Use YouTube transcripts in NanoClaw
NanoClaw agents live in your chats. Add one MCP server and they can read YouTube for you, from WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack or Discord.
Setup steps ↓ncl groups config add-mcp-server --id <group-id> \
--name bulktranscripts --url https://bulktranscripts.co/mcp
ncl groups restart --id <group-id>Two steps from install to answers
Add the server to a group
Then store a free API key in the OneCLI vault for this server and restart the group.
ncl groups config add-mcp-server --id <group-id> \
--name bulktranscripts --url https://bulktranscripts.co/mcpAsk NanoClaw in plain words
NanoClaw picks the right tool by itself. You never name one.
get_latest_videos15 recent uploadsfreeget_transcript1 full transcript1 credit- The question it answers
- The experiment and the result
- The surprising part, with a timestamp
Step by step
Add the server to a group
ncl groups config add-mcp-server --id <group-id> \
--name bulktranscripts --url https://bulktranscripts.co/mcp
ncl groups restart --id <group-id>NanoClaw does not run an OAuth sign-in for MCP servers, so it needs an API key. Create a free one under MCP & API → API keys and store it in the OneCLI vault as the Authorization: Bearer value for this server. Keys pasted into the URL are rejected, and --headers is meant for non-secret values only.
Or use the skill
npx skills add pratie/youtube-transcript-skillRun it in your NanoClaw fork and pass BULKTRANSCRIPTS_API_KEY into the container.
The skill teaches the agent the plain REST API, so it needs curl and a free API key in BULKTRANSCRIPTS_API_KEY. Create the key at bulktranscripts.co/app → MCP & API → API keys; it includes the 30 free credits.
Check it worked
After the restart the agent has mcp__bulktranscripts__* tools. Ask it to list them.
Notes
Connecting the MCP server takes one sign-in — Google or a license key — and includes 30 free credits, no card needed. Buying a one-time credit pack gets you a license key that doubles as the API key; credits never expire and repeat reads from your own library are free.
Which setup fits you
All of them share one account, one credit balance and one library.
| Way in | How you connect | Sign-in | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCP server | ncl groups config add-mcp-server | API key in the OneCLI vault | Most groups |
| Skill | npx skills add pratie/youtube-transcript-skill | BULKTRANSCRIPTS_API_KEY | Forks that prefer skills |
What to ask NanoClaw
Paste any of these once the server is connected.
“Summarize the newest video from @veritasium in five bullets.”
“Every evening, post new uploads from our five channels to this group.”
“Find the video where he said this and quote it.”
“Get the ingredients from this cooking video.”
“Explain lesson 3 of this playlist in simple words.”
“What do these two videos disagree about?”
Use it in your other tools too
Same account and credits everywhere. Your library follows you.
Claude Code
One terminal command (MCP) or the agent skill
Codex
One config.toml block (MCP) or the skill
Cursor
One-click install button or mcp.json
Grok Bot
MCP server with OAuth
ChatGPT
Custom connector in Developer mode
VS Code
Copilot agent mode, one mcp.json entry
n8n
Community node or HTTP Request
Make
HTTP module with an API key
Gemini CLI
One extension install, or gemini mcp add
Claude Cowork
Custom connector, Google sign-in
Perplexity Computer
Custom remote connector, OAuth
MManus
Custom MCP connector, OAuth or Bearer key
OpenClaw
openclaw mcp add, or the ClawHub skill
HHermes Agent
hermes mcp add with OAuth
Kimi Code
One mcp.json entry, then /mcp-config login
PPaperclip
Skill from the company Skills page
Questions about NanoClaw
How do I add BulkTranscripts to NanoClaw?
Run ncl groups config add-mcp-server --id <group-id> --name bulktranscripts --url https://bulktranscripts.co/mcp, store a free API key in the OneCLI vault as the Bearer value, then ncl groups restart --id <group-id>.
Why does NanoClaw need an API key?
NanoClaw does not run OAuth sign-ins for MCP servers, so it authenticates with a key. Keys are free and include the 30 free credits.
Is BulkTranscripts free to use in NanoClaw?
You start with 30 free credits when you sign in with Google, no card needed. One credit fetches one new transcript. Reading a transcript that is already in your library is free, and checking a channel for new uploads is free. After that, one-time credit packs that never expire; there is no subscription.
Does every YouTube video have a transcript?
No. A transcript can only be fetched when the video has captions, either uploaded by the creator or generated by YouTube. Videos without captions are skipped and never charged.
Can NanoClaw read a whole channel or playlist?
Yes. Ask for a channel or playlist and the server lists the videos, then fetches their transcripts. Large jobs of up to 1,000 videos run on the server in the background and report progress, so they survive a long conversation.
The same engine, three other ways in
MCP server
Ten tools for any MCP client: transcripts, search, channels, bulk jobs, upload alerts.
REST API
Plain GET requests with an OpenAPI spec, for scripts, n8n, Make and Sheets.
Agent skill
One SKILL.md that teaches Claude Code, Codex and OpenClaw the whole API.
Developer docs
Every endpoint, parameter, error code and credit rule in one place.
Connect it in NanoClaw
30 free credits, no card. One sign-in for the MCP connector, one free API key for the REST API.