youtube-distiller

Convert YouTube transcripts into structured Obsidian markdown notes with timestamps.

Updated Feb 25, 2024
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/GyroZepelix/.dotfiles --skill youtube-distiller
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-distiller
Source: https://github.com/GyroZepelix/.dotfiles/tree/main/02-agentic-llms/.claude/skills/youtube-distiller
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/GyroZepelix/.dotfiles --skill youtube-distiller

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Distills long-form YouTube transcripts into structured, Obsidian-optimized markdown notes, enabling quick scanning, context retention, and efficient knowledge capture from video content.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Automatically extract transcripts (prefer manual captions when available) and convert them into frontmatter-driven notes suitable for Obsidian.
  • Group insights by theme for longer videos or present bullet-point points with precise timestamps for shorter videos.
  • Provide a ready-to-import note with YAML frontmatter (title, author, source, created date) and a curated TL;DR section for rapid recall.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube URL and optional flags to generate an Obsidian-ready markdown summary with timestamps and themes.

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube-distiller

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I convert YouTube transcripts into Obsidian markdown notes?▼

You can convert YouTube transcripts into Obsidian markdown notes by providing a video URL to generate structured notes with YAML frontmatter, topic tags, and timestamped key points saved via obsidian-vault-gateway.

Can I summarize long YouTube videos with timestamps grouped by theme?▼

Long YouTube videos are summarized with timestamps grouped by theme. The Skill processes transcripts and groups insights thematically, while shorter videos receive sequential bullet-point timestamps.

Does YouTube transcript summarization work with manual captions and yt-dlp?▼

YouTube transcript summarization works with yt-dlp to fetch transcripts, preferring manual captions when available to ensure higher accuracy before formatting the text into markdown.

What is the best way to capture YouTube video insights into a personal knowledge base?▼

The best way to capture YouTube video insights into a knowledge base is distilling transcripts into Obsidian-optimized markdown, providing a TL;DR section and frontmatter for rapid recall.

Do I need obsidian-vault-gateway to save summarized markdown notes?▼

Yes, you need obsidian-vault-gateway to save summarized markdown notes directly into your vault. The Skill delegates final markdown formatting and saving through this gateway component.