copyright, privacy, and applicable law. Do not use it for harassment, spam, unlawful profiling, attempts to obtain non-public information, or access-control bypass.

### Support

For help, contact **lanceapi2026@hotmail.com** and include:

- Apify Run ID
- A note ID or public URL
- Returned `status`, `error.code`, and `error.message`
- Expected result and actual result

Do not send Apify tokens, cookies, sessions, API keys, or passwords.

# Actor input Schema

## `urls` (type: `array`):

Add 1–1000 notes. A 24-character hexadecimal note ID is preferred. Find it after /explore/, /discovery/item/, or /red\_video/ in a Xiaohongshu URL, or in the noteId/id field of a search or user-notes result. Full xiaohongshu.com links, xhslink.com/xhslink.cn short links, and complete app share text are also supported.

## `xsecToken` (type: `string`):

Optional xsec\_token for the same public note. You can submit a note ID or URL without one, keep a token in its original URL, or provide it here. When both are present, this field takes priority. For a batch with different tokens, keep each token in its matching URL. Missing tokens are allowed; invalid or expired tokens may prevent the note from resolving.

## `formats` (type: `array`):

Choose plain text for LLM workflows, segments for timestamped analysis, or SRT/VTT for subtitle files.

## `includeMediaMetadata` (type: `boolean`):

Turn this off when you only need the transcript. Transcript quality stays the same while the JSON stays smaller.

## `includeVideoUrl` (type: `boolean`):

Optional paid add-on. Enable this only when you also need a downloadable video URL in the output. It may require a separate video-detail lookup and charges one additional video URL result fee. Transcription still works when this is off.

## `translate` (type: `boolean`):

Keep the original transcript and optionally add a translated copy.

## `targetLanguage` (type: `string`):

Choose the target language. Start typing a language name to filter the list; no language code knowledge is required.

## `webSession` (type: `string`):

Optional session value you are authorized to use when a public note does not load normally. Most users should leave this empty.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "urls": [
    "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"
  ],
  "formats": [
    "text",
    "segments"
  ],
  "includeMediaMetadata": true,
  "includeVideoUrl": false,
  "translate": false,
  "targetLanguage": "en"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

No description

## `summary` (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 = {
    "urls": [
        "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api").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 = { "urls": ["6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api").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 '{
  "urls": [
    "6a87dbad0000000005030ca4"
  ]
}' |
apify call lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,lance_api/rednote-video-ai-transcript-scraper-api"
        }
    }
}

```

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/Ie4BdAKK4qu2wgaKh/builds/X8SZj61dj9adL8AZF/openapi.json