Note to Video Transcript
Overview
This skill transforms study notes (Markdown or PDF format) into a ready-to-record video transcript. The output is a 5–8 minute spoken script with natural pacing, smooth transitions, and a clear structure suitable for educational video content.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- You have study notes in Markdown or PDF format
- You want to create a video script from written content
- You need a spoken-language transcript (not just reformatted text)
- Target video duration is 5–8 minutes
- Content should maintain educational fidelity while being conversational
Input Requirements
Supported Formats:
- Markdown files (.md)
- PDF documents (.pdf)
Content Expectations:
- Structured with headings (# ## ###)
- Contains educational or explanatory content
- Includes concepts, definitions, or step-by-step explanations
Output Contract
The skill produces transcript.md with the following structure:
- Title - Clear, engaging video title
- Hook (10–20 seconds) - Attention-grabbing opening
- Intro - Context + what viewers will learn
- Main Sections (2–5 chapters) - Core content broken into digestible parts
- Recap - Concise bullet summary of key points
- CTA - Call-to-action (follow/like/comment prompt)
Quality Guarantees:
- Coverage: All major headings addressed or explicitly marked as omitted
- Length: Target duration ±15% (estimated via words-per-minute)
- Accuracy: No new facts unless clearly labeled as expansions
- Tone: Spoken language, short sentences, smooth transitions
Deterministic Workflow
Step 1: Identify Input Format
Determine if input is Markdown or PDF.
Step 2: Extract Content (PDF only)
If input is PDF:
- Run
scripts/extract_pdf_text.py - Convert PDF to Markdown-like text format
- Preserve structure and headings
Step 3: Normalize Content
Run scripts/normalize_notes.py to:
- Preserve headings, code blocks, definitions
- Remove navigation sections, TOC, footers
- Normalize whitespace
- Convert bullet points to speakable sentences when needed
Step 4: Build Outline
- Map input headings to transcript sections
- Allocate word budget per section based on target duration
- Ensure balanced coverage across topics
- Identify sections to expand or condense
Step 5: Generate Transcript
Run scripts/build_transcript.py with:
- Input: normalized markdown
- Preset: neutral | xiaohongshu | professional
- Target duration: 5-8 minutes
The script will:
- Apply spoken tone transformation
- Create short, natural sentences
- Add explicit transitions between sections
- Insert hook, intro, recap, and CTA
Step 6: Quality Pass
Perform automated checks:
- Coverage Check: Verify all major headings are addressed
- Length Check: Estimate duration (150 words/minute for spoken content)
- Repetition Trimming: Detect and remove excessive repeated phrases
- Coherence: Ensure smooth flow between sections
Step 7: Write Output
Generate final files:
transcript.md- Main deliverableoutline.md(optional) - Section breakdown with word counts
Example Usage
Example 1: Markdown Input
Input: notes/day10.md
# Understanding Agent Skills
## What are Agent Skills?
Agent skills extend GitHub Copilot's capabilities...
## Creating a Custom Skill
To create a skill, you need...
## Best Practices
Always include clear examples...
User Prompt:
Convert notes/day10.md into a 6-minute video transcript.
Output: transcript.md
# Master Agent Skills in 6 Minutes
## Hook (15 sec)
Want to supercharge your GitHub Copilot? In the next six minutes,
you'll learn how to create custom agent skills that do exactly
what you need.
## Intro (30 sec)
Hey everyone! Today we're diving into GitHub Copilot Agent Skills.
These are powerful extensions that let you teach Copilot new
capabilities. By the end of this video, you'll understand what
they are, how to build one, and the best practices to make them shine.
## Section 1: What are Agent Skills? (2 min)
Let's start with the basics. An agent skill is like giving Copilot
a new superpower. Instead of just writing code, it can now perform
specialized tasks...
[continues with natural spoken language]
Example 2: PDF with Style Preset
User Prompt:
Convert notes/research.pdf into a 5–6 minute spoken script using
the professional preset.
The skill will:
- Extract text from PDF
- Normalize content structure
- Apply professional tone preset
- Generate transcript targeting 5.5 minutes (825 words)
Style Presets
Neutral
- Balanced tone
- Medium sentence length (12-18 words)
- Minimal jargon
- General audience
- Simple transitions
Xiaohongshu
- Conversational, friendly
- Short sentences (8-12 words)
- Emoji usage allowed
- Personal pronouns (we, you, I)
- Engaging hooks and CTAs
Professional
- Formal but accessible
- Longer sentences (15-20 words)
- Technical terminology welcome
- Industry-standard transitions
- Authoritative tone
Configuration Options
When invoking the skill, you can specify:
- Target Duration: 5-8 minutes (default: 6 minutes)
- Style Preset: neutral | xiaohongshu | professional (default: neutral)
- Output Directory: Where to save transcript.md (default: current directory)
Success Criteria
A successful transcript must meet:
- Coverage: Every major heading addressed or omission explained
- Length Accuracy: Within ±15% of target duration
- Fact Accuracy: No invented information (unless clearly marked)
- Spoken Quality: Sounds natural when read aloud
- Structure Adherence: Follows Title > Hook > Intro > Sections > Recap > CTA
Limitations
- Optimal for 5-8 minute videos (shorter/longer may require manual adjustment)
- Best for educational/explanatory content (not suitable for narrative stories)
- Code-heavy content requires manual review for spoken clarity
- Image/diagram references need manual description
Error Handling
The skill will warn if:
- Input file is empty or unreadable
- PDF extraction produces minimal text
- Estimated duration far exceeds target (>30% difference)
- Critical headings are missing
Testing
Run golden file tests:
python tests/test_golden_output.py
This validates:
- Structure compliance
- Coverage completeness
- Length estimation accuracy
Resources
- Template:
resources/transcript-template.md - Style presets:
resources/style-presets/*.md - Examples:
examples/
Future Enhancements
Planned additions:
- Multi-output pack (shotlist, captions, titles)
- Fidelity modes (strict vs. expanded)
- Long PDF chunking and hierarchical summarization
Source: jessieffff/21-day-advent-ai-agent — distributed by TomeVault.