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YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

rg3.github.io

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Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#41
post #5

I've been using it for years now and it's great. Not only for Youtube videos, but also for a lot of other video hosters, up to and including TV stations such as the German ZDF or the French Arte. To fully use its features you should install ffmpeg though. Youtube-dl will automatically use it if it's in the PATH, and then can download Youtube videos with higher frame rates and resolutions (they store video and audio i…

I like this command to extract audio from youtube videos: youtube-dl --extract-audio --audio-format mp3

That's my main use of youtube-dl for years now. I'm extracting audio from old french movies available on youtube, work a small sound extract with audacity and then post the result on soudcloud[1].

[1] A bit of self-promotion here, if you are interested this is my soundcloud playlist https://soundcloud.com/melicerte/sets/extraits-de-vieux-film...

Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#43
post #28

The tragedy of this software (and many like it) is that despite working exactly as advertised, easily and with a lot of features, because it's a quiet open source project without any SEO rigging it will never appear in page 1 of any searches by laymen trying to download videos ("save youtube to hard drive", "download youtube videos" et al). The amount of crapware I've had to remove from family member's PCs just becau…

Your family members would use a command line app ?

If they knew about it, sure. All it would take is a 3 step (after initial download) instructional with some screenshots:

1. Open Explorer where you downloaded youtube-dl

2. Shift+Right click -> Open command window here

3. Type 'youtube-dl ' and paste url[0], then enter

As I said it really is a discoverability problem, one that the organiser of the world's information is neither incentivised nor really expected to address.

[0] ok, this is a pain pre Win 10, but ^V is supported now

Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#44

I've been using it for years now and it's great. Not only for Youtube videos, but also for a lot of other video hosters, up to and including TV stations such as the German ZDF or the French Arte. To fully use its features you should install ffmpeg though. Youtube-dl will automatically use it if it's in the PATH, and then can download Youtube videos with higher frame rates and resolutions (they store video and audio i…

-f also supports some symbolic names, which is very handy because it allows you to easily get the best possible quality without having to check the formats every time:

    -f 'bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]'
this is what I'm using in my case (on youtube).

Posting this here, because it's not obvious from the docs that this works.

Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#45
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your family members would use a command line app ?

If they knew about it, sure. All it would take is a 3 step (after initial download) instructional with some screenshots: 1. Open Explorer where you downloaded youtube-dl 2. Shift+Right click -> Open command window here 3. Type 'youtube-dl ' and paste url[0], then enter As I said it really is a discoverability problem, one that the organiser of the world's information is neither incentivised nor really expected to add…

[0] ok, this is a pain pre Win 10, but ^V is supported now

Just gotta remember the old "Alt-Space, E, P" shortcut sequence. And Alt-Space, E, K for selecting/copying.

Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#46

Note that it is against YouTube's ToS to download videos: https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms "You may access Content for your information and personal use solely as intended through the provided functionality of the Service and as permitted under these Terms of Service. You shall not download any Content unless you see a “download” or similar link displayed by YouTube on the Service for that Content."

So what do they propose for someone that has a slow internet connection and can't watch streaming videos ?

I have a NUC server at my parents house (they have a fast connection) where I connect remotely and make all my downloads. When I visit them I bring an external HD with me.

Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#47
post #6

Some of the things that make this the 'ultimate': - Supports hundreds of services, not just youtube [0] - Allows you to extract audio in multiple formats - Download entire playlists (and general batch support) - Configure video/audio quality - Extract/build metadata - Cross platform [0] https://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/supportedsites.html

-Python integration I used it to write a small program for my Raspi. Send a playlist link (Youtube or other) via WhatsApp or Email. Download, copy to according folder. Have it available on my Multimedia System and OwnCloud for my friends.

I have a similar setup: A script downloads my Remember The Milk tasks (.rss), parses them for YouTube and Vimeo links and downloads the videos to my Synology NAS and places a dot-file in the same directory to signal the script during the next iteration the video has been downloaded already.

Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#49

I've been using it for years now and it's great. Not only for Youtube videos, but also for a lot of other video hosters, up to and including TV stations such as the German ZDF or the French Arte. To fully use its features you should install ffmpeg though. Youtube-dl will automatically use it if it's in the PATH, and then can download Youtube videos with higher frame rates and resolutions (they store video and audio i…

> Not only for Youtube videos, but also for a lot of other video hosters

Oh ye, the list's pretty comprehensive actually [1].

[1]: https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl/tree/master/youtube_dl/ext...

Re: YouTube-dl: Open-source YouTube downloader

#50

Note that it is against YouTube's ToS to download videos: https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms "You may access Content for your information and personal use solely as intended through the provided functionality of the Service and as permitted under these Terms of Service. You shall not download any Content unless you see a “download” or similar link displayed by YouTube on the Service for that Content."

So if I never agreed to those terms, I'm in the clear?
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