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Apify Youtube MCP Server Workflow

This workflow triggers automatic searches and subtitle extraction for YouTube videos through the MCP server. It utilizes Apify's services to bypass official restrictions, ensuring efficient and stable data collection. It supports video searching, subtitle downloading, and usage reporting, simplifying data processing for subsequent analysis and presentation. Additionally, the built-in quota monitoring feature provides real-time feedback on usage, helping users manage resources effectively. This workflow is suitable for various scenarios, including researchers, content creators, and data engineers.

Workflow Diagram
Apify Youtube MCP Server Workflow Workflow diagram

Workflow Name

Apify Youtube MCP Server Workflow

Key Features and Highlights

  • Utilizes an MCP (Machine-Client-Protocol) server trigger to enable Youtube video search and subtitle extraction capabilities.
  • Integrates Apify.com’s Youtube scraping service to bypass official low-rate limits, ensuring stable and efficient search and subtitle download performance.
  • Supports three core operations: Youtube video search, video subtitle retrieval, and Apify account usage reporting.
  • Simplifies and aggregates result data for easier downstream processing and presentation.
  • Built-in quota monitoring provides real-time feedback on monthly usage and consumption, helping users manage resources effectively.

Core Problems Addressed

  • Official Youtube API call rate limits restrict query frequency, impacting data collection continuity and efficiency.
  • Manual video search and subtitle downloads are cumbersome and difficult to automate or batch process.
  • Lack of real-time visibility into third-party scraping service (Apify) account usage and cost consumption.

Application Scenarios

  • Researchers and content creators automating the acquisition of Youtube videos and subtitles for text analysis, content organization, and research reporting.
  • Data engineers or automation developers building applications or services based on Youtube video data.
  • Operations personnel or project managers needing to monitor and manage Apify scraping service usage and expenses.

Main Workflow Steps

  1. Receive external workflow invocation requests via the MCP Server Trigger, passing operation types and parameters.
  2. Switch execution flow based on operation type (youtube_search, youtube_transcripts, usage_metrics).
  3. Youtube Search: Call the Apify Youtube Scraper API to fetch video metadata lists based on user query keywords.
  4. Simplify search result fields and aggregate multiple video entries into a unified response.
  5. Youtube Transcripts: Use the same Apify scraping service to download English subtitle text for specified video URLs.
  6. Simplify and aggregate subtitle text and video information for convenient downstream use.
  7. Usage Metrics: Query the current account’s monthly usage and spending limits via the Apify API, formatting and outputting detailed resource consumption reports.
  8. Return results to the MCP client to enable automated interaction.

Involved Systems or Services

  • Apify.com: Third-party Youtube video scraping and subtitle downloading service providing stable API endpoints.
  • n8n MCP Server Trigger: Serves as the workflow entry point, supporting external calls via the MCP protocol.
  • HTTP Request Nodes: Handle communication with the Apify API.
  • Data Processing Nodes (Set, Aggregate): Simplify and consolidate raw data to enhance usability.

Target Users and Value Proposition

  • Researchers and content analysts requiring automated collection of Youtube videos and corresponding subtitles.
  • Automation developers and data integration engineers building intelligent applications based on multimedia content.
  • Customers using Apify scraping services who need convenient monitoring of usage quotas and costs.
  • Technical teams aiming to implement multi-platform data interaction through the MCP protocol.

This workflow leverages the powerful scraping capabilities of Apify combined with n8n’s flexible triggers and data processing nodes to deliver an efficient and reliable Youtube search and subtitle extraction solution. With only Apify account and MCP client configuration, users can automate video data research and analysis, significantly improving work efficiency and data quality.