Localising ideas from YouTube
Tutorials, reviews and vlogs abroad are often half a step ahead. Save, transcribe, decompose the structure, then use AI rewrite to remake it for your own audience.
Collect
YouTube video downloader
A good idea from YouTube is worth keeping. The video, title, description and thumbnail are saved to a library on your computer and transcribed, ready to take apart and remake in your own words.
Desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux
When to use it
Studying Shorts for vertical video
Shorts pages work too. The shot script and clip MP4s go into the asset library for reference when you make vertical videos.
How to download
- 1
Save from the video or Shorts page
With the Beav desktop app and extension installed, open the video in desktop Chrome or Edge and save it with the extension. A pending entry appears in the knowledge base with the title, description and thumbnail. Away from your computer, Add link or Phone Upload create the same pending entry.
- 2
Pick a resolution and check the price in the app
The dialog offers up to 360p (fastest), 720p (recommended) or 1080p (larger), with the credit price for this download as shown there. If the source is lower, you get the best quality under your cap. Cancel to keep the entry for later.
- 3
Wait for the download and transcript
The card shows video and audio progress and speed, then merging and saving. Once on disk, the video can be previewed and is transcribed automatically.
What you get
A local video file
Up to 1080p, in the knowledge base with title, description, thumbnail and source.
An automatic transcript
Text comes from local transcription, not platform captions.
A breakdown
Decompose gives the topic, structure template, shot script and timestamped transcript; clips and keyframes go to the asset library.
A rewrite in your language
AI rewrite takes the video into a new chat to learn its structure, not to copy it.
Compared with other ways
| Aspect | YouTube Premium offline | yt-dlp and similar | Asking an AI to summarise | Beav |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | An offline cache in the app | A video file | A summary or Q&A | Video, title, description, thumbnail and source |
| Quality and bulk | Per membership | Many options, playlists | No file | Up to 1080p, confirmed one by one |
| Text | Platform captions | Captions downloadable | Understands the content | Automatic local transcript |
| Shots | No | Cut them yourself | Usually text only | Shot script, clip MP4s and keyframes |
| Cost | Subscription | Mostly free | Their own rules | Credits per download; model quota for breakdown and rewrite |
For offline viewing, YouTube Premium is easiest. For bulk or higher quality, yt-dlp and similar tools are more flexible and cheaper. To learn what a video says in a minute, ask an AI. Beav is for taking a video apart to make your own work, with the material and source kept in one library.
FAQ
How do I download a YouTube video to my computer?
Open the video in your desktop browser, save it with the Beav extension, then pick a resolution and confirm the price in the app. The video downloads into your local knowledge base.
What is the highest resolution?
Up to 1080p; choose 360p, 720p or 1080p. If the source is lower, you get the best quality under your cap.
Is it free?
Each download costs the credits shown in the confirmation dialog. Credits are charged once the video is resolved and are not refunded if the download later fails; failed entries can be retried, with a new confirmation each time. Breakdown and rewriting use model quota.
Can I download a whole playlist?
No. Every download is confirmed in the app. For playlists or bulk downloads, tools like yt-dlp fit better.
Can I download subtitles?
The current flow does not read YouTube captions; text comes from automatic local transcription.
Does it work with Shorts?
Yes. Save from the Shorts page the same way.
Can I use the downloaded video directly?
Only for your own study. Get the creator's permission before using it in your work, reposting or using it commercially.
Read more
Related playbooks
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Video to text
Turn local videos, recordings and short-video links into transcripts or subtitles.
Break down
Video shot breakdown
One-click breakdown: shot script, clips and timestamped transcript.
Create
AI rewriter for viral posts
Keep the original's structure, switch to your language and product.