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Extract clean transcripts from your YouTube channel videos using Data API

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Extract clean transcripts from your YouTube channel videos using Data API preview
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Important notice

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

1. Workflow Overview

YouTube Caption Extractor (Your Channel Only) Extracts clean transcripts from YOUR CHANNEL YouTube video captions using YouTube Data API v3. ️ API Limitation : Only works with videos from YOUR OWN...

Best for

  • Document Extraction automation workflows
  • AI Summarization automation workflows
  • advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.executeworkflowtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.set, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.if, n8n-nodes-base.code, n8n-nodes-base.extractfromfile, n8n-nodes-base.stopanderror, n8n-nodes-base.stickynote

Source and attribution

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

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Extract clean transcripts from your YouTube channel videos using Data API
Workflow name
Extract clean transcripts from your YouTube channel videos using Data API

YouTube Caption Extractor (Your Channel Only) Extracts clean transcripts from YOUR CHANNEL YouTube video captions using YouTube Data API v3.

⚠️ API Limitation: Only works with videos from YOUR OWN CHANNEL. Cannot access external/public videos.


🎯 Use Cases

  • AI summarization & sentiment analysis
  • Keyword extraction from your content
  • Content generation from your videos
  • Batch transcript processing

🔄 How It Works (6 Steps)

  1. 📥 Input: Receives videoId + preferredLanguage
  2. 🔍 API: Lists captions from your channel
  3. 🆔 Selector: Picks preferred language (fallback to first)
  4. 📥 Download: Gets VTT subtitle file
  5. 🧹 Cleaning: Removes timestamps, [Music], duplicates
  6. ✅ Output: Clean transcript + metadata

🚀 How to Use

  • Trigger with JSON payload: {"youtubeVideoId": "YOUR_VIDEO_ID", "preferredLanguage": "es"}
  • Video ID must belong to your authenticated YouTube channel
  • Works as sub-workflow (Execute Workflow Trigger) or replace with Webhook/Form trigger
  • Handles videos with no captions gracefully with structured error response
  • Output ready for downstream AI processing or storage

⚠️ Setup Required:

  • Change YouTube credentials in "List Captions" and "Download VTT" nodes
  • Video ID from your authenticated channel
  • Sub-workflow or Webhook trigger
  • Graceful no-captions handling

🔧 Requirements

  • ✅ YouTube OAuth2 (youtube.captions.read scope)
  • Update credentials in List Captions + Download VTT nodes
  • ✅ n8n HTTP Request + Code nodes

💬 Need Help?

Happy Automating! 🎉

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 Executed by Another Workflow

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.executeWorkflowTrigger - executeWorkflowTrigger
Config choices
Version 1.1

Block 2 - Set Variables

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

Block 3 - List Captions

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.2

Block 4 - IF Has Captions?

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

Block 5 - Caption Language Selector

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

Block 6 - Download VTT

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.2

Block 7 - Caption File Conversion

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

Block 8 - Clean Transcript

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

Block 9 - No Captions Fallback

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

Block 10 - Stop and Error

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

Block 11 - Sticky Note7

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

Block 12 - Sticky Note6

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

Block 13 - Sticky Note

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

Block 14 - Sticky Note3

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

Block 15 - Sticky Note4

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

Block 16 - Sticky Note1

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

Block 17 - Sticky Note2

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

3. Summary Table

Workflow Extract clean transcripts from your YouTube channel videos using Data API
Complexity advanced
Nodes 17
Categories Document Extraction, AI Summarization
Author Joel Cantero
Published 14 Dec 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/11795/11795.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

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

  4. 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. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does Extract clean transcripts from your YouTube channel videos using Data API do?

YouTube Caption Extractor (Your Channel Only) Extracts clean transcripts from YOUR CHANNEL YouTube video captions using YouTube Data API v3. ️ API Limitation : Only works with videos from YOUR OWN...

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 Document Extraction, AI Summarization use case.