Troubleshooting Transcription Issues
Troubleshooting Transcription Issues
If a video or PDF fails to process, here are common issues and solutions.
Common YouTube Video Issues
Private or Members-Only Videos
SageTube cannot access private, members-only, or age-restricted videos. Make sure the video is public or unlisted.
Deleted or Unavailable Videos
Videos that have been removed from YouTube cannot be processed. Verify the video still exists by opening the URL in your browser.
Region-Restricted Content
Some videos are blocked in certain regions. If a video is restricted in your location, it cannot be processed.
Audio Quality Problems
Poor Transcription Accuracy
If transcription results are inaccurate:
- Check if the audio is clear and audible
- Heavy background noise, music, or multiple overlapping speakers reduce accuracy
- Consider using a video with better audio quality
No Audio Track
Some videos don't have an audio track (silent videos, music-only with no speech). These cannot be transcribed.
Long Videos
Videos over 3 hours may take longer to process (up to 10 minutes). Very long videos (8+ hours) may occasionally timeout. If this happens, try breaking the content into shorter segments.
PDF Issues
Scanned PDFs with Poor Quality
Low-resolution scans or images may produce incomplete OCR results. Use high-quality scans (300 DPI or higher) for best results.
Password-Protected PDFs
Encrypted or password-protected PDFs cannot be processed. Remove password protection before uploading.
Retry Options
If processing fails:
- Check the error message on your Expert's content page
- Verify the content is accessible
- Try removing and re-adding the content
- Contact support@sagetube.ai if the issue persists
Our support team can manually review failed transcriptions and help resolve technical issues.
Still need help?