# YouTube to Clips (captioned vertical clip maker) (`startuphub/youtube-to-clips`) Actor

Turn timestamps of a YouTube video into captioned, reframed vertical (9:16) or landscape (16:9) clips. Returns downloadable mp4s. Powered by StartupHub.ai.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/startuphub/youtube-to-clips.md
- **Developed by:** [StartupHub](https://apify.com/startuphub) (community)
- **Categories:** Videos, Social media, AI
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per usage

This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have.

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

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — 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 to Clips

Turn timestamps of a YouTube video into captioned, auto-reframed vertical (9:16) or landscape (16:9) clips. Returns downloadable mp4 URLs.

Powered by [StartupHub.ai](https://www.startuphub.ai). Rendering, captioning, and reframing run server-side; this actor is a thin client over the metered clip API.

### Setup

1. Get an API key at [startuphub.ai/my-account?tab=api](https://www.startuphub.ai/my-account?tab=api).
2. In the actor's **Settings → Environment variables**, add `STARTUPHUB_API_KEY` as a **Secret**.

### Input

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `videoUrl` | The source YouTube video. All clips are cut from it. |
| `clips` | Array of `{ start_seconds, end_seconds, quote, hook? }`. `quote` is the exact on-screen caption (≥8 chars). |
| `aspect` | Default `9:16` (Shorts/Reels/TikTok) or `16:9`. Per-clip override allowed. |
| `quality` | `720p` (any plan) or `1080p` (Pro Mini+). |
| `style` | Default caption style: `twitter`, `quotes`, or `shorts`. |

**Discover good clip timestamps + captions** with the free web tool at [startuphub.ai/youtube-to-clips](https://www.startuphub.ai/youtube-to-clips), then paste them here to render at scale.

### Output

One dataset item per clip: `{ status, mp4_url, jobId, cost, ... }`. Clips render async (usually under a minute each); the actor polls until each is `done`.

### Pricing

Metered in StartupHub credits, priced by clip length × quality (a shared pool across the web tools and API). Free tier included; top-ups never expire. See [pricing](https://www.startuphub.ai/pricing).

# Actor input Schema

## `videoUrl` (type: `string`):

The source YouTube video. All clips are cut from this video.

## `clips` (type: `array`):

One object per clip: { "start\_seconds": 142, "end\_seconds": 168, "quote": "the on-screen caption text", "hook": "optional overlay" }. Discover good timestamps + captions with the free web tool at startuphub.ai/youtube-to-clips.

## `aspect` (type: `string`):

Default aspect for clips that don't set their own. Vertical 9:16 (Shorts/Reels/TikTok) or landscape 16:9.

## `quality` (type: `string`):

720p on any plan; 1080p requires Pro Mini or higher. 1080p clips cost more credits.

## `style` (type: `string`):

Default caption/framing style for clips that don't set their own.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "clips": [
    {
      "start_seconds": 30,
      "end_seconds": 55,
      "quote": "Replace this with the exact words spoken in the clip."
    }
  ],
  "aspect": "9:16",
  "quality": "720p",
  "style": "twitter"
}
```

# 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 = {
    "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "clips": [
        {
            "start_seconds": 30,
            "end_seconds": 55,
            "quote": "Replace this with the exact words spoken in the clip."
        }
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("startuphub/youtube-to-clips").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 = {
    "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
    "clips": [{
            "start_seconds": 30,
            "end_seconds": 55,
            "quote": "Replace this with the exact words spoken in the clip.",
        }],
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("startuphub/youtube-to-clips").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 '{
  "videoUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "clips": [
    {
      "start_seconds": 30,
      "end_seconds": 55,
      "quote": "Replace this with the exact words spoken in the clip."
    }
  ]
}' |
apify call startuphub/youtube-to-clips --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=startuphub/youtube-to-clips",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/gcRgpUogYpuUcMeaB/builds/VRpjYhsXK7eR2tHYX/openapi.json