Making Automatic YouTube videos with Python

Summary

This video script outlines a Python-based method to automate the creation of popular Reddit-based videos featuring text-to-speech narration over Minecraft gameplay. The process involves using Reddit's API to fetch posts and comments, text-to-speech conversion, screenshot capturing with Selenium, and video editing with MoviePy. The script also touches on the ethical considerations of using Reddit content for profit and the challenges of automating YouTube uploads.

Takeaways

• 🤖 The script discusses creating automated videos using Python by scraping Reddit posts and comments.
• 🌐 It suggests using Reddit's API to fetch data in a structured JSON format, avoiding the need to parse HTML files.
• 📚 The PRAW library is recommended for simplifying interactions with Reddit's API in Python.
• 🔑 The process involves setting up API credentials by registering an application on Reddit's website.
• 🗨️ The script describes selecting a post and comments, filtering out long comments and NSFW content.
• 📝 PYT (Python Text to Speech) is used to convert text into voiceover for the video.
• 📸 Selenium is mentioned for taking screenshots of Reddit posts and comments for video content.
• 🎞️ MoviePy is the tool of choice for editing the video, combining images, audio, and gameplay footage.
• 🎮 The background is created using pre-recorded gameplay footage in a vertical ratio.
• 🚫 The script touches on the ethical considerations of using Reddit content without permission.
• 📈 The creator shares their experience of gaining views and subscribers on a new YouTube channel using this method.

Q & A

What is the main idea behind the video script?

The script describes a process to automate the creation of videos using Reddit posts, comments, Minecraft gameplay, and text-to-speech technology with Python.

Why is using Reddit's API beneficial over scraping the website directly?

Using Reddit's API provides a consistent and structured format (JSON) for the data, which is easier to parse and less prone to breakage if Reddit changes its website layout.

What Python library is mentioned for interacting with Reddit's API?

The library mentioned is PRAW (Python Reddit API Wrapper), which simplifies the process of sending requests to Reddit's API.

How does one obtain an ID and password for Reddit's API?

One needs to register on Reddit's website and set up an API application to obtain the necessary ID and password.

What criteria are used to select a Reddit post for the video?

The criteria include selecting top posts from the 'AskReddit' subreddit from the last day and ensuring the post is not over 18 or NSFW.

How are comments selected from a chosen Reddit post?

Comments are selected by searching through the comment list and choosing those that are not over 100 words in length.

What tool is used for text-to-speech conversion in the video creation process?

The tool used is called pyttsx3, a Python text-to-speech conversion library.

Why is Selenium chosen for taking screenshots of Reddit posts and comments?

Selenium is an automated test tool that can control a web browser with code, making it effective for capturing screenshots consistently.

How does the script handle the selection of Minecraft gameplay footage for the video?

Pre-recorded gameplay footage with the correct vertical ratio is chosen randomly from a folder and imported into the video editing process.

What video editing tool is used to combine the elements into a final video?

MoviePy is used to organize and edit the video clips, including the background gameplay and the voiceover with screenshots.

Why did the author decide not to automate the YouTube upload process?

The author encountered an issue with YouTube requiring an approval application for full API access, which they found too cumbersome to pursue.

What ethical consideration is mentioned regarding the use of Reddit content in videos?

The ethical consideration is the potential of profiting from other people's ideas on Reddit without permission.

How did the author test the automated video creation process?

The author created a new YouTube channel, posted the automated videos as shorts, and observed the views and subscriber growth.

What was the initial outcome of the author's test with the automated video creation?

After one week of posting roughly once a day, the author achieved over 28,000 views and 28 subscribers.