A 90-minute talk you don't have 90 minutes for? Claude can summarize it — but only if it can read the words. Video isn't text, so the trick is getting the transcript to Claude. Here are the two ways, fastest first.

The fast way: let Claude fetch it (MCP)

If you've set up the Scribefy MCP server, Claude pulls the transcript itself. Just paste the link in your prompt:

Summarize this video and give me the 5 main takeaways with timestamps: https://youtu.be/…

Claude calls extract_transcript behind the scenes, reads the timestamped transcript, and writes the summary. No copy-paste, no switching tabs.

The manual way: paste the transcript

No MCP set up? Get the transcript first, then paste it:

Extract the transcript on the web app and copy it (the Markdown export keeps timestamps).
Paste it into Claude with a prompt like the one below.

This works in any Claude interface, including the web app — it's just an extra step.

Prompt templates that work well

A good summary prompt tells Claude the shape you want:

Quick takeaways

Here's a video transcript with timestamps. Give me the 5–7 key takeaways as a bullet list. Add the timestamp for each so I can jump to it.

Structured summary

Summarize this transcript in three parts: (1) a two-sentence TL;DR, (2) the main arguments with supporting points, (3) any action items or recommendations. Cite timestamps.

Quote extraction

From this transcript, pull the 10 most quotable lines verbatim, each with its timestamp.

Turn it into something

Using this transcript, draft a LinkedIn post that captures the single most interesting idea, in the speaker's spirit but my words.

Why timestamps make summaries better

Because Scribefy transcripts are segmented with timestamps, Claude can tell you where each point was made. That turns a summary into a navigation tool: skim the takeaways, then click straight to the 3-minute stretch you actually care about. It also makes the summary verifiable — you can check any claim against the source.

Tips for long videos

Very long transcripts (multi-hour) can be large. Ask for the structured summary first, then drill into a section: "Expand on the part around 47:00."
Multiple videos: with MCP, ask Claude to search a topic and summarize several at once — see the AI workflow guide.
Accuracy: for auto-generated captions, double-check a critical quote by jumping to its timestamp.

Frequently asked questions

Can Claude summarize a video from just the URL?

Only if it can access the transcript — which is exactly what the MCP server provides. Without a transcript source, Claude can't watch the video; paste the transcript instead.

Does summarizing cost anything?

Claude's usage is separate from Scribefy. On the Scribefy side, you only pay to extract the transcript (1–8 credits, free if cached). See pricing.

What about videos in other languages?

Extract the transcript in the available language, then ask Claude to summarize in whatever language you prefer — it'll translate as it summarizes.

Want one-paste summaries? Set up the MCP server, or grab a transcript and paste it into Claude.