# YouTube & Podcast Transcript Extractor (`prooflio/youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor`) Actor Extracts existing transcripts from YouTube videos, playlists and channels, plus podcast feeds (Podcasting 2.0). Returns LLM-ready text and timestamped segments. - **URL**: https://apify.com/prooflio/youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor.md - **Developed by:** [Prooflio AI](https://apify.com/prooflio) (community) - **Categories:** AI, SEO tools, Social media - **Stats:** 4 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $3.00 / 1,000 youtube transcripts 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 & Podcast Transcript Extractor Extracts **existing** transcripts and returns them as clean, LLM-ready text: - **YouTube** — caption tracks (auto-generated or uploaded) from individual videos, whole **playlists**, or entire **channels** - **Podcasts** — transcripts declared in the RSS feed via the Podcasting 2.0 `` tag (SRT, VTT, JSON, or plain text, normalized to plain text) Each transcript becomes one dataset item with both a full plain-text `transcript` and optional timestamped `segments`. Failures are recorded per item, so one bad video never fails the whole run. > This Actor reads transcripts that already exist. It does **not** transcribe audio. For videos/episodes with no captions, see "Extending" below. ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `videos` | string[] | — | YouTube video URLs or 11-char IDs. | | `playlists` | string[] | — | Playlist URLs or IDs; each is expanded into its videos. | | `channels` | string[] | — | Channel URLs, `@handles`, or `UC…` IDs; uploads are expanded into videos. | | `podcastFeeds` | string[] | — | Podcast RSS feed URLs. | | `language` | string | `en` | Preferred language code; falls back to the first available track. | | `includeSegments` | boolean | `true` | Include timestamped segments alongside the plain text. | | `maxVideosPerSource` | integer | `50` | Cap on videos pulled from each playlist/channel. | | `maxEpisodesPerFeed` | integer | `10` | Episodes to process per feed. | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | Apify Proxy | Proxy settings. **Residential is strongly recommended for YouTube.** | ```json { "channels": ["https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium"], "playlists": ["https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxxxx"], "maxVideosPerSource": 25, "language": "en", "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"] } } ```` Videos collected from `videos`, `playlists`, and `channels` are de-duplicated before extraction, so the same video is never transcribed (or charged) twice. ### Output One item per transcript. The Output tab shows a curated **Overview** table (source, title, language, URL, transcript); all fields are available in the "All fields" view. ```json { "source": "youtube", "videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "title": "...", "language": "en", "isAutoGenerated": true, "transcript": "full plain text ...", "segments": [{ "start": 0.0, "duration": 3.2, "text": "..." }] } ``` ### A note on YouTube blocking YouTube aggressively blocks datacenter IPs and may serve a bot challenge instead of the page. If you see "YouTube likely served a bot challenge", switch `proxyConfiguration` to a residential group. This is the single biggest reliability factor for this Actor, and it's also the main cost driver — see pricing notes below. ### Legal & acceptable use This Actor accesses publicly available caption tracks and publicly published podcast RSS transcripts. Automated access to YouTube is restricted by its Terms of Service; you are responsible for ensuring your use complies with the terms of any site you target and with applicable law and copyright. Transcripts are the intellectual property of their creators — use the output accordingly. # Actor input Schema ## `videos` (type: `array`): YouTube video URLs or 11-character video IDs. ## `playlists` (type: `array`): Playlist URLs or IDs. Each is expanded into its videos (up to the per-source limit). ## `channels` (type: `array`): Channel URLs, @handles, or UC… IDs. Each channel's uploads are expanded into videos (up to the per-source limit). ## `podcastFeeds` (type: `array`): Podcast RSS feed URLs. Extracts transcripts declared via the Podcasting 2.0 tag. ## `language` (type: `string`): Preferred transcript language code (e.g. en, es, fr). Falls back to the first available track. ## `includeSegments` (type: `boolean`): Include per-line timestamps alongside the full plain-text transcript. ## `maxVideosPerSource` (type: `integer`): Cap on how many videos to pull from each playlist or channel. ## `maxEpisodesPerFeed` (type: `integer`): How many recent episodes to process per podcast feed. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): YouTube frequently blocks datacenter IPs. Residential Apify Proxy is strongly recommended. ## Actor input object example ```json { "videos": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" ], "language": "en", "includeSegments": true, "maxVideosPerSource": 50, "maxEpisodesPerFeed": 10, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `transcripts` (type: `string`): All extracted transcripts in the default dataset (Overview view). # 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=dQw4w9WgXcQ" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("prooflio/youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor").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=dQw4w9WgXcQ"], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("prooflio/youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor").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=dQw4w9WgXcQ" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } }' | apify call prooflio/youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=prooflio/youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "YouTube & Podcast Transcript Extractor", "description": "Extracts existing transcripts from YouTube videos, playlists and channels, plus podcast feeds (Podcasting 2.0). Returns LLM-ready text and timestamped segments.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "rJhhcAdjuLt3btPlN" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/prooflio~youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-prooflio-youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor", "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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/prooflio~youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-prooflio-youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/prooflio~youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-prooflio-youtube-podcast-transcript-extractor", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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", "properties": { "videos": { "title": "YouTube videos", "type": "array", "description": "YouTube video URLs or 11-character video IDs.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "playlists": { "title": "YouTube playlists", "type": "array", "description": "Playlist URLs or IDs. Each is expanded into its videos (up to the per-source limit).", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "channels": { "title": "YouTube channels", "type": "array", "description": "Channel URLs, @handles, or UC… IDs. Each channel's uploads are expanded into videos (up to the per-source limit).", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "podcastFeeds": { "title": "Podcast RSS feeds", "type": "array", "description": "Podcast RSS feed URLs. Extracts transcripts declared via the Podcasting 2.0 tag.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "language": { "title": "Preferred language", "type": "string", "description": "Preferred transcript language code (e.g. en, es, fr). Falls back to the first available track.", "default": "en" }, "includeSegments": { "title": "Include timestamped segments", "type": "boolean", "description": "Include per-line timestamps alongside the full plain-text transcript.", "default": true }, "maxVideosPerSource": { "title": "Max videos per playlist/channel", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Cap on how many videos to pull from each playlist or channel.", "default": 50 }, "maxEpisodesPerFeed": { "title": "Max episodes per feed", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "How many recent episodes to process per podcast feed.", "default": 10 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "YouTube frequently blocks datacenter IPs. Residential Apify Proxy is strongly recommended.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true } } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```