YouTube subtitles · SRT/VTT export · yt-dlp
YouTube to SRT
MacParakeet turns a reachable YouTube URL into SRT subtitles on your Mac. It uses bundled yt-dlp to download the audio, then runs transcription locally on Apple Silicon instead of uploading the audio to a speech service. Export SRT or VTT for captions, plus TXT or JSON when you need the transcript itself.
macOS 14.2+ · Apple Silicon · no cloud STT · use content you have rights to process
How to convert YouTube to SRT
Download the source media you can access, then generate timed subtitles locally.
01
Copy a YouTube URL
Use a public or reachable YouTube video you have the right to transcribe. MacParakeet uses bundled yt-dlp for user-initiated media downloads.
02
Paste the URL in MacParakeet
The audio is downloaded from YouTube, then NVIDIA Parakeet v3 transcribes it locally on your Apple Silicon Mac at about 155x realtime.
03
Export SRT or VTT
Save an SRT file for broad subtitle compatibility, or VTT for web video workflows. TXT and JSON exports are available too.
Subtitle workflow
Generate caption files from videos you can access.
SRT is still the practical interchange format for many editors, video platforms, and accessibility workflows. MacParakeet focuses on producing a portable subtitle file you can inspect before publishing.
Subtitle files, not just text
YouTube to SRT is about timed captions. MacParakeet can also export VTT when the target player expects web-native subtitles.
Local speech recognition
The download step contacts YouTube, but speech recognition and subtitle generation happen on your Mac. The audio is not uploaded to a transcription service.
No short clip limit
Long lectures, tutorials, webinars, and interviews are not forced through a few-minute browser limit.
Works beyond YouTube
The same URL transcription path supports sites that yt-dlp can reach, and file transcription supports MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, MOV, and more.
What "local" means for YouTube
A YouTube URL requires a network download from YouTube. After that, MacParakeet's speech recognition and subtitle export happen locally on your Mac, so the audio is not re-uploaded to a transcription provider.
YouTube to SRT FAQ
Can MacParakeet make an SRT file from a YouTube URL?
Yes. Paste a reachable YouTube URL into MacParakeet, let it download the audio with yt-dlp, transcribe locally, and export SRT or VTT.
How accurate are YouTube SRT captions?
Accuracy depends on the video's audio. Clear speech and minimal background noise produce better captions; music, crosstalk, and poor microphones need more correction.
Is there a YouTube video length limit?
MacParakeet does not impose a file-length limit. Very long videos require enough disk space and local processing time.
Is the YouTube audio uploaded for transcription?
No. MacParakeet downloads the media from YouTube at your request, then runs speech recognition locally on your Apple Silicon Mac. It does not upload the audio to cloud STT.
Can I export formats besides SRT?
Yes. MacParakeet exports SRT, VTT, TXT, and JSON. Use SRT for broad subtitle compatibility and VTT for many web players.
Which languages work for YouTube subtitles?
NVIDIA Parakeet v3 is the default engine. Optional WhisperKit expands local transcription coverage to 98 languages after the model is downloaded.
Is YouTube to SRT free?
Yes. MacParakeet is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no account, no credit card, and no subscription. It requires macOS 14.2+ on Apple Silicon.
Create YouTube subtitles on your Mac.
Download MacParakeet, paste a YouTube URL, and export SRT or VTT without a cloud speech upload.
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