🎥 Youtube Audio Downloader (Video/Shorts) — Apify Actor ** Extract YouTube video metadata and audio download — optimized for stability and fast extraction. ** --- ## What this Actor does This Apify Actor processes one or more YouTube video URLs and extracts metadata and a direct audio download URL for each video. It is designed for resilience: it supports proxy configuration, retry logic with exponential backoff, and selects the best available audio stream and highest-resolution thumbnail available for each video. Results are pushed to the Actor dataset for downstream consumption. --- ## Features * ✅ Extracts video metadata (title, description, duration). * ✅ Finds and exposes a direct audio download URL (best available audio quality). * ✅ Selects the highest-resolution thumbnail available. * ✅ Supports residential proxy configuration via environment variables. * ✅ Includes retry logic with exponential backoff for transient failures. * ✅ Pushes structured results into the Actor dataset. * ✅ Handles video urls or share link ✅ * ✅ Handles shorts urls or share link ✅ --- ### Run on the Apify platform 1. Deploy the actor using the platform UI or the platform's deployment pipeline. 2. Provide input.json in the platform run configuration. 3. Start the run and inspect the dataset produced by the actor once finished. --- ## Example input.json and output.json Below are sanitized and pretty-printed examples based on the actor input schema and typical output structure. All sensitive identifiers are replaced with placeholders. --- ### Example (input.json) json { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf2ml3oE2JA" }, { "url": "https://youtu.be/q4pcWpnV-eE?si=Z9dS6X86E_hG6SWM" }, { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Sy_yiUh6vMs" }, { "url": "https://youtube.com/shorts/_5TDLccA1rE?si=7bKI0pQdEKYJuIY1" } ] } ### Example (output.json) Successful extraction example (pushed to dataset as a record): json [ { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf2ml3oE2JA", "title": "NO BATIDÃO (SLOWED)", "description": "NO BATIDÃO (SLOWED) by ZXKAI\nLabel: RUBIX\n\nno batidao 1 hour full funk", "duration": "4:03", "thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bf2ml3oE2JA/maxresdefault.jpg", "audio_download_url": "https://rr2---sn-ht0hn01-u5nz.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?expire=1765582451&ei=E1I8aYvjGrSC0u8P05P9yAM&ip=185.213.230.10&id=o-AGqV3L2f1uuoVPAVq13qC2y95HztigxhaKaZKSxVnOvO&itag=251&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&xpc=EgVo2aDSNQ%3D%3D&cps=364&met=1765560851%2C&mh=lS&mm=31%2C29&mn=sn-ht0hn01-u5nz%2Csn-4g5ednrz&ms=au%2Crdu&mv=m&mvi=2&pl=24&rms=au%2Cau&initcwndbps=281250&bui=AYUSA3CzmxE43MK7bPt3h7jD7E_YtMkJQcr0SpVQNTn-kteokLIOxUBnj2DYK1faX35kSkagN-NPfqA4&spc=wH4Qq40MqDGs&vprv=1&svpuc=1&mime=audio%2Fwebm&rqh=1&gir=yes&clen=4024494&dur=242.941&lmt=1763809525532096&mt=1765559399&fvip=4&keepalive=yes&fexp=51552689%2C51565116%2C51565682%2C51580968&c=ANDROID&txp=5532534&sparams=expire%2Cei%2Cip%2Cid%2Citag%2Csource%2Crequiressl%2Cxpc%2Cbui%2Cspc%2Cvprv%2Csvpuc%2Cmime%2Crqh%2Cgir%2Cclen%2Cdur%2Clmt&sig=AJfQdSswRQIgI3RDqM0RcUAu9eff4-YQYYHKU-0tLnaXcxqH8cGytocCIQD2ydLUOn8lvb6iQ3XdxYPXLr2eIzaE42KZuzcZlxVOvA%3D%3D&lsparams=cps%2Cmet%2Cmh%2Cmm%2Cmn%2Cms%2Cmv%2Cmvi%2Cpl%2Crms%2Cinitcwndbps&lsig=APaTxxMwRAIgBmumkG7V4kF4mnRh5P6GWpHb5yO-flZ4fT85LyDqBacCIDVQUpM6zbQR5mTG2mBrg4yS0LvYv4N-yCsRAR-P0xdn" }, { "url": "https://youtu.be/q4pcWpnV-eE?si=Z9dS6X86E_hG6SWM", "title": "ÉCHAME", "description": "ÉCHAME by Sayfalse · DJ Javi26 · JXNDRO · Dj Samir\n\n⚠️ These videos may cause people with photosensitive epilepsy to convulse in seizures. Viewer discretion is advised. ⚠️\n\nFor any business inquiries, photo and song submissions or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us: info@thisismafia.com\n\nPhonk | Phonk Music | Phonk Playlist | Phonk Music 2025 | phonk remix | Aggressive Drift Gym | TikTok Phonk | phonk drift | THIS IS MAFIA", "duration": "4:30", "thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q4pcWpnV-eE/maxresdefault.jpg", "audio_download_url": "https://rr3---sn-cxxapox31-jpue.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?expire=1765582460&ei=HFI8aZDNDp6Mv_IP05fLoAk&ip=173.244.157.36&id=o-ADP1d1LEsgnMkCSj7QaPj1oP8lFHxw6CnPnVcQ2U8tte&itag=140&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&xpc=EgVo2aDSNQ%3D%3D&cps=0&met=1765560860%2C&mh=8n&mm=31%2C29&mn=sn-cxxapox31-jpue%2Csn-ixh7rn76&ms=au%2Crdu&mv=m&mvi=3&pl=24&rms=au%2Cau&initcwndbps=1832500&bui=AYUSA3B4L6ARTODYKmc30XvPn7j3OEVuWPIb6o1eshNYZIRx5RO2LYIpA0_cAhj8oGmxWGxC19Ly0o0i&spc=wH4Qq1l6G7Vc&vprv=1&svpuc=1&mime=audio%2Fmp4&rqh=1&gir=yes&clen=4366410&dur=269.746&lmt=1760780012181254&mt=1765559399&fvip=4&keepalive=yes&fexp=51552689%2C51565115%2C51565681%2C51580968&c=ANDROID&txp=4432534&sparams=expire%2Cei%2Cip%2Cid%2Citag%2Csource%2Crequiressl%2Cxpc%2Cbui%2Cspc%2Cvprv%2Csvpuc%2Cmime%2Crqh%2Cgir%2Cclen%2Cdur%2Clmt&sig=AJfQdSswRgIhALcRt7lgPcPBCjvAUBHaTDsdwQpPLd69b0OyIkg2D5fgAiEAz6qiQki-oVm9nmB1G5a-aBI7YAbQEg8m7w2a5ln1nSk%3D&lsparams=cps%2Cmet%2Cmh%2Cmm%2Cmn%2Cms%2Cmv%2Cmvi%2Cpl%2Crms%2Cinitcwndbps&lsig=APaTxxMwRAIgVKN7kJ6fqNAeufLnvHwRKd3vreqR63MtFBQ87mrxE-0CIAytpxlelW2S-SQeQrv0-uqbQ8wbrRxyr5kAOeW8C9UA" }, { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Sy_yiUh6vMs", "title": "VEKI VEKI x BMW Edit", "description": "", "duration": "0:14", "thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Sy_yiUh6vMs/maxresdefault.jpg", "audio_download_url": "https://rr3---sn-bvaqxoapo3-bpbe.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?expire=1765582475&ei=K1I8afOAA7WZobIPjrmw6A0&ip=2804%3A3bf0%3Ade%3Afb17%3Ad423%3A2869%3A2c51%3Ae705&id=o-AH5EpjyZ7KDJgTFoX68Zy5MGtjK1vSTNw1jTVqjx3_hQ&itag=140&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&xpc=EgVo2aDSNQ%3D%3D&cps=1&met=1765560875%2C&mh=BD&mm=31%2C29&mn=sn-bvaqxoapo3-bpbe%2Csn-gpv7yn7l&ms=au%2Crdu&mv=m&mvi=3&pcm2cms=yes&pl=48&rms=au%2Cau&initcwndbps=2375000&bui=AYUSA3DNorOMWwfkYjO4NqFV7bPXtDBOaK7jM3SrVb_ziUjoZOxuDzpTGb_ezaQr1UzP8zM56TWPwJFX&spc=wH4Qq6OzqVEE&vprv=1&svpuc=1&xtags=drc%3D1&mime=audio%2Fmp4&rqh=1&gir=yes&clen=233534&dur=14.349&lmt=1764516219992196&mt=1765559399&fvip=4&keepalive=yes&fexp=51552689%2C51565116%2C51565681%2C51580968&c=ANDROID&txp=4402234&sparams=expire%2Cei%2Cip%2Cid%2Citag%2Csource%2Crequiressl%2Cxpc%2Cbui%2Cspc%2Cvprv%2Csvpuc%2Cxtags%2Cmime%2Crqh%2Cgir%2Cclen%2Cdur%2Clmt&sig=AJfQdSswRgIhALumulzOECB-04_2VY6aTpRiXhHj4RF9_wqcSVwHVFL5AiEAuELcs52O9ILb5WaZ8ao8wkex3CofYj2yYV35uVLmB30%3D&lsparams=cps%2Cmet%2Cmh%2Cmm%2Cmn%2Cms%2Cmv%2Cmvi%2Cpcm2cms%2Cpl%2Crms%2Cinitcwndbps&lsig=APaTxxMwRQIgbTHWxR5ezvs8xBi7ozFAPTmTK4OLQOcypDG3gPvD-NMCIQCawIRiM8dhxIDYD7jhOcc3Oy0RHNrleZBj_QfuryKzUw%3D%3D" }, { "url": "https://youtube.com/shorts/_5TDLccA1rE?si=7bKI0pQdEKYJuIY1", "title": "POV: After years of Hard Work |#successmindset#motivation#lamborghinni #sehar#inspiration#wifimoney", "description": "", "duration": "0:27", "thumbnail_url": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_5TDLccA1rE/maxresdefault.jpg", "audio_download_url": "https://rr2---sn-n25jxcg-bg0s.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?expire=1765582511&ei=T1I8adDKEoeiobIPlpap6Qc&ip=2804%3A53d4%3A842%3A9100%3A4956%3Ad37f%3A1246%3Ac271&id=o-AMgyFvb8R2oCoi6xtyXUGbAeRM9OEyr7CK4qTLukfnat&itag=251&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&xpc=EgVo2aDSNQ%3D%3D&cps=0&met=1765560911%2C&mh=JC&mm=31%2C29&mn=sn-n25jxcg-bg0s%2Csn-bg0s7nse&ms=au%2Crdu&mv=m&mvi=2&pl=33&rms=au%2Cau&initcwndbps=1985000&bui=AYUSA3AxOKGSprZrCNX50VszSb1FRwPpPT-CnsPLmDg__LLsZEfWEJF7c4oJTunUGuU-Ghrbk3Wgl7dE&spc=wH4Qq3UjqG_F&vprv=1&svpuc=1&xtags=drc%3D1&mime=audio%2Fwebm&rqh=1&gir=yes&clen=456949&dur=27.421&lmt=1760760329840499&mt=1765559399&fvip=5&keepalive=yes&fexp=51552689%2C51565115%2C51565682%2C51580968&c=ANDROID&txp=5402234&sparams=expire%2Cei%2Cip%2Cid%2Citag%2Csource%2Crequiressl%2Cxpc%2Cbui%2Cspc%2Cvprv%2Csvpuc%2Cxtags%2Cmime%2Crqh%2Cgir%2Cclen%2Cdur%2Clmt&sig=AJfQdSswRAIgKXdYi0YOnermeZG5XQ3QYQejth09oboWjROuaO3S9K8CIB-tk2cMlIDSkNGSby9zVqSwxASB9IOoBhItSqOnEXY8&lsparams=cps%2Cmet%2Cmh%2Cmm%2Cmn%2Cms%2Cmv%2Cmvi%2Cpl%2Crms%2Cinitcwndbps&lsig=APaTxxMwRQIgBO86Fpr-JZ5tH2G3QlCNVn_uR3A66ZkEWUx8zbsR9ygCIQD5hyX-HL0Bbf3zMwz5-bpz83mtVoMG8m_6YYOFXW54bg%3D%3D" } ] ## Outputs The actor writes one record per processed URL to the dataset. Each dataset entry contains the following fields: * url — the original input URL (string). * title — video title (string or null if extraction failed). * description — video description (string or null). * duration — human-friendly duration string such as "3:21" or "1:02:15" (string ). * thumbnail_url — best available thumbnail URL (string or null). * audio_download_url — direct URL to the best-quality audio stream . * error — (optional) error message present when extraction failed. ---