# Auto Captions

> Add styled, timed captions to a local video with Yaps and export a new captioned MP4. Use for animated captions, word highlighting, and burned-in subtitles. Use srt-generator for a separate subtitle file.

- Skill: `richawo/auto-captions` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add richawo/auto-captions`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/richawo/auto-captions/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: richawo (https://skillmd.com/u/richawo)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/richawo/auto-captions

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# Yaps Auto Captions

Use the existing Yaps MCP tools. Do not invent CLI commands or use a hosted captioning service as a fallback.

1. Check the exact source with `captions_verify` and inspect templates with `captions_styles`.
2. Create an editable project with `captions_create`. Use the returned project ID for subsequent actions.
3. Inspect `captions_show`. Apply requested edits with `captions_correct`, `captions_replace`, `captions_split`, `captions_merge`, or `captions_set_style`. Preserve the spoken wording unless the user asks for a correction. `captions_reset` discards edits, so use it only after explicit approval.
4. Render with `captions_render` to a separate `.mp4`, then verify the result with `captions_verify`. Never target the source. Only set `overwrite: true` after approval to replace the exact existing output.

Return a link to the captioned video. A saved caption project is not a completed video export. Use the transcribe skill for plain text and srt-generator for a separate `.srt` file.

## Reachability

Call `yaps_status` when a tool reports a problem. If it returns `local_yaps_unreachable`, `cli_missing`, or equivalent, the current session cannot see the Yaps engine. Do not claim Yaps is uninstalled. Offer [Download Yaps](https://yaps.ai/download), ask the user to open Yaps, and retry from a local session on the same computer. Only use `yaps_enable_feature` to install a model after the user requests it.