Transcribe YouTube and web videos

TranscribeX can download audio or video from a link and transcribe it, all in one step. It works with YouTube and, in the app’s words, “TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and hundreds of other sites.” Downloading is free.

Download and transcribe from a link

1. On the home screen, click YouTube (& 1000+ sites). The Download from URLs sheet opens.
2. Paste one or more links into URLs (one per line):. Each link must start with https://. Put each link on its own line to download several at once.
3. Choose Audio or Video.
4. Click Add to Download Queue (or Add 3 Downloads to Queue for several links).

Each link becomes a job in YouTube in the sidebar, marked Downloading. Downloads run one at a time. When a download finishes, the job is queued for transcription with your default model and language (see transcribe a file).

Audio or video

• Audio saves an M4A file. It’s smaller and faster, and all you need for a transcript.
• Video saves an MP4 so you can watch the video next to the transcript. TranscribeX picks the format for you and prefers 720p H.264.

Downloaded files go into your recordings folder, set in Settings › General › Save Destination. To find a file, open the job and choose Show source file in Finder from the More options menu. Open web link in the same menu opens the original page.

Download the highest resolution (Pro)

To get videos above 720p, turn on Settings › YouTube › Download Highest Resolution. You can also open these settings from the Youtube Settings link in the download sheet.

Use the latest download tools

TranscribeX includes its own copy of the video downloader. Sites change often, and a newer downloader on your Mac usually works better. The app recommends it: “Using your computer’s tools usually works better and has a higher download success rate.”

1. Open Settings › YouTube and click Install Video Download Tools.
2. Terminal opens and installs the latest yt-dlp into ~/.local/bin. If that folder isn’t on your PATH, the installer adds it to ~/.zprofile and ~/.zshrc. Press any key to close the window when it’s done.
3. Turn on Use System Installed Tools.

Run the installer again from time to time to update the downloader. If you already have yt-dlp from Homebrew, TranscribeX finds that too, so you can skip the installer and just turn on Use System Installed Tools.

Troubleshooting downloads

• A download fails. Turn on Use System Installed Tools after installing the latest tools (above), then add the link again.
• “Please install video download tools using the ‘Install Video Download Tools’ button in YouTube Settings, or disable ‘Use System Installed Tools’ to use built-in tools.” TranscribeX can’t find yt-dlp on your Mac. Run the installer or turn the setting off.
• “Download interrupted because the app restarted”. TranscribeX was quit during a download. Add the link again.
• The add button is greyed out. Check that each link starts with https:// and sits on its own line.

Only download content you have the right to use.