Popular GitHub tools for transcribing YouTube videos


Several powerful GitHub tools are available for transcribing YouTube videos, offering various features and capabilities.
Popular Transcription Tools
OpenAI Whisper A highly accurate AI-powered transcription tool that offers exceptional features including:
Multi-language support with translation capabilities
Capitalization and punctuation accuracy
Speaker identification (diarization) in newer versions
Ability to generate .vtt files for YouTube captions
Video2Text A streamlined tool that combines:
Pytube for video downloading
Whisper integration for accurate transcription
Simple implementation process
YTWS (YouTube Faster-Whisper) A command-line interface tool featuring:
One-command download and transcription
Integration with yt-dlp for downloading
GPU acceleration support
Faster-whisper implementation for improved speed
Advanced Solutions
Bulk Transcribe Tool Designed for processing multiple videos with:
Support for entire YouTube playlists
CUDA acceleration for GPU processing
Integration with faster-whisper
Both local inference and OpenAI API options
TranscribeTube A Streamlit-based application offering:
AI-powered detailed note generation
Language selection options
Adjustable summary length
Download functionality for generated notes
Technical Implementation
To get started with these tools, most require basic dependencies:
pip install youtube-transcript-api
pip install pytube
The transcription process typically involves:
Audio extraction from YouTube videos
Processing through AI models
Generation of formatted transcripts
Optional translation and formatting features
What are the main steps to set up Whisper for YouTube transcription
The main steps to set up Whisper for YouTube transcription involve a straightforward process:
Installation Setup
pip install git+https://github.com/openai/whisper.git
pip install pytube
pip install pandas
Basic Implementation Steps
1. Audio Extraction
Download the YouTube video's audio using Pytube
Convert to a compatible format (MP3 or WAV)
2. Model Configuration
Load the Whisper model
Select appropriate model size (tiny, base, or larger versions)
3. Transcription Process
from pytube import YouTube
import whisper
# Download audio
video_url = "YOUR_YOUTUBE_URL"
audio_file = YouTube(video_url).streams.filter(only_audio=True).first().download()
# Load model and transcribe
model = whisper.load_model("base")
text = model.transcribe(audio_file)
Advanced Configuration
Model Options
Tiny: Fastest but less accurate
Base: Balanced performance
Larger models: Higher accuracy but slower processing
Additional Settings
Language selection for source audio
Capitalization and punctuation options
Speaker diarization when needed
The process typically takes a few minutes depending on video length and model size selected. The resulting transcription includes timestamps and can be exported in various formats including text and JSON.
How accurate is Whisper's transcription compared to human transcriptionists
Recent studies have revealed varying levels of accuracy for Whisper's transcription capabilities, with performance differing significantly based on model size and conditions:
Model Performance
Large Model Advantages
Whisper's large model outperforms human transcribers in most conditions, except when dealing with pub noise where it performs on par with humans
The large model achieves 99.8% accuracy in optimal conditions
Base Model Limitations
The base version of Whisper performs worse than human transcriptionists
Typical AI transcription tools achieve around 69% accuracy overall
Situational Factors
Environmental Challenges
Performance decreases significantly with background noise and poor audio quality
Accuracy drops notably when dealing with:
Pub noise and background chatter
Low signal-to-noise ratios
Face mask speech
Known Issues
Problems found in 80% of public meeting transcriptions
Tendency to generate hallucinations or fabricated content, especially during silence periods
Particular challenges with medical transcriptions and patients with speech disorders
Language Considerations
The model shows varying performance across languages, with highest accuracy in:
English
Italian
German
Spanish
For comparison, professional human transcriptionists consistently achieve 95-99% accuracy rates, particularly excelling in complex scenarios requiring context understanding and technical terminology.
Github project support OpenAI whisper API to transcript youtube video, list in table format by title, description, github stars, url
Here are the notable GitHub projects that support YouTube video transcription using OpenAI's Whisper API:
Title | Description | URL |
Youtube-Whisper | A simple Gradio app that transcribes YouTube videos using OpenAI's Whisper model | github.com/danilotpnta/Youtube-Whisper |
PAR YT2Text | Extract metadata, transcripts with option to use OpenAI Whisper API or Local model | github.com/paulrobello/par_yt2text |
youtube-transcriber | Streamlit and FastAPI application for transcribing YouTube videos using Whisper | github.com/0xshre/youtube-transcriber |
youtubetranscriber | Simple interface with Gradio to transcribe YouTube videos using Whisper and OpenAI API | github.com/programindz/youtubetranscriber |
whisper-youtube | Comprehensive notebook for YouTube video transcription with various inference parameters | github.com/ArthurFDLR/whisper-youtube |
Note: GitHub star counts are not available in the search results, so they have been omitted from the table. The projects are listed based on their feature completeness and documentation quality.
Github OSX app project that support YouTube video transcription using OpenAI's Whisper API
Here are the notable macOS applications available on GitHub for YouTube video transcription using Whisper:
Title | Description | URL |
MacWhisper | Native macOS app that runs Whisper locally with drag-and-drop interface and live transcription editing | github.com/jordibruin/MacWhisper |
FridayGPT | Dictation-focused macOS app powered by OpenAI Whisper API | github.com/fridaygpt/fridaygpt |
EasyWhisper | macOS app supporting audio transcription and speaker diarization with freemium model | github.com/easy-whisper/easy-whisper |
These applications offer several key features:
Local processing without additional dependencies
User-friendly interfaces for managing transcriptions
Support for multiple audio formats
Built-in editing capabilities for transcribed text
Options for exporting in various formats including SRT and TXT
The MacWhisper app stands out as particularly popular, offering a free standard version with a clean interface for transcription management.
Can I schedule automatic transcription of YouTube videos using Whisper on my Mac
Based on the current search results as of January 2025, there are several options for automating YouTube video transcription on Mac, though with some limitations:
Available Solutions
MacWhisper Pro
Supports direct YouTube video transcription
Offers batch transcription capabilities for multiple files
Includes integration with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Groq APIs
QuickWhisper
Provides one-click transcription for YouTube videos
Supports batch processing capabilities
Offers local processing for privacy
Current Limitations
The fully automated scheduling of YouTube transcriptions has some constraints:
No built-in watch folder functionality for automatic processing
Manual intervention is still needed to initiate the transcription process
Limited automation options in the current Mac applications
Workaround Options
To achieve semi-automated transcription:
Use folder monitoring tools like Hazel
Create custom AppleScripts for automation
Implement command-line solutions using pytube and whisper
For those needing full automation, developers have noted that watch folder functionality is a requested feature that may be implemented in future updates.
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