YouTube Downloader API Documentation

.MP3 Audio

Initialize a Download (Process Audio)

Initializes (processes) the audio download of a YouTube video, using the video ID.

The response of this request will be a video download resource, with an ID that can be used in the Get A Download method, to retrieve the actual file URL for download.

After the video download is created, a background job will start processing the request and fetch the audio file from YouTube servers. This process could be fast for short videos, but could take up to 10 minutes for long videos.

The MP3 file will be available anytime for download, once the process has been completed. If you want a new download link generated, you simply need to send another ‘Get A Download’ request with the downloadID.

If you initialize a download more than once and we have a successful download existing for the file, we will return the download object instead of initiating the process again - this avoids accidental duplicate credit charges for the user.

Endpoint

POST https://dashboard.transcriptdownloader.com/api/downloads/audio

Body

{
     "youtube_video_id": "<string>"
}

Example responses

Successful response - when the download process has been initialized.

{
    "data": {
        "id": "01JW72M0AGW3M6R3QDCS30RD2P",
        "youtube_video_id": "Fqdz6A-5d04",
        "type": "audio",
        "duration": "01:47:55",
        "cost": "1.079",
        "status": "pending",
        "created_at": "2025-01-23T00:30:50.000000Z",
        "audio_url": null
    }
}

Subsequent response - prior to completion, processing the audio and readying for download

{
      "error": "You already have a pending download for this video",
      "id": "01JW72M0AGW3M6R3QDCS30RD2P"
}

A download can be accessed through the API by using the following endpoint:

Endpoint

GET https://dashboard.transcriptdownloader.com/downloads/{downloadId}

Example responses

Success - Download has been processed correctly

{
    "data": {
        "id": "01JW72M0AGW3M6R3QDCS30RD2P",
        "youtube_video_id": "Fqdz6A-5d04",
        "type": "audio",
        "duration": "01:47:55",
        "cost": "1.079",
        "status": "success",
        "created_at": "2025-01-23T00:30:50.000000Z",
        "audio_url": "https://drive.transcriptdownloader.com/audios/youtube-tBBaHQoPZR0.mp3?Expires=..."
    }
}

Success - Download still processing

{
    "data": {
        "id": "01JW72M0AGW3M6R3QDCS30RD2P",
        "youtube_video_id": "Fqdz6A-5d04",
        "type": "audio",
        "duration": "01:47:55",
        "cost": "1.079",
        "status": "pending",
        "created_at": "2025-01-23T00:30:50.000000Z",
        "audio_url": null
    }
}

Failed download

{
    "data": {
        "id": "01JW72M0AGW3M6R3QDCS30RD2P",
        "youtube_video_id": "Fqdz6A-5d04",
        "type": "audio",
        "duration": "01:47:55",
        "cost": "1.079",
        "status": "failed",
        "created_at": "2025-01-23T00:30:50.000000Z",
        "audio_url": null
    }
}

Error responses

Transcripts & Metadata

Get Profile Information & Full Channel List

Our API retrieves a YouTube channel’s profile and full media list with partial metadata. For complete metadata, use the ‘initialize transcription & metadata’ endpoint on individual media. Results may take a moment to compile.

Endpoint

POST https://dashboard.transcriptdownloader.com/api/channel/profile

Body

{
    "url": "<string>"
}

Example Response

The response will include the channel’s profile metadata, and partial metadata info for all media in list.

{
    "status": "success",
    "youtube_id": "UCuD-OWq0lLKLGkuWuNs35sA",
    "title": "State Of Mind",
    "url": "https://www.youtube.com/@state-of-mind",
    "thumbnail": "https://yt3.ggpht.com/...",
    "description": "Channel description...",
    "total_media": 3,
    "creation_date": "2014-01-29 23:41:51",
    "subscriber_count": 62800,
    "total_views": 2155260,
    "country": "US",
    "cost": "0.500",
    "source": "api",
    "videos": [
        {
            "youtube_id": "p8x9NVSZ0r4",
            "title": "Video Title",
            "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p8x9NVSZ0r4/default.jpg",
            "published_at": "2024-07-12 00:00:25",
            "duration": 490
        }
    ],
    "download": {
        "id": "01K31YQ38SNP30F7218NX4SMN7",
        "youtube_video_id": "UCuD-OWq0lLKLGkuWuNs35sA",
        "type": "list",
        "cost": "0.500",
        "status": "success",
        "response": null,
        "created_at": "2025-08-19T20:01:17.000000Z"
    }
}

Error responses

Initialize Transcription & Metadata using YouTube Video ID and Language

Our API allows you to get a Youtube Video Transcripts & Metadata in real time.

Endpoint

POST https://dashboard.transcriptdownloader.com/api/transcripts

Body

{
    "youtube_video_id": "<string>",
    "language": "<string>",
    "include_comments": boolean
}

Example response

{
  "status": "ok",
  "video": {
    "youtube_id": "AyOjAEn36b8",
    "link": "https://youtube.com/watch?v=AyOjAEn36b8",
    "title": "Video Title",
    "description": "",
    "publishedAt": "2025-05-29 17:00:09",
    "duration": "00:00:58",
    "viewCount": 2828633,
    "likeCount": 101223,
    "commentCount": 3260,
    "channelId": "UC0biv5ldm7-TzRXdr79pqAw",
    "channelName": "Channel Name",
    "transcriptsWithTimeStamps": [
      {
        "dur": "2.08",
        "text": "transcript text",
        "start": "0.16"
      }
    ],
    "transcripts": "Full transcript text..."
  },
  "download": {
    "id": "123DDJNRUND",
    "youtube_video_id": "AyOjAEn36b8",
    "type": "captions",
    "cost": "1.600",
    "status": "success",
    "created_at": "2025-06-16T21:34:43.000000Z"
  }
}

Error responses

Get a Previously Generated Transcript & Metadata, Using Download ID

Endpoint

GET https://dashboard.transcriptdownloader.com/api/transcripts/{downloadID}

The response data structure will be similar to when you process a transcript for the first time, with the exception that this does not generate a new process and does not have an extra cost for you.

Rate Limiting

The API has a rate limit of 75 requests per minute, 1.25 requests per second.

Support

If you need assistance or have any questions about using the API, please contact our support team at https://transcriptdownloader.com/#contact.