Automated YouTube shorts creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg

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Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

Automated YouTube Shorts Creator with yt dlp & FFmpeg Description How It Works • Downloads videos/music from YouTube using yt dlp • Merges assets with dynamic text overlays • Automatically uploads ...

Best for

Content Creation automation workflows
advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.googlesheets, n8n-nodes-base.limit, n8n-nodes-base.set, n8n-nodes-base.executecommand, n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger, n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.aggregate

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by MANISH KUMAR.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Automated YouTube shorts creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg
Workflow name: Automated YouTube shorts creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg

Automated YouTube Shorts Creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg

Description

How It Works

• Downloads videos/music from YouTube using yt-dlp • Merges assets with dynamic text overlays • Automatically uploads to YouTube as Shorts (9:16 format) • Tracks everything in Google Sheets

Set Up Steps (~10 minutes)

Install yt-dlp and FFmpeg in your n8n environment
Connect Google Sheets (for video/music pools)
Set up YouTube OAuth credentials
Configure text overlay font (NotoSerif included)

Key Features

Dual Pipeline System

Video Downloader (MP4) + Music Downloader (MP3 with thumbnails)
Random pairing for endless combinations

Professional Text Overlays

Dynamic line wrapping for perfect 9:16 formatting
Customizable fonts/colors

YouTube API Integration

Automatic upload with metadata (titles/descriptions)
Privacy/license controls

Google Sheets Tracking

Logs download paths, YouTube URLs, timestamps
Prevents duplicate processing

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - When clicking ‘Execute workflow’

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger - manualTrigger
Config choices: Version 1

Block 2 - GetYTvideo

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 3 - Limit_1

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.limit - limit
Config choices: Version 1

Block 4 - GenrateFileName

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices: Version 3.4

Block 5 - DownloadVideoFootage

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand - executeCommand
Config choices: Version 1

Block 6 - UpdateVideoFootageDetails

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 7 - GetYTmusic

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 8 - Limit_01

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.limit - limit
Config choices: Version 1

Block 9 - GenrateFileName_01

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices: Version 3.4

Block 10 - DownloadMusic

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand - executeCommand
Config choices: Version 1

Block 11 - UpdateMusicDetails

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 12 - Schedule Trigger

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger - scheduleTrigger
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 13 - Sticky Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 14 - Schedule Trigger1

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger - scheduleTrigger
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 15 - GetAllVideos

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 16 - AggregateVideos

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.aggregate - aggregate
Config choices: Version 1

Block 17 - GetAllMusic

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 18 - AggregateMusic

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.aggregate - aggregate
Config choices: Version 1

Block 19 - GetQuotes

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 20 - Limit

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.limit - limit
Config choices: Version 1

Block 21 - PickMusicVideoRandom

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices: Version 3.4

Block 22 - GenrateFinalFileName

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices: Version 3.4

Block 23 - GenrateTextOverlayForVideo

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 24 - GenerateVideo

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.executeCommand - executeCommand
Config choices: Version 1

Showing the first 24 of 31 workflow blocks. Download the JSON for the full node graph.

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Automated YouTube shorts creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg
Complexity	advanced
Nodes	31
Categories	Content Creation
Author	MANISH KUMAR
Published	06 Aug 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/7036/7036.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.
4. Test with sample data

Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.
5. Activate and monitor

Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Content Creation workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Automated YouTube shorts creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg do?

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Content Creation use case.

MANISH KUMAR

7 workflows

Nodes

n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger n8n-nodes-base.googlesheets n8n-nodes-base.limit n8n-nodes-base.set n8n-nodes-base.executecommand n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger n8n-nodes-base.stickynote n8n-nodes-base.aggregate

Complexity

advanced

Published 06 Aug 2025

Likes 0

View on n8n.io Download Workflow

Install path: /data/workflows/7036/7036.json

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Automated YouTube shorts creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg

Workflow preview

Important notice

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

Automated YouTube Shorts Creator with yt-dlp & FFmpeg

Description

How It Works

Set Up Steps (~10 minutes)

Key Features

Dual Pipeline System

Professional Text Overlays

YouTube API Integration

Google Sheets Tracking

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - When clicking ‘Execute workflow’

Block 2 - GetYTvideo

Block 3 - Limit_1

Block 4 - GenrateFileName

Block 5 - DownloadVideoFootage

Block 6 - UpdateVideoFootageDetails

Block 7 - GetYTmusic

Block 8 - Limit_01

Block 9 - GenrateFileName_01

Block 10 - DownloadMusic

Block 11 - UpdateMusicDetails

Block 12 - Schedule Trigger

Block 13 - Sticky Note

Block 14 - Schedule Trigger1

Block 15 - GetAllVideos

Block 16 - AggregateVideos

Block 17 - GetAllMusic

Block 18 - AggregateMusic

Block 19 - GetQuotes

Block 20 - Limit

Block 21 - PickMusicVideoRandom

Block 22 - GenrateFinalFileName

Block 23 - GenrateTextOverlayForVideo

Block 24 - GenerateVideo

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions