YouTube video downloaders: How to Record/Capture/Download flash videos from YouTube

#1 06-11-2006, 09:46 PM

Saving .FLV videos to hd
YouTube uses http protocol to stream flash .FLV videos. To save them you may use the means described in the following FAQ:
Getting/Capturing/Downloading .FLV flash videos streamed through the http protocol, namely:

Replay Media Catcher - Flash Audio/Video stream recording software
Replay Media Catcher records/downloads/rips and renames YouTube videos for FREE. Also Replay Media Catcher can extract .MP3 audio from .FLV videos downloaded from YouTube.
Freecorder 4 - freeware direct sound recorder and video downloader and converter
Freecorder 4 is a freeware program that allows you to save automatically renamed YouTube videos. Freecorder 4 can also save many other HTTP and HTTPS streaming videos for free.
Jaksta Free Media Recorder - freeware video download, radio downloader, media converter, sound recorder
Jaksta Free Media Recorder allows to download YouTube videos (you may choose quality including low quality, high quality, HD video) and extract them from the browser cache. The latter allows you to stay undetected while recording.
Ask & Record Toolbar - freeware streaming audio/video recorder and converter
Ask & Record Toolbar is a freeware program that allows you to record/download/rip and rename YouTube videos. Ask & Record Toolbar can also save many other HTTP and HTTPS streaming videos for free.
Use WM Recorder - audio/video stream recording software
Use Replay A/V - stream capturing/recording program
Use URL finder and any download manager
Save .FLV flash files from the cache folder

See the following FAQ for more details
FAQ: How to record/download/capture/save Macromedia/Adobe Flash .FLV video HTTP stream from embedded player

If you use Replay A/V stream capturing/recording program or any download manager, please note that ATM the URL looks like the following one

Code:

http://sjl-casing12.sjl.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=xCWyeJBxrl4

These flash video URLs have no .FLV, .SWF extension or any other information that helps you to find the URL easily. But Replay A/V has special customizations for YouTube, MySpace, Google Video and other video download sites.

Also note that after downloading with many download managers you have to rename file to "some_filename.flv" (change some_filename to anything you like, but leave the .flv file extension) to be able to watch it with .FLV player or convert it with FLV converter.

You can play Macromedia Flash .FLV videos as described in the following FAQ
How to play Macromedia Flash video .FLV files (FLV players)
and can convert .FLV video files as descibed in the following forum thread
How to convert .FLV videos downloaded from Google, YouTube, etc.

Using freeware Miro to download YouTube videos
Freeware open-source Miro (Windows/Mac/Linux) allows to download YouTube videos. You can also save your search terms and download new videos automatically.

Using freeware Fast Video Download plug-in for FireFox
You may also use a freeware (no spyware, no adware) Fast Video Download plug-in for FireFox to download flash videos from YouTube, Google Video, MySpace, Daily Motion, hi5.com, metacafe.com, AG.ru, Angry Alien, badjojo.com, break.com, bubblare.dk, Current.com, mult.ru, putfile.com, Streetfire, vidiac.com.
Fast Video Download homepage.

Using web-sites to download flash videos
Many web-sites can be used to download flash videos from many web-sites (unfortunately not all of them), including YouTube and Google Video:
download-youtube-videos.org
youtubecatcher.com
vixy.net
flv.to
savefrom.net
keepvid.com

Using YoutubeGetter - flash downloader for YouTube (Windows XP/ Internet Explorer)
YoutubeGetter works very easily. It downloads the flash video file from YouTube with a right mouse click. You even don't have to flash videos first.

Using VDownloader - flash downloader for YouTube and Google Video
VDownloader can download videos from youtube and google video in AVI format.

To download a clip you only have to enter the url of the page with the video you want to download, and the program will save it in your hard disk.

p.s. What ways of flash video capturing/recording from YouTube do I prefer?