Put a YouTube transcript into Notion, Obsidian or Google Docs
WithTranscript's Copy transcript gives you Markdown: a title heading, a chapter list and timestamped paragraphs. Obsidian reads it as is; Google Docs converts it once you turn on its Markdown setting; Notion can import the saved .md file. Steps for each are below. Back to getting a YouTube transcript.
Obsidian
Obsidian notes are Markdown files, so nothing needs converting. Paste the copied transcript into a note and the heading, chapter list and bold timestamps render straight away. To keep it as its own file, open withtranscript.ai/video/<id>/transcript.md, save the page with your browser, and drop the file into your vault.
Google Docs
- In a document, open Tools → Preferences and tick Enable Markdown. Google says it's off by default and available to personal and Workspace accounts.
- Right-click where you want the transcript and choose Paste from Markdown.
Headings and the bold timestamps come through as formatting. Google Docs can also open a saved .md file: File → Open → Upload.
Notion
The dependable route is to save /video/<id>/transcript.md as a file and bring it in with Notion's Import, which supports Markdown files. Pasting the copied text into a page also works for the words; how much of the formatting Notion converts on paste isn't something Notion documents, so check the headings afterwards.
Keeping the link back
The copied text starts with the YouTube link and the transcript page link, so a note made today still points at the video later. Each paragraph's timestamp tells you where to look.
Example from the library
COMP1531 Week 1 Lecture 2UNSW COMP1531 · 1h 54mA two-hour lecture in 16 chapters; a good test of how your notes app handles a long transcript.