YTDL RMCP

Name: YTDL RMCP
Author: dinglebear-ai

by dinglebear-aiversion 1.0.4i★ 3iRuns on your computer

Registry nameai.dinglebear/rytdl

How to install

What it does

yt-dlp search, download, metadata, delivery, and Plex workflows over MCP and CLI.

Connects Runs on your computer
Account or key No key needed
Category Search & AI memory

Install

Pick the AI app you use, then copy the settings.

Passed 3/3 checks · Runs on your computer · ✓ Commands checked Nov 14, 2026

First: which AI do you use?

ClaudeWeb · app · phoneChatGPTWebClaude CodeTerminalCursorCode editorVS CodeCode editorOtherOther apps

Pick your app and the steps appear below.

Works with Claude, with some setup first

Install Node.js on your computer first (one time) · Only the Claude desktop app (Windows or Mac), not the web or phone

Let AI install it

Copy this message into a Claude chat. The AI checks your computer, tells you which file it will change, and waits for your OK every time.

Please install the MCP server YTDL RMCP for Claude on this computer, in this order: 1) Check Node.js with node -v. If it is missing, tell me to install it from https://nodejs.org/en/download; do not install it yourself. 2) Use only this config (already checked by PopNx MCP): { "mcpServers": { "rytdl": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@dinglebear/rytdl" ] } } } 3) Tell me the full path of the file you will change, or the command you will run, and wait for my OK. 4) No key is needed. 5) Do what we agreed, then check that the YTDL RMCP tools really show up.

This message has no key in it. If a key is needed, the AI will ask you to paste it yourself into the file or the app’s field.

1
Install Node.js (if you don’t have it)
Already installed? Check first · Open Terminal, type this command and press Enter
node -v
- A version number such as v26.13.1 = installed, skip this step
- "command not found" (on Windows: "is not recognized") = not installed yet, or installed but Terminal needs to be closed and reopened
How to open Terminal
Mac: press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal, press Enter
Windows: open Start, type Windows PowerShell, then Open
Not installed: Open the official download page, pick the LTS version and the click-through installer: .pkg on Mac · .msi on Windows. Double-click and follow it to the end. No curl command needed
Open the Node.js download page ↗
When it’s done, close Terminal, open it again and run the same command. You should see a version number: node -v
Install once; it works for everything that needs Node.js
Done
Open the Claude desktop app’s settings file
SettingsDeveloperEdit Config
Done

Paste these settings and save the file

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rytdl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dinglebear/rytdl"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Done

Quit Claude and open it again
Done
Try it
Use YTDL RMCP and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If Claude says it is using YTDL RMCP or shows a YTDL RMCP tool in the answer, you are connected

6 optional setting(s) (works without them)

The command above works without these. Add them only if you want to change something, following the maker’s description.

YTDLP_PLEX_URL Optional Plex server URL for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_PLEX_TOKEN Optional Plex token for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_ACOUSTID_CLIENT_KEY Optional AcoustID client key for identification and auto-retagging workflows.
YTDL_RMCP_BINARY_VERSION Optional GitHub release tag override for the downloaded YTDL RMCP binary.
YTDL_RMCP_RELEASE_BASE_URL Optional release download base URL override. · default https://github.com/dinglebear-ai/rytdl/releases/download
RUST_LOG Tracing filter for YTDL RMCP logs. · default info

Descriptions are as written by the maker.

Menu names checked against Anthropic’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

ChatGPT cannot connect YTDL RMCP yet

YTDL RMCP runs on your computer, but ChatGPT can only connect servers that run on the web

What you can do instead

A · Use an app that can connect YTDL RMCP

Steps for Claude →Install Node.js on your computer first (one time) · Only the Claude desktop app (Windows or Mac), not the web or phone
Steps for Claude Code →Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)
Steps for Cursor →Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)
Steps for VS Code →Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

B · Others in Search & AI memory that work with ChatGPT

Picked from the most used in the same category, only ones that connect by address with no key

Context7✓ ChatGPT
OpenSEO✓ ChatGPT
AIHOT✓ ChatGPT

Works with Claude Code, with some setup first

Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

Let AI install it

Copy this message into a Claude Code chat. The AI checks your computer, tells you which file it will change, and waits for your OK every time.

Please install the MCP server YTDL RMCP for Claude Code on this computer, in this order: 1) Check Node.js with node -v. If it is missing, tell me to install it from https://nodejs.org/en/download; do not install it yourself. 2) Use only this config (already checked by PopNx MCP): claude mcp add --scope user rytdl -- npx -y @dinglebear/rytdl 3) Tell me the full path of the file you will change, or the command you will run, and wait for my OK. 4) No key is needed. 5) Do what we agreed, then check that the YTDL RMCP tools really show up.

This message has no key in it. If a key is needed, the AI will ask you to paste it yourself into the file or the app’s field.

1
Install Node.js (if you don’t have it)
Already installed? Check first · Open Terminal, type this command and press Enter
node -v
- A version number such as v26.13.1 = installed, skip this step
- "command not found" (on Windows: "is not recognized") = not installed yet, or installed but Terminal needs to be closed and reopened
How to open Terminal
Mac: press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal, press Enter
Windows: open Start, type Windows PowerShell, then Open
Not installed: Open the official download page, pick the LTS version and the click-through installer: .pkg on Mac · .msi on Windows. Double-click and follow it to the end. No curl command needed
Open the Node.js download page ↗
When it’s done, close Terminal, open it again and run the same command. You should see a version number: node -v
Install once; it works for everything that needs Node.js
Done
Open Terminal
Mac: press Command+Space and type Terminal · Windows: open PowerShell
Done

Paste this command and press Enter

claude mcp add --scope user rytdl -- npx -y @dinglebear/rytdl

Done

Type /mcp in Claude Code
You should see YTDL RMCP listed as connected
Done
Try it
Use YTDL RMCP and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If Claude Code says it is using YTDL RMCP or shows a YTDL RMCP tool in the answer, you are connected

6 optional setting(s) (works without them)

The command above works without these. Add them only if you want to change something, following the maker’s description.

YTDLP_PLEX_URL Optional Plex server URL for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_PLEX_TOKEN Optional Plex token for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_ACOUSTID_CLIENT_KEY Optional AcoustID client key for identification and auto-retagging workflows.
YTDL_RMCP_BINARY_VERSION Optional GitHub release tag override for the downloaded YTDL RMCP binary.
YTDL_RMCP_RELEASE_BASE_URL Optional release download base URL override. · default https://github.com/dinglebear-ai/rytdl/releases/download
RUST_LOG Tracing filter for YTDL RMCP logs. · default info

Descriptions are as written by the maker.

Menu names checked against Anthropic’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

Works with Cursor, with some setup first

Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

Let AI install it

Copy this message into a Cursor chat. The AI checks your computer, tells you which file it will change, and waits for your OK every time.

Please install the MCP server YTDL RMCP for Cursor on this computer, in this order: 1) Check Node.js with node -v. If it is missing, tell me to install it from https://nodejs.org/en/download; do not install it yourself. 2) Use only this config (already checked by PopNx MCP): { "mcpServers": { "rytdl": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@dinglebear/rytdl" ] } } } 3) Tell me the full path of the file you will change, or the command you will run, and wait for my OK. 4) No key is needed. 5) Do what we agreed, then check that the YTDL RMCP tools really show up.

This message has no key in it. If a key is needed, the AI will ask you to paste it yourself into the file or the app’s field.

1
Install Node.js (if you don’t have it)
Already installed? Check first · Open Terminal, type this command and press Enter
node -v
- A version number such as v26.13.1 = installed, skip this step
- "command not found" (on Windows: "is not recognized") = not installed yet, or installed but Terminal needs to be closed and reopened
How to open Terminal
Mac: press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal, press Enter
Windows: open Start, type Windows PowerShell, then Open
Not installed: Open the official download page, pick the LTS version and the click-through installer: .pkg on Mac · .msi on Windows. Double-click and follow it to the end. No curl command needed
Open the Node.js download page ↗
When it’s done, close Terminal, open it again and run the same command. You should see a version number: node -v
Install once; it works for everything that needs Node.js
Done
Click this button to open Cursor
Open in Cursor
Cursor asks you to confirm; click Install
Done
Open the AI chat in Cursor in Agent mode
Done
Try it
Use YTDL RMCP and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If Cursor says it is using YTDL RMCP or shows a YTDL RMCP tool in the answer, you are connected

6 optional setting(s) (works without them)

The command above works without these. Add them only if you want to change something, following the maker’s description.

YTDLP_PLEX_URL Optional Plex server URL for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_PLEX_TOKEN Optional Plex token for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_ACOUSTID_CLIENT_KEY Optional AcoustID client key for identification and auto-retagging workflows.
YTDL_RMCP_BINARY_VERSION Optional GitHub release tag override for the downloaded YTDL RMCP binary.
YTDL_RMCP_RELEASE_BASE_URL Optional release download base URL override. · default https://github.com/dinglebear-ai/rytdl/releases/download
RUST_LOG Tracing filter for YTDL RMCP logs. · default info

Descriptions are as written by the maker.

Menu names checked against Cursor’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

Works with VS Code, with some setup first

Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

Let AI install it

Copy this message into a VS Code chat. The AI checks your computer, tells you which file it will change, and waits for your OK every time.

Please install the MCP server YTDL RMCP for VS Code on this computer, in this order: 1) Check Node.js with node -v. If it is missing, tell me to install it from https://nodejs.org/en/download; do not install it yourself. 2) Use only this config (already checked by PopNx MCP): { "servers": { "rytdl": { "type": "stdio", "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@dinglebear/rytdl" ] } } } 3) Tell me the full path of the file you will change, or the command you will run, and wait for my OK. 4) No key is needed. 5) Do what we agreed, then check that the YTDL RMCP tools really show up.

This message has no key in it. If a key is needed, the AI will ask you to paste it yourself into the file or the app’s field.

1
Install Node.js (if you don’t have it)
Already installed? Check first · Open Terminal, type this command and press Enter
node -v
- A version number such as v26.13.1 = installed, skip this step
- "command not found" (on Windows: "is not recognized") = not installed yet, or installed but Terminal needs to be closed and reopened
How to open Terminal
Mac: press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal, press Enter
Windows: open Start, type Windows PowerShell, then Open
Not installed: Open the official download page, pick the LTS version and the click-through installer: .pkg on Mac · .msi on Windows. Double-click and follow it to the end. No curl command needed
Open the Node.js download page ↗
When it’s done, close Terminal, open it again and run the same command. You should see a version number: node -v
Install once; it works for everything that needs Node.js
Done
Click this button to open VS Code
Open in VS Code
VS Code asks you to confirm; click Install
Done
Open the AI chat in VS Code in Agent mode
Done
Try it
Use YTDL RMCP and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If VS Code says it is using YTDL RMCP or shows a YTDL RMCP tool in the answer, you are connected

6 optional setting(s) (works without them)

The command above works without these. Add them only if you want to change something, following the maker’s description.

YTDLP_PLEX_URL Optional Plex server URL for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_PLEX_TOKEN Optional Plex token for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_ACOUSTID_CLIENT_KEY Optional AcoustID client key for identification and auto-retagging workflows.
YTDL_RMCP_BINARY_VERSION Optional GitHub release tag override for the downloaded YTDL RMCP binary.
YTDL_RMCP_RELEASE_BASE_URL Optional release download base URL override. · default https://github.com/dinglebear-ai/rytdl/releases/download
RUST_LOG Tracing filter for YTDL RMCP logs. · default info

Descriptions are as written by the maker.

Menu names checked against VS Code’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

Other apps that use MCP, such as Windsurf, Zed or Gemini CLI, each add servers differently. See how in the app list.

See every app that uses MCP →

JSON settings are under “For developers” below

Stuck? Ask people who use YTDL RMCP💬 Discussion →

For developers: Terminal commands and JSON settings

Installed on your computer

Claude Code

claude mcp add --scope user rytdl -- npx -y @dinglebear/rytdl

Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rytdl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dinglebear/rytdl"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rytdl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dinglebear/rytdl"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code (mcp.json)

{
  "servers": {
    "rytdl": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dinglebear/rytdl"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Values you fill in

YTDLP_PLEX_URL env
Optional Plex server URL for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_PLEX_TOKEN secret env
Optional Plex token for playlist and Plex sync workflows.
YTDLP_ACOUSTID_CLIENT_KEY secret env
Optional AcoustID client key for identification and auto-retagging workflows.
YTDL_RMCP_BINARY_VERSION env
Optional GitHub release tag override for the downloaded YTDL RMCP binary.
YTDL_RMCP_RELEASE_BASE_URL env
Optional release download base URL override.
RUST_LOG env
Tracing filter for YTDL RMCP logs.

Descriptions are as written by the maker.

These settings are generated from the maker’s registry entry. If the README says otherwise, follow the README.

At a glance

GitHub stars i: 3
Downloads per weeki: 97/wk
Verified domain: ✓ dinglebear.ai
Licence i: AGPL-3.0
Connection: Runs on your computer
Transport: stdio
Latest versioni: 1.0.4
Categoryi: Search & AI memory
Published to registryi: Aug 5, 2026
Code last changedi: Oct 22, 2026
Maker: dinglebear-ai
Packages: npm: @dinglebear/rytdl
Repo: dinglebear-ai/rytdl
Website: rytdl.dinglebear.ai
Registry status: Active

Which apps can use it

Based on how this server connects and on each app’s own docs, checked Nov 10, 2026.

Run on your computer in

Claude Goose LM Studio Msty Studio Cherry Studio Cursor VS Code + GitHub Copilot Visual Studio Windsurf (Devin Desktop)Zed Kiro Cline Continue JetBrains AI Assistant Claude Code Codex CLI Gemini CLI OpenCode nodecode Warp LibreChat Raycast

All apps, with pros and cons →

What it can do

Runs on your computer; the tool list appears in your AI app after you install it.

Basic checksi

We check information anyone can see; we have not read the code. Checks that do not apply are left out of the count. · Checked Nov 15, 2026

✓ Pass
Maker matches the repo
The registry name was verified against the domain dinglebear.ai (the registry checks domain ownership)
✓ Pass
Still maintained
Code last changed 24 days ago
✓ Pass
Has a licence
Uses AGPL-3.0
– Not applicable
Endpoint responds
This one runs on your computer; there is no internet endpoint
– Not applicable
Sign-in with OAuth
Runs on your computer and uses local settings instead
… Not checked yet
No hidden instructions in tool descriptions
Runs on your computer; we can only read tool lists from internet endpoints

Published vulnerabilities (OSV.dev)

Not checked yet

What we check → · JSON

Makers: ask for a re-check or report wrong info

Discussion

Ask, share a tip or report that it does not work. Sorted by what people marked helpful.

No posts yet. Be the first to ask or share.

Posts here are written by users, not the PopNx team.

User reviews

No reviews yet

Compared with others in Search & AI memoryi

More stars than 85% of the other 6148 servers in this category
Published to the registry more recently than 25% of the other 6148 servers in this category
Basic checks equal to or better than 100% of the other 6148 servers in this category

Compared with every active server in this category in the registry. Stars count only when the publisher owns the repo.

Common questions

Is YTDL RMCP safe?

It passed 3 of 3 applicable basic checks. We have not read the code. Before adding a key or token, see what access the server asks for and use a key with only the permissions you need.

What keys or codes does it need?

The registry does not list a required key, though some servers ask you to sign in on first use.

Does it run on my computer or in the cloud?

It runs on your computer. Your AI app starts it when needed, and data does not pass through the maker’s servers (unless it calls an online service itself).

Is it still maintained?

The GitHub repo last changed 24 days ago, and the latest version (1.0.4) reached the registry 3 months ago.

Which apps can use it?

Apps that support MCP, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. You also need Node.js on your computer.

What can I use instead?

In the same category: OpenSEO, Exa, Mockserver, Microsoft Learn MCP, Docs

Similar alternatives

Same category, other makers, commands already checked. Official ones first, then by stars.

Reading a card:↓ Downloads per weeki★ GitHub starsiThree pillars: reviews · checks · usageiUpdated = latest version published to the registryi

OpenSEO

Keyword research, site audits, rank tracking and AI visibility for your AI agent.

by every-appWidely used★ 27.7KUpdated yesterday

Runs in the cloud✓ everyapp.com

How to connect

Exa

Connect AI agents to Exa for web search, content fetching, and multi-step research.

by exa-labsWidely used★ 5.2KUpdated 2 months ago

Runs in the cloud✓ service owner · exa.aiTried by the PopNx team

How to connect

Mockserver

Mock, record/replay, verify and chaos-test any HTTP, REST, gRPC or LLM dependency over MCP.

by mock-serverGrowing★ 5KUpdated 19 days ago

Runs on your computer✓ service owner · mock-server.com

Install

Microsoft Learn MCP

Official Microsoft Learn MCP Server – real-time, trusted docs & code samples for AI and LLMs.

by MicrosoftDocsWidely used★ 2KUpdated 12 months ago

Runs in the cloud✓ service owner · microsoft.comTried by the PopNx team

How to connect

Docs

Search and read Empryo's documentation. Read-only, no auth, no local access.

by proxysoulGrowing★ 1.6KUpdated 2 months ago

Runs in the cloud✓ empryo.com

How to connect

OpenSEO — Runs in the cloud, nothing to install · No key needed
Exa — Runs in the cloud, nothing to install · No key needed · In Claude’s directory
Mockserver — Installs on your computer · No key needed
Microsoft Learn MCP — Runs in the cloud, nothing to install · No key needed · In Claude’s directory
Docs — Runs in the cloud, nothing to install · No key needed

README from the maker

Open the README

Copied from the maker’s repo as written. PopNx MCP has not reviewed or endorsed it. HTML, images and scripts are removed. Links lead off this site.

ytdl-rmcp

yt-dlp search, download, metadata, delivery, and Plex workflows over MCP and CLI.

Written in Rust on the rmcp crate. yt-dlp and ffmpeg are auto-downloaded into a per-user cache on first run, so the host needs neither pre-installed — the one binary is the whole install.

30-second path: npx -y @dinglebear/rytdl setup -> configure a target path -> call youtube_search or youtube_probe; use youtube_download only after the destination and trust boundary are clear.

Status: production personal-media MCP server. Read-only search/probe/stats paths are safe; download, playlist, queue-drain, and tag-writing paths create or move state and are intended for trusted callers.

Not for: a generic web-downloader SaaS, a multi-tenant media ingestion boundary, a replacement for yt-dlp's upstream site handling, or an arbitrary filesystem writer for untrusted MCP callers.

Naming
Capabilities And Boundaries
Install
Quickstart
Client Configuration
Runtime Surfaces
MCP Tool Reference
CLI Reference
Configuration
Authentication
Safety And Trust Model
Architecture
Distribution Contract
Development
Verification
Deployment
Troubleshooting
Related Servers
Documentation
License

Naming

Surface	This repo
Repository	`dinglebear-ai/rytdl`
Cargo crate	`ytdl-rmcp`
npm package	`@dinglebear/rytdl`
CLI / binary	`rytdl`
MCP tools	`youtube_search`, `youtube_search_ui`, `youtube_download`, `youtube_probe`, `youtube_identify`, `youtube_stats`, `youtube_plex_playlist`, `youtube_transfer_queue`
Env prefix	`YTDLP_`, plus `FFMPEG_`, `FPCALC_PATH`, and `YTDLP_LOG`
Transport	stdio only — no HTTP listener, no service port

The crate and npm package use the *-rmcp family naming pattern, while the repository and runtime binary are rytdl so local shells get a short Rust-native command.

Capabilities And Boundaries

Searches YouTube through yt-dlp without downloading media.
Downloads audio, video, or both into a staging tree, tags audio metadata, and transfers the result to local, SSH, or rclone destinations.
Optionally fingerprints audio through AcoustID/MusicBrainz and syncs completed audio downloads into a Plex playlist.
Builds Plex playlists from successful transfer history and drains server-made retained-staging transfer manifests.
Exposes an MCP App search UI for hosts that can render embedded widgets.
Keeps a JSONL ledger for repeat-safe downloads and stats.

This repo owns	Upstream owns	Explicitly out of scope
MCP tools, CLI setup, media staging, tagging, transfer policy, queue manifests, config validation, response shaping, plugin/package metadata.	yt-dlp extraction behavior, source-site availability, ffmpeg media conversion, Plex library indexing, SSH/rclone authentication.	Multi-tenant isolation, arbitrary local writes for untrusted callers, credential brokering, site-specific scraping guarantees, media-server replacement.

Features

Audio, video, or both — audio-first by default, with separate targets for audio and video.
Proper tagging — embeds title / artist / album / date and cover art, and organizes output as Artist/Title [id].ext so media servers (Plex, etc.) index it cleanly. A non-greedy Artist - Title parse recovers the artist from free-form video titles. Source .info.json, thumbnail, and description sidecars are preserved next to the media for future retagging/indexing. Common YouTube title noise like (Official Video), [Official Audio], and trailing channel handles is stripped from embedded title metadata by default.
Self-contained paths — the binary downloads/caches yt-dlp + ffmpeg when run directly; the container image bakes in ffmpeg, fpcalc, SSH, and rsync for media-host batch jobs.
Self-installing — ytdl-rmcp setup registers the server into Claude Code, Codex, and/or Gemini CLI via each tool's own mcp add.
Robust transfers — local paths (/path) are copied in-process by the binary itself, SSH targets (host:/path) use rsync -a --partial --protect-args with an scp fallback when rsync is missing, and rclone targets (remote:path or rclone:remote:/path) use rclone copy. On transfer failure the local staging copy is kept for retry and recorded as a drainable manifest for youtube_transfer_queue.
Repeat-safe — use_archive records downloaded IDs (per mode) and skips them on later runs; YouTube mix/radio URLs are auto-cleaned to the seed video.
Stats-ready ledger — every completed download call appends a JSONL entry with timestamp, destinations, files, bytes, uploader, and transfer status.
Plex playlist sync — when Plex credentials are configured, downloaded audio is added to yt-dlp Downloads by default.

MCP Tool Reference

Tool	Purpose
`youtube_search`	Search YouTube with yt-dlp and return result URLs without downloading.
`youtube_search_ui`	Open an interactive YouTube search UI in MCP App-capable hosts.
`youtube_download`	Download one or more URLs (audio/video/both) and transfer them to a target path.
`youtube_probe`	Read-only: resolve title/duration/uploader/format counts without downloading.
`youtube_identify`	Fingerprint local audio with `fpcalc`, return AcoustID/MusicBrainz candidates, preview canonical tags, and optionally write high-confidence tags.
`youtube_stats`	Summarize the download ledger: totals, file kinds, uploaders, and recent entries.
`youtube_plex_playlist`	Build or preview Plex audio playlists from successful transferred audio history.
`youtube_transfer_queue`	List and drain retained-staging transfer failure manifests.

`youtube_download` parameters

Param	Default	Meaning
`urls`	— (required)	One URL string or an array of URLs.
`mode`	`audio`	`audio`, `video`, or `both`.
`audio_format`	env `YTDLP_AUDIO_FORMAT` → `mp3`	`mp3`/`m4a`/`opus`/`flac`/`wav`/`best`.
`audio_quality`	`0`	yt-dlp quality for lossy codecs: `0`–`9` or a bitrate like `192K`.
`max_height`	best	Cap video resolution (e.g. `1080`).
`container`	`mp4`	`mp4` or `mkv` for video.
`target_path`	env `YTDLP_TARGET_PATH`	Destination for audio. Use `/path` for local, `host:/path` for SSH, or `remote:path` or `rclone:remote:/path` for rclone.
`video_target_path`	env `YTDLP_VIDEO_TARGET_PATH` → `target_path`	Destination for video when it should land somewhere different from audio. Same target forms.
`keep_local`	`false`	Keep the local staging copy after transfer.
`use_archive`	`false`	Record + skip already-downloaded IDs (per mode).
`plex_playlist`	env `YTDLP_PLEX_PLAYLIST` → `yt-dlp Downloads` when Plex is configured	Plex playlist title or ID to add downloaded audio tracks to. Requires `YTDLP_PLEX_URL` and `YTDLP_PLEX_TOKEN`.
`response_format`	`markdown`	`markdown` or `json`.

When Plex credentials are configured, successful downloads that produced audio files search Plex for each downloaded track, create the target playlist if needed, and add missing tracks while skipping entries already present. The default playlist is yt-dlp Downloads; set YTDLP_PLEX_PLAYLIST or pass plex_playlist to override it. Plex errors are reported as plex_playlist_error and do not make the completed download fail. JSON responses include a plex_playlist summary with matched, added, already_present, and missing counts.

Canonical metadata matching through MusicBrainz/AcoustID is documented in docs/musicbrainz-acoustid.md. youtube_download automatically runs high-confidence MusicBrainz retagging for downloaded audio when YTDLP_ACOUSTID_CLIENT_KEY is configured; youtube_identify remains available for previewing or repairing existing library files, with manual tag writes enabled by write_tags=true.

`youtube_download` JSON response

With response_format=json, the call returns a single object describing the batch:

Field	Meaning
`transferred`	`true` if every produced subtree reached its target.
`transfer_error`	`null` on success, else the failure/timeout message (string).
`target_path` / `destination` / `destinations`	The per-kind target destination(s) actually used.
`staging_kept_at`	Local staging path retained for retry (set when the transfer failed or `keep_local` was requested).
`total_files` / `total_bytes` / `total_size`	Aggregate counts across all items.
`partial_items`	Count of items that errored but still produced files.
`failed_items`	Count of items that errored and produced no files.
`items[]`	Per-URL results, each with a `status`, `title`, `video_id`, `error`, and a `files[]` list.

Each items[].status is one of:

ok — succeeded with files.
partial — an error occurred but some files were still produced.
failed — errored with no files.
skipped — nothing new (already in the archive).

Optional keys are attached only when the relevant stage ran:

metadata_retag — MusicBrainz/AcoustID auto-retag summary (attempted, matched, written, skipped, errors, or an error string); present when YTDLP_ACOUSTID_CLIENT_KEY is configured.
plex_playlist — Plex playlist summary (playlist, matched, added, already_present, missing); plex_playlist_error is set instead if the Plex update failed (a Plex failure does not fail the download).
history_error — set when the download succeeded but the JSONL ledger append failed.

youtube_probe takes urls and response_format.

`youtube_plex_playlist`

Build or preview Plex audio playlists from successful ytdl-rmcp download history.

Actions:

Action	Meaning
`list_candidates`	Return audio candidates from history entries where `transferred` is `true`.
`preview`	Resolve selected candidates against Plex without mutating Plex.
`apply`	Add selected candidates to a Plex audio playlist idempotently.

Candidates are history-derived and audio-only. Failed or retained-staging transfers are intentionally excluded.

apply can return plexamp_url, plex_web_url, and playback_link_status. plexamp_url is a best-effort generated listen.plex.tv playback link, not an official Plexamp API guarantee. The regular Plex playlist API calls use the official Plex Media Server API.

`youtube_transfer_queue`

List and drain server-created transfer failure manifests.

Actions:

Action	Meaning
`list`	Show pending retained-staging transfer manifests.
`retry`	Retry one manifest by opaque `manifest_id`.
`retry_all`	Retry all pending manifests.
`prune`	Remove manifests whose staging directory is gone.

The queue never accepts arbitrary filesystem paths. Retry uses the original target paths recorded at failure time and re-checks local target policy before transfer. Manifests are created by the local s

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youtube_download parameters

youtube_download JSON response

youtube_plex_playlist

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`youtube_download` parameters

`youtube_download` JSON response

`youtube_plex_playlist`

`youtube_transfer_queue`