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YouTube to Text
Transcribe any YouTube video to text in seconds.
Paste a YouTube URL into AskSia and the transcript appears in seconds, complete with timestamps, speaker labels, and an optional translation in 40+ languages. No download, no browser extension, no captions to wrestle with. Free to start, no credit card needed.
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asksia.ai/transcribe
LIVE · 00:19:16
Transcribing
EN → 中文 · 日本語 · 한국어
1
Prof. Chen 0:00Okay, so today we're covering the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. It connects differentiation and integration in one elegant result.
🇩🇪 Heute behandeln wir den Hauptsatz der Differential- und Integralrechnung.
2
Student 0:53Could you explain how the Riemann sum connects to integration at the limit?
🇯🇵 リーマン和が極限でどのように積分と関係するのか説明していただけますか？
1
Prof. Chen 1:21LIVE4:32
19:16
Quick Answer
How do you transcribe a YouTube video to text?
To transcribe a YouTube video to text with AskSia, copy the YouTube URL and paste it into the AskSia transcribe tool. AskSia processes the video's audio with AI speech recognition and returns a timestamped transcript with up to 10 speakers automatically labeled, usually in seconds. The transcript can be translated into more than 40 languages, exported as TXT, DOCX, or SRT subtitles, or sent straight to Google Docs. The free plan covers YouTube videos up to 30 minutes long, with no software to install and no credit card required.
2M+
students using AskSia
40+
languages supported
<0.1s
transcription latency
95%+
accuracy on clear audio
Why AskSia
A better way to transcribe YouTube videos.
YouTube auto-captions are often wrong, and most third-party tools either skip the URL or strip the timestamps. AskSia keeps everything: speakers, timing, accents, technical terms, and translations all in one transcript.
More accurate than auto-captions
On clear audio, AskSia reaches 95 percent or higher accuracy. The model uses context, so technical vocabulary, proper names, and academic terms come through correctly instead of being mangled the way auto-generated captions usually mangle them.
95%+ on clear audio
40+ languages, translated live
Watching a French history lecture or a Japanese tutorial? AskSia transcribes the original audio and translates it into English, Mandarin, Korean, or any of more than 40 supported languages, all in the same transcript.
40+ language pairs
Ask the transcript anything
Once a YouTube video is transcribed, the AI assistant Sia sits next to the transcript. Ask for a summary, a list of key arguments, a quiz, the timestamp where a topic was first mentioned, or pull direct quotes for citation.
Built-in AI chat
How It Works
How to transcribe a YouTube video in three steps.
Step 01
Copy the YouTube URL
Open the YouTube video, copy its URL from the address bar or the share menu, and paste it into the AskSia transcribe tool. Public videos and unlisted videos with a known link both work.
Audio Source
Microphone
Live audio around you
Browser Tab
Zoom, YouTube, Meet
Upload File
MP3, MP4, WAV, M4A...
Step 02
Choose languages
AskSia detects the source language of the video automatically. Pick any target language for translation, or leave it off if you only need the original transcript.
Language Settings
Source
English (US) ▾
Translate
中文 (简体) ▾
Speakers
Auto-detect ▾
Start Transcribing →
Step 03
Read, ask, export
The transcript appears with timestamps and speaker labels. Ask Sia for a summary, search for a phrase, or jump to a moment by clicking the timestamp. Export as TXT, DOCX, SRT subtitles, or send it to Google Docs.
P
Prof. Smith"...the Fundamental Theorem connects differentiation and integration..."
🇨🇳 微积分基本定理将微分与积分联系起来...
S
Student"Could you explain the Riemann sum convergence?"
🇨🇳 您能解释黎曼和的收敛性吗？
Available On
Transcribe YouTube videos on web or on your phone.
The same tool, the same library, on every device you study or work on.
🖥 Web App
Built for long videos
On the web, the transcript builds in a side-by-side layout with the AI chat. You can read along, search the transcript by keyword, jump between speakers, and pull quotes while the video plays in the original tab. Best for long lectures, multi-hour podcasts, and full webinars.
Paste any public YouTube URL
Search the transcript by keyword or speaker
Side-panel AI chat for summaries and quotes
Export to TXT, DOCX, SRT, or Google Docs
Summarize key ideas
Create quiz
Export notes
📱 Mobile App
Transcribe on the go
Paste a YouTube link from your phone and AskSia returns the transcript on your screen. Read it on the train, save it to your library, and pick up where you left off when you get back to your laptop.
Paste a URL straight from the YouTube share sheet
Real-time translation on the lock screen
Auto-sync with your Web App library
Offline reading for saved transcripts
1
ProfessorThe lecture is being captured...
中文翻译同步显示...
2
StudentCan you repeat the definition?
Use Cases
What people transcribe from YouTube.
Lectures and educational videos
MIT OpenCourseWare, Stanford lectures, Khan Academy, university channels, TED talks. Paste the URL and turn an hour-long video into a transcript you can study, search, and quote.
MIT, Stanford, Khan, TED
Interviews and video podcasts
Long-form interviews and video podcasts often live on YouTube. AskSia transcribes them with speaker labels and timestamps, ready for research, fact-checking, or content repurposing.
Speaker-labeled transcripts
Tutorials and how-to videos
Convert a 45-minute coding tutorial or design walkthrough into a written guide you can scroll through at your own pace. Search for a specific step instead of scrubbing the timeline.
Step-by-step text
Foreign-language YouTube videos
Watching a video in a language you do not speak fluently? AskSia transcribes the original audio and shows the translation alongside, sentence by sentence, in any of more than 40 languages.
40+ languages, side by side
Speeches, panels, and conference talks
From a TED talk to a political speech to a developer conference keynote, AskSia turns the YouTube upload into a citable, searchable, shareable transcript with timestamps.
Citable transcripts
Long videos and livestream replays
Multi-hour livestream replays and three-hour podcast episodes are AskSia's home turf. The transcript builds in the background while you skim it, ask questions, and pull out the parts that matter.
Multi-hour content
Compare
AskSia vs. traditional
transcription tools.
Most transcription tools are built for meetings. AskSia is built for how students actually learn: bilingual, fast-moving, context-heavy.
| Feature | AskSia Transcribe | Standard Transcription Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time latency | ✓ <0.1s | ~2–5s delay |
| Simultaneous multi-language translation | ✓ 40+ languages, live | Post-processing only |
| Built-in AI chat during recording | ✓ Ask anything while live | Not available |
| Auto speaker identification | ✓ Up to 10 speakers | 2–5 speakers, often inaccurate |
| Bilingual / code-switching support | ✓ Mid-sentence detection | Single language only |
| Academic vocabulary accuracy | ✓ Context-aware | Generic dictionary |
| Auto-generate quizzes and flashcards | ✓ One-tap from any transcript | Export only |
| Browser Tab capture | ✓ No extension needed | Extension or integration required |
| Free to start | ✓ 30 min/file, unlimited sessions | Time-limited trial |
FAQ
Common questions about transcribing YouTube videos.
How do I transcribe a YouTube video to text?
Copy the YouTube URL from your browser or the share menu, paste it into AskSia, and the transcript is generated automatically. Public videos and unlisted videos with a known link both work. The transcript includes timestamps and speaker labels by default, and can be translated into more than 40 languages or exported as TXT, DOCX, or SRT subtitles.
Is AskSia more accurate than YouTube auto-captions?
In most real-world cases, yes. YouTube auto-captions are generated quickly but often mangle technical terms, names, accents, and overlapping speakers. AskSia reaches 95 percent or higher accuracy on clear audio, identifies up to 10 speakers, and uses context to spell academic and domain-specific words correctly. AskSia transcripts also include timestamps you can click and a side-panel AI chat for asking questions about the content.
Can I transcribe long YouTube videos?
Yes. The free plan supports YouTube videos up to 30 minutes per file. AskSia Pro and AskSia Super remove the duration cap entirely, which is useful for full-length lectures, multi-hour podcasts, livestream replays, and recorded conferences.
Can I transcribe YouTube videos in other languages?
Yes. AskSia transcribes in more than 40 languages and detects the source language automatically. You can also translate the transcript at the same time, so you can watch a French or Mandarin YouTube video and read English notes alongside it. Supported languages include English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and more.
Does AskSia download the YouTube video?
No. AskSia processes the audio from the YouTube URL you paste without downloading or storing the video file. Once the transcript is finished, AskSia keeps only the text in your library, not the source video.
Can I export the YouTube transcript as subtitles?
Yes. AskSia exports the YouTube transcript as SRT subtitles, which can be uploaded directly to YouTube, Vimeo, or used in any video editor. You can also export as TXT, DOCX, or JSON, or send it to Google Docs with one click.
Is it free to transcribe YouTube videos with AskSia?
Yes. AskSia is free to start, with no credit card required. The free plan covers YouTube videos up to 30 minutes each. AskSia Pro and AskSia Super remove the duration limit and unlock features like Google Docs export, higher-accuracy tiers, and the full AI study companion.
Start Today
Paste a YouTube link. Get a transcript.
Whether you are studying a lecture, mining an interview for quotes, or following a tutorial in a second language, AskSia turns YouTube videos into text you can actually use. Free to start, no credit card.