This article explains how to convert spoken content from YouTube videos into written text. It covers five main methods: using YouTube's built-in transcript feature, third-party websites, AI tools, ChatGPT for cleanup, and command-line tools. The article also discusses practical applications, tips for better results, and privacy considerations. Transcription helps with accessibility, content repurposing, and creating searchable records of information.
Why transcribe YouTube videos
People transcribe YouTube videos for several good reasons:
Making videos accessible to deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers
Creating text you can search through later
Helping non-native speakers understand content
Turning video content into blog posts or social media content
Making study materials from lectures or tutorials
Capturing information from interviews or talks
Method 1: YouTube's built-in transcript feature
YouTube already has transcripts for many videos. Here's how to get them:
Open the YouTube video
Click the three dots (⋮) below the video
Select "Open transcript"
Copy the text that appears
If you want to remove the timestamps:
Copy all the text
Paste into a text editor
Delete the timestamps manually or use search/replace
This is the simplest method but might need some cleanup work.
Method 2: Third-party websites
Several websites can extract YouTube transcripts more cleanly than copying from YouTube directly:
youtube-transcript.io: Gets transcripts with or without timestamps
ytb2mp4.com/youtube-transcript: Simple interface for quick transcript access
tubetotext.com: Lets you toggle timestamps on or off
Using these sites is straightforward:
Copy the YouTube video URL
Paste it into the website
Click the extract button
Copy your transcript
Method 3: AI-powered tools
Modern AI tools can create accurate transcripts and offer extra features:
Mobile Apps
EchoNotes: Extracts and summarizes transcripts
VOMO AI: Works with over 50 languages and lets you chat with the transcript
Desktop Tools
Otter.ai: Popular for general transcription
Circleback.ai: Transcribes videos and adds summaries and action items
Eddy by Headliner: Offers free transcription (with limits)
Using Circleback for YouTube transcription:
Create an account
Import the YouTube audio/video
Let the AI transcribe it
Review the transcript and AI insights
Method 4: Using ChatGPT for cleanup
If your transcript has timestamps and messy formatting, ChatGPT can help:
Give ChatGPT this prompt: "I will give you a copy and paste of a youtube transcript. This includes timestamps, and the text is disjointed. Please remove the timestamps and rewrite the text into joined-up prose. Do not start writing yet. Do you understand?"
After it says yes, paste your messy transcript
Get back clean, readable text
Method 5: Command-line tools
For people comfortable with technical tools:
YouTube-dl: Downloads subtitles directly
Subtitle Edit: Converts subtitles to plain text
This approach gives you the most control but needs technical know-how.
Tips for better transcriptions
No matter which method you choose:
Check for mistakes, especially with technical terms or accents
Videos with clear audio produce better transcripts
Some tools work better with certain languages
Save transcripts in an organized way
Example use case
Imagine you're researching a competitor's product launch:
Get the YouTube transcript
Clean it up in a text editor or with ChatGPT
Review it for key information
Create a summary with the main points
This saves you from rewatching a long video multiple times.
Privacy considerations
When using transcription services:
Read privacy policies before using tools
Be careful with confidential information
Consider tools that process data locally when privacy matters
Tools like Circleback can help you not just get the transcript, but understand what matters in the content through summaries and key points, saving you both transcription time and analysis time.
