YouTube and video
Transcribe a YouTube video to text from its link
To transcribe a YouTube video to text, copy its link, open HiText, choose the YouTube video option and paste the link. In a few minutes you get the full transcript and an AI summary of what the video says. It also transcribes videos saved on your phone (MP4, MOV and more, up to 2 GB).
Meeting about the online store redesign:
- Attendees: Andrew and Laura
- Goal: Agree on scope, budget and timeline.
- Next step: Send the proposal by Friday.
How to turn a YouTube video into text
- 1
Copy the link
In YouTube, tap Share and then Copy link. Regular video links work (youtube.com/watch or youtu.be).
- 2
Paste it into HiText
In HiText, choose the YouTube video option and paste the link.
- 3
Read the text and the summary
HiText extracts the audio from the video and transcribes it. When it's done you have the text, a summary of the key points and, if it's a lecture, a quiz and flashcards to review.
Why transcribe a YouTube video
- Study a lecture or tutorial with the text in front of you
- Pull exact quotes from an interview or a talk
- Find out in 2 minutes what an hour-long video covers before you watch it
- Read a video in another language, translated
Videos that aren't on YouTube
If the video is on your phone (a screen recording, a downloaded lecture, a meeting video), pick it from Files inside HiText (on iPhone you can also share it to HiText from Photos). HiText supports MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV and WMV up to 2 GB and transcribes the audio just like with a link.
Limits to keep in mind
- The video has to be viewable from its link: private videos, live streams or age-restricted videos may not process
- Quality depends on the audio: with loud music or lots of people talking at once, the text comes out worse
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to transcribe YouTube videos?
You start with 30 free minutes of transcription, no card needed. To keep transcribing you can subscribe to Pro inside the app; you see the price before paying and can cancel any time from your App Store or Google Play subscription settings.
Do I need to download the video?
No. Just paste the link: HiText gets the audio from the video and transcribes it. If the video is already on your phone, you can also upload it directly.
Which languages does it work in?
It transcribes videos in 13 languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and German, with automatic detection, and you can read the transcript translated into 15 languages.
What do you do with the video?
We use the audio only to transcribe it, and it's deleted from our servers when it's done (at most within 10 days if it came from a link and something fails). The transcript and summary are kept until you delete them in the app. We don't use your content to train AI models. Details in our privacy policy.
Does it work on Android or in the browser?
Yes. HiText is on iPhone and iPad (App Store), on Android (Google Play) and in your browser, with nothing to install, at app.trytiro.app.
That hour-long video, in one summary
Download HiText, paste the link and transcribe your first 30 minutes for free.
