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Introducing transcript1: YouTube and file transcripts

transcript1 ·

What transcript1 does

transcript1 turns YouTube videos and audio or video files up to 2 GB into transcripts. Paste a link or upload a recording in the dashboard, or send it through the API.

Download the transcript as JSON, plain text, SRT or VTT. Each segment has timestamps and a language. Speaker labels are optional. Leave the language on auto to detect it, or set a language hint.

Use it from your terminal, code or an AI assistant

  • REST API. Create an API key in the dashboard and send it as a Bearer token. Keys start with t1_. Read about the YouTube transcript API, or copy your first request from the getting started guide.
  • CLI. Transcribe a YouTube link, a local file or a folder of recordings from your terminal. Save text or subtitles, or return JSON for scripts and agents. See the CLI guide.
  • Node.js SDK. Use @transcript1/sdk from JavaScript or TypeScript server code. It handles file uploads and waits for completed transcripts, so you can get the result in one call. See the SDK guide.
  • MCP server. Connect Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code or Claude Code to the transcription MCP server. Your assistant can then call transcript1 as a tool. The MCP docs cover setup for each client.
  • Agent skill. SKILL.md is a short instruction file that tells a skills-aware agent how to use transcript1. The MCP docs link to it.

Get a transcript even when captions are missing

Send a YouTube link. transcript1 retrieves the captions when available and transcribes the audio with AI when they're missing. You don't need to check the video first or build a separate fallback. Uploaded audio and video files go straight to AI transcription.

AI fallback comes at the same rate: one credit per audio minute, rounded up per transcription. Failed and canceled transcriptions are never charged.

Use source=stt to request AI transcription or diarize=true to include speaker labels. Both options skip captions.

Start free

Every account gets 60 free minutes once, after email verification, with no card needed. Create an account to use the dashboard, or make an API key and follow getting started.

Monthly costs $9/month and Annual costs $90/year. Both include 1,000 minutes/month. Top-ups cost $6 per 1,000 minutes on Monthly or $5 on Annual, usable while a paid plan is active.

What's next

More platforms coming.