How to record rtmp:// flash video .flv stream from embedded Adobe Flash Player

Originally Posted by aams3

also internetdownload manager can record rtmp

I've downloaded the latest version and got the following error:

"rtmp:" data transmission protocol is not supported by IDM at this time

so it doesn't really support the RTMP protocol.

[Chupa Chuck]

Originally Posted by Stream Recorder

I've downloaded the latest version and got the following error:

"rtmp:" data transmission protocol is not supported by IDM at this time

so it doesn't really support the RTMP protocol.

Use Replay Media Catcher

[noob2001204]

Originally Posted by Stream Recorder

rtmpdump is a command line utility. You need to open Command Prompt first and then launch it from there.

what tools you use to sniff rtmp address?
also,what the data are needed to download rtmp stream?
like swfurl,tcurl,etc

[compn]

Flash Stream Hunter claims to be able to save rtmp streams

but i havent tested...

searching cnet for 'rtmp' gives a few others

http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-0.html?query=rtmp&searchtype=downloads&tag=ltcol

KeepTube 'Version 6.5 now supports RTMP/RTMPT.'
Tube Explorer 'even RTMP stream videos'
BitAnalyzer 'get the links of http, rtsp, mms, and rtmp protocol.'
Flvware Flv Downloader 1.5 'Support HTTP and RTMP protocol'

Originally Posted by noob2001204

what tools you use to sniff rtmp address?

Orbit Grab++

Originally Posted by noob2001204

also,what the data are needed to download rtmp stream? like swfurl,tcurl,etc

If you provide the URL, RTMP recording software tries all possible combinations to find the pageUrl, app and filename variables.

If I'm not mistaken swfUrl is only used for streams with SWF verification.

You may see these variables in the shareware Flash Stream Hunter. It doesn't allow you to copy them, but you may use software like shareware Kleptomania to copy such texts.

Originally Posted by compn

Flash Stream Hunter claims to be able to save rtmp streams

I tested Flash Stream Hunter 1.0.3. It can capture packets coming to flash player through both HTTP and RTMP protocols. However I don't really like the web-design of its web-site, because it doesn't look trustworthy. Plus there are lots of spelling errors on the web-site, so I don't really expect any decent support.

The interface of the program is not ideal, but it is OK. At least I was able to capture RTMP streams with SWF Verification. Sometimes the recorded files were not playable.

And considering the price and functionality, I can only recommend Flash Stream Hunter if Jaksta and Replay Media Catcher doesn't work for you.

p.s. It has stopped working for me. I tried to un-install it and re-install. Tried to re-insall winpap and reboot to no avail. It doesn't show any errors, but it doesn't work for me anymore.

Originally Posted by compn

Flvware Flv Downloader 1.5 'Support HTTP and RTMP protocol'

Shareware Flvware Flv Downloader 1.53 (and its clone Rippersoft Flv Ripper) can capture packets from Flash Player. It supports both RTMP and HTTP protocols. And because it captures packets from Flash Player, it can save streams with SWF verification. I couldn't play some of the files recorded with Flv Downloader.

I still prefer Jaksta to Flv Downloader and other flash stream capture software.

Originally Posted by compn

searching cnet for 'rtmp' gives a few others
KeepTube 'Version 6.5 now supports RTMP/RTMPT.'

I wasn't able to record any RTMP streams with freeware KeepTube 6.5...

Originally Posted by compn

Tube Explorer 'even RTMP stream videos'

Shareware Tube Explorer 3.2 doesn't have any URL Sniffers, only built-on search engine for several web-sites. Plus it failed to download music video from Yahoo, the only web-site that uses RTMP from the list of supported web-sites.

Originally Posted by compn

BitAnalyzer 'get the links of http, rtsp, mms, and rtmp protocol.'

BitAnalyzer claims that it can find HTTP, RTSP and MMS links. Tried it with RTMP and it wasn't able to find anything. Plus it doesn't have any filters, so freeware URL Snooper is much better.



I also tried Moyea YouTube FLV Downloader. The developer claims that it supports RTMP, but it crashes on my computer. Plus there is a lot of negative feedback about this software.

[compn]

Originally Posted by Stream Recorder

I wasn't able to record any RTMP streams with freeware KeepTube 6.5...

Shareware Tube Explorer 3.2 doesn't have any URL Sniffers, only built-on search engine for several web-sites. Plus it failed to download music video from Yahoo, the only web-site that uses RTMP from the list of supported web-sites.

BitAnalyzer claims that it can find HTTP, RTSP and MMS links. Tried it with RTMP and it wasn't able to find anything.

I also tried Moyea YouTube FLV Downloader. The developer claims that it supports RTMP, but it crashes on my computer. Plus there is a lot of negative feedback about this software.

unfortunately, it seems that software authors are adding the rtmp keyword just to trick people into downloading their programs.

thank you for the detailed review.

[placebo]

Replay Media Catcher 4 distinguishes between RECORDING MODE and DOWNLOADING MODE; if it cannot download a (secured?) stream, it offers to record it.

This happened to me with some arbitrary music video clip (MTV?).

I compared the running video on the webpage with the recorded FLV file. They definitely look the same (i would say 100% alike!). So maybe someone can tell us what the difference is and .. if there is a quality difference (degradation) in the recorded file (versus the downloaded file with rtmpdump).

in any case, RMC is really cool even if it cannot download any of the popular video websites (hulu , comedycentral , .. ).

Originally Posted by placebo

Replay Media Catcher 4 distinguishes between RECORDING MODE and DOWNLOADING MODE; if it cannot download a (secured?) stream, it offers to record it.

I compared the running video on the webpage with the recorded FLV file. They definitely look the same (i would say 100% alike!). So maybe someone can tell us what the difference is and .. if there is a quality difference (degradation) in the recorded file (versus the downloaded file with rtmpdump).

In the downloading mode Replay Media Catcher 4 downloads video and audio streams. Many on-demand streams can be downloaded faster than in real time.

In the Recording mode Replay Media Catcher captures HTTP or RTMP packets from your flash player. Capturing can be done in real time only for RTMP streams; HTTP streams are captured as fast as their buffering goes. The Recording mode allows you to always stay undetected, because packets are captured from a flash player on your computer.

Both the Recording and the Downloading modes allow you to save streams digitally, so there is no quality loss.

If it is still unclear, I suggest you to read about the difference between the ADA and PRO recording modes of WM Recorder when recording Windows Media and Real Media streams.

[placebo]

hoooohh.. for saving (let's call it "saving" instead of downloading and or capturing) Windows Media and or Real Media streams, there are better [sic] [sorry] tools out there than WM Recorder. I know 2 better. Well. At least 1. (the other one of the 2 is WM Downloader, by a Chin*se coder/company). I've tested WM Recorder but i am not really happy with the GUI and ease of use. And download results. In fact, downloading WM/RM from rtsp or mms 100% correctly (exact server file copy, crc32) is high art and all commercial tools (except for 1) on the market (NNetXFer/NetTransport, HiDownload , WM Recorder, WM Downloder, Replay Media Catcher (RMC) 3, RMC4, FlashGet, FlashGot, Thunder, Orbit Downloader, InternetDownloadManager, DownloadHelper.net, etc etc) dont do a 100% perfect job. They do a 99.6% job, and files play in their respective applications (WMP, RP), so why would the average he or she dare to complain? no big deal, right? Well, for techies and perfectionists (and maybe i am ) such a download result is dissatisfactory. ((In order to know whether a file is 0.4% different (crc32) from the original server file or 100% identical with it, you, of course, need to possess the original server file as reference; otherwise any attempt to do comparisons isnt valid. hehe. but that's another story ))

[...]

Thanks for the explanation. I will have to read more on this (jaksta documentation, replay media catcher help/support). I see the difference. If there is no quality loss (in theory), then the files should be 100% exactly the same, right? (with the Downloading Mode being the preferred one because it's so much faster and doesnt need any flash player once the download has started)

For the sake of confirming this claim, i need to verify and test it. Now i need a url...

EDIT: i've tested this url (MTV: nelly_furtado/nelly_furtado_night_is_young_flv_4_3)

http://www.mtv.de/videos/22202369-night-is-young.html

The recorded FLV by RMC is 39 Bytes bigger in size than the downloaded FLV by direct rtmp downloaders (
GetFLV, etc.). Binary visual comparison reveals that the bodies are absolutely the same; just the headers (meta data et al.) differ. After extracting the raw media data from the FLV packages (here: mp3, avi, txt), then indeed the raw files are 100% the same (SHA-519), respectively.

ok cool. so why do i need GetFLV (costs money!) or rtmpdump if RMC (costs more money!!) can download secured rtmp?