§ Recipe

YouTube creator stack.

YouTube is a funnel: hook, retention, CTR, sub rate. Each tool here optimizes a specific metric — not because the creator is cynical but because the alternative is burnout.

Indie
  1. Topic research

    01

    Perplexity

    AI answer engine for cited web research and fast synthesis.

    Research & Search
    Freemium
    4.6

    Before the thumbnail, the title, or the script: what's actually underexplored in your niche? Perplexity pulls together what exists so you can aim at what doesn't.

  2. Script writing

    02

    Claude

    Anthropic's long-context assistant for writing, coding, analysis, and careful reasoning.

    Chatbots & Assistants
    Freemium
    4.8

    Structure — cold open, setup, promise, payoff — is what retains viewers. Claude is a better script doctor than any YouTube guru on Twitter because it actually read your draft.

  3. Video edit

    03

    Descript

    Transcript-based video editor with Underlord AI, avatars, and dubbing.

    Video & Audio
    Freemium
    4.4

    The editor for creators who don't love editing. Descript removes the suffering; you keep the creative decisions.

  4. Voiceover

    04

    ElevenLabs

    AI voice platform for speech generation, dubbing, voice cloning, sound effects, and conversational audio.

    Video & Audio
    Freemium
    4.7

    B-roll narration, multilingual dubs, pickup lines you didn't record. Lets a solo creator sound like a channel with a voiceover budget.

  5. Shorts + social

    05

    Opus Clip

    AI clipping platform that turns long videos into short-form social clips.

    Video & Audio
    Freemium
    4.3

    Your YouTube video becomes TikToks, Reels, and Shorts automatically. Same hour of shooting, five distribution channels.

  6. Thumbnails

    06

    Canva

    Design platform with 25+ AI tools — Magic Studio makes everyone a designer.

    Design & Creative
    Freemium
    4.5

    The single biggest CTR lever on YouTube. Canva's thumbnail A/B workflow helps you iterate until the curve points up.