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name: yt-dlp-whisper-shorts description: Download YouTube audio with yt-dlp, transcribe with Whisper to create timestamped subtitles (SRT), then analyze the transcript to recommend 15–60s Shorts-ready highlight segments with timecodes, hook text, clear reasons, and editing/narration suggestions. Use when a user provides a YouTube link and asks for transcription/subtitles, highlight extraction, or Shorts clip recommendations.

yt-dlp + Whisper → Shorts Highlights

Use scripts/yt_to_shorts.py to automate: (1) audio download, (2) Whisper transcription, (3) highlight picking from the SRT.

Quick start

Run end-to-end (download → transcribe → suggest):

python3 scripts/yt_to_shorts.py "<YOUTUBE_URL>" --language ko --min-sec 15 --max-sec 60 --count 3

Use an existing subtitle file (skip download/transcribe):

python3 scripts/yt_to_shorts.py "<YOUTUBE_URL>" --no-download --no-transcribe --srt-file "<PATH_TO.srt>"

Workflow (agent)

1. Confirm:
   • The YouTube URL
   • Target language (use --language ko for Korean, or omit to auto-detect)
   • Desired Shorts length (default 15–60s) and number of picks (default 3)
2. Run scripts/yt_to_shorts.py and read the generated highlights.md.
3. Sanity-check each pick in the SRT:
   • Start should hook within 1–2s; if it starts slow, shift the in-point earlier to a stronger line.
   • Avoid section transitions (“다음으로…”) mid-clip; trim before the transition or add a 1-line narration bridge.
4. Respond with 3 candidates:
   • Exact start/end timecodes, duration
   • Clear selection reasons (hook, payoff, usefulness, emotion, proof shot)
   • Concrete edit plan (opening text, jump cuts, overlays/B-roll, optional narration)

Outputs

Default output structure:

• ./yt_shorts/<video_id>/<video_id>.mp3 (when downloaded)
• ./yt_shorts/<video_id>/<video_id>.srt (when transcribed)
• ./yt_shorts/<video_id>/highlights.md
• ./yt_shorts/<video_id>/highlights.json

Notes

• Requires yt-dlp and whisper in PATH.
• Downloading from YouTube requires network access; in restricted environments this may require user approval.
• If yt-dlp warns about missing JS runtime (EJS), add an appropriate runtime or pass extra args via --yt-dlp-args.
• For additional heuristics/templates, see references/shorts-selection.md.