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Summarize a channel's latest videos

This n8n workflow lists a channel's latest videos, fetches each transcript with TranscriptFetch and has your chat model write a one-sentence takeaway and the key points for every video. Point it at a YouTube channel, a TikTok profile or an Instagram account.

  • Manual Trigger
  • TranscriptFetch
  • Split Out
  • Basic LLM Chain
  • OpenAI Chat Model
  • Edit Fields
Download JSON
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How it works

  1. Manual Trigger

    Run it

    Starts the workflow by hand. Swap it for a Schedule Trigger to get a digest every morning or every week.

  2. TranscriptFetch

    List the channel's videos

    List Channel Videos returns the newest videos first, with title, link, duration and publish date. The template asks for 5; the limit goes up to 50.

  3. Split Out

    One item per video

    Splits the list so every following step runs once per video.

  4. TranscriptFetch

    Get transcript

    Get Video Transcript returns the transcript as plain text. A video without captions is transcribed from its audio, and the node waits for it to finish.

  5. Basic LLM Chain

    Summarize

    Sends the title and transcript to your chat model (OpenAI gpt-4.1-mini in the template) with a prompt for a takeaway and 3 to 5 bullet points, in the video's own language. Edit the prompt to get show notes, quotes or a blog outline instead.

  6. Edit Fields

    Title, link and summary

    Keeps one tidy row per video. Replace it with Google Sheets, Notion, Slack or an email node to send the summaries where you need them.

Good for

  • A weekly digest of a competitor's, a client's or your own channel
  • Research before an interview or a deal: skim a creator's last ten videos in minutes
  • Repurposing: turn each video into notes for a newsletter, a blog draft or social posts

Set it up

  1. Copy the workflow below and paste it onto an empty n8n canvas, or download the file and use Import from File.
  2. Install the TranscriptFetch node if you have not yet: search for TranscriptFetch in the nodes panel and click Install.
  3. Add a TranscriptFetch API credential to both TranscriptFetch nodes, and an OpenAI credential to the chat model.
  4. Set the channel and how many videos in List the channel's videos, then run it.

What it costs

  • Listing the channel costs 1 credit.
  • Each transcript from captions costs 1 credit. A video without captions is transcribed from its audio at 1 credit per started 5 minutes, billed only when it is delivered.
  • The summaries are billed by your model provider. Every account gets 50 free TranscriptFetch credits a month.

Get the workflow

Copy it, click an empty spot on your n8n canvas and paste: the nodes arrive wired together. Or download the file and use Import from File in the workflow menu.

Download JSON

Questions

  • Does it work with TikTok and Instagram?

    Yes. The channel field takes a YouTube @handle or channel URL, a TikTok @profile, or an Instagram account URL; the rest of the workflow stays the same.

  • How do I summarize only new videos?

    Use the trigger from the Transcribe every new upload template in place of Run it and the listing step: it starts the workflow once for each new video, with the transcript attached.

  • Can I use a model other than OpenAI?

    Yes. Replace the OpenAI Chat Model with any chat model n8n supports, such as Anthropic, Google Gemini or a local model through Ollama.

Get a free API key

Every account gets 50 free credits a month, no card needed. Paste the key into the TranscriptFetch credential and run the workflow.

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