YouTube Downloader
Download YouTube videos, extract audio, and get transcripts using yt-dlp - the most reliable YouTube extraction tool.
When to Use This Skill
- Competitor research - Download and analyze competitor videos
- Content repurposing - Extract audio for podcasts or transcripts for blogs
- Training material - Archive webinars and tutorials
- Quote extraction - Get transcripts for pulling quotable moments
- Offline access - Save videos for travel or presentations
What Claude Does vs What You Decide
| Claude Does | You Decide |
|---|---|
| Structures production workflow | Final creative direction |
| Suggests technical approaches | Equipment and tool choices |
| Creates templates and checklists | Quality standards |
| Identifies best practices | Brand/voice decisions |
| Generates script outlines | Final script approval |
Dependencies
pip install yt-dlp click
# Optional for transcription:
pip install openai-whisperCommands
Download Video
python scripts/main.py download "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..." --format mp4
python scripts/main.py download "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..." --quality 1080pExtract Audio
python scripts/main.py audio "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..." --format mp3
python scripts/main.py audio "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..." --format wavGet Transcript
python scripts/main.py transcript "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..."
python scripts/main.py transcript "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..." --translate enDownload Playlist
python scripts/main.py playlist "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=..." --limit 10
python scripts/main.py playlist "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=..." --audio-onlyGet Metadata
python scripts/main.py info "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..."
python scripts/main.py info "https://youtube.com/watch?v=..." --format jsonExamples
Example 1: Research Competitor Content
# Get video metadata
python scripts/main.py info "https://youtube.com/watch?v=ABC123"
# Output:
# Title: How We Grew to $1M ARR
# Channel: SaaS Founder
# Duration: 15:32
# Views: 45,230
# Published: 2024-01-15
# Tags: saas, growth, startup
# Download transcript for analysis
python scripts/main.py transcript "https://youtube.com/watch?v=ABC123"
# Output: how-we-grew-to-1m-arr.txtExample 2: Create Podcast from Webinar
# Download audio only
python scripts/main.py audio "https://youtube.com/watch?v=WEBINAR" --format mp3 --quality best
# Output: webinar-title.mp3 (ready for podcast editing)
# Get transcript for show notes
python scripts/main.py transcript "https://youtube.com/watch?v=WEBINAR"
# Output: webinar-title.txtExample 3: Archive Training Playlist
# Download entire playlist
python scripts/main.py playlist "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=TRAINING" \
--output ./training-videos/ \
--limit 20
# Output:
# ./training-videos/
# ├── 01-introduction.mp4
# ├── 02-getting-started.mp4
# └── ...Quality Options
| Option | Resolution | File Size | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
best | Highest available | Largest | Archival |
1080p | 1920x1080 | ~1GB/hour | Standard |
720p | 1280x720 | ~500MB/hour | Balance |
480p | 854x480 | ~250MB/hour | Mobile |
audio | N/A | ~100MB/hour | Podcasts |
Audio Formats
| Format | Quality | Size | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
mp3 | Good | Small | Universal |
m4a | Better | Medium | Apple/Modern |
wav | Lossless | Large | Editing |
opus | Best | Smallest | Modern apps |
Legal Considerations
⚠️ Important: Only download content you have rights to use.
Generally OK:
- Your own videos
- Creative Commons content
- Content for personal research/reference
- Content with explicit download permission
Check First:
- Competitor content (fair use analysis)
- Content for derivative works
- Anything for commercial use
Skill Boundaries
What This Skill Does Well
- Structuring audio production workflows
- Providing technical guidance
- Creating quality checklists
- Suggesting creative approaches
What This Skill Cannot Do
- Replace audio engineering expertise
- Make subjective creative decisions
- Access or edit audio files directly
- Guarantee commercial success
Related Skills
- whisper-transcription - Transcribe downloaded audio
- video-processing - Process downloaded videos
- content-repurposer - Repurpose transcripts
Skill Metadata
- Mode: cyborg
category: automation
subcategory: content-extraction
dependencies: [yt-dlp]
difficulty: beginner
time_saved: 4+ hours/week