Stream downloaders, rippers vs. Screen capture software

[alexferri]

There are two ways in which you can capture streaming video from the web to your PC.

One are the stream downloaders, softwares that offer you the option to download the video you are watching on your browser directly to your hard drive. The second are the video capture applications which allow you to select the part of the screen you want to record and grab the video from there. Tha main advantage of the video capture applications is that they can record DRM protected content.

Best,
Alex

Few video streams are DRM protected. Plus stream downloaders give you better quality.

You might prefer to use screen video capture software for recording live streams if you frequently experience stream buffering and your stream downloader stops downloading because of that.

Also screen capture software is the only way to record non-downloadable video streams.

[chiz@]

I'm at odds on what to do about constant live stream dropouts and reading this thread makes me consider screen video capture software for recording my mms live broadcasting.

I've been tweaking around with various download managers and most will do the basic job of downloading instantly, however...

• Orbit Downloader bypasses router firewall but does not index file (seekability), misses schedules and does not rename.
• Mass Downloader - no seekability
• GetASFStream scheduler works fine but drops constantly. No English support.
• HiDownload shows superb schedule feature in live manager tab that wouldn't work. I pleaded for support from every possible E-mail they supplied but no answers, nada.
• Net Transport/netxfer gave the most prompt support, has superb scheduler, file renaming, seekability but occasionally missed schedulings and resumed dropouts.
• Flashget time sync with pc doesn't work.
• Wellget and SDP are good freebies that download mms live stream instantly just as well as commercial ones but I have to rely on MacroMaker 3 for improved scheduling. Also loss of streaming/recording.

Sorry for not specifying versions for these apps, I downloaded them on April or May/2009.

I guess the recording dropouts/internet connection/streaming/bufforing are beyond any downloader capability so I'm wondering if screen video capture is the way to go.

What is the quality of a screen captured video compared to stream media recording?
Any of these screen capture softwares have a good scheduler?
I'm guessing there are no interruption issues?

help

WM Recorder is the most powerful Windows Media stream recorder. It has a scheduler. I suggest you to try it before using any screen video capture software.

Originally Posted by chiz@

Mass Downloader - no seekability

It is very easy to make Windows media files seekable using freeware software. And I think the developer can fix that easily if you ask him. Is it the only concern?

Originally Posted by chiz@

HiDownload shows superb schedule feature in live manager tab that wouldn't work. I pleaded for support from every possible E-mail they supplied but no answers, nada.

I haven't received any reply from their support for a long, long time

Originally Posted by chiz@

Net Transport/netxfer gave the most prompt support, has superb scheduler, file renaming, seekability but occasionally missed schedulings and resumed dropouts.

The software might look too complex for novice users, but IMHO it is the best stream downloading software among downloader managers.

Originally Posted by chiz@

What is the quality of a screen captured video compared to stream media recording?

It really depends on the video codec and resolution you use. You may use 2-pass encoding to make quality of screen capturing better.

The major problem of screen capture software is that your computer need to be powerful enough to avoid frame drops, plus you need to choose a video resolution and audio/video codecs properly.

Originally Posted by chiz@

Any of these screen capture softwares have a good scheduler?

I know only one screen capture program that supports scheduling.

Originally Posted by chiz@

I'm guessing there are no interruption issues?

If your player won't stop playing, then there should be no problem recording. Not every player can reconnect infinite number of times, while some streaming video rippers can do that.

[chiz@]

Thx for your help and this resourceful web site, I learned a bit about screen capture and don't think it's for me. For one, it cannot work in the background, is that right? Aside that, it hogs CPU and must generate a big file - I wonder what size a 30 min 384X288 wmv video would be.

I need to learn more about live stream recording and find a way around the dropouts and disconnections. Net Transport 2.84 resumes download but the interruptions result in chopped up videos.

Is there a ripper that won't interrupt recording whilst streaming is interrupted?

I appreciate it

[chiz@]

It is very easy to make Windows media files seekable using freeware software. And I think the developer can fix that easily if you ask him. Is it the only concern?

I mentioned the software mainly for review purpose, there are so many downloaders that produce a seekable file that this does not concern me, although it was advertised in its web site that the last version has this feature but it didn't work for me and I did give them the reasons I uninstalled it. Also, it has a much simpler scheduler.

Originally Posted by chiz@

For one, it cannot work in the background, is that right?

Recording from screen while working with other applications

Originally Posted by chiz@

Aside that, it hogs CPU and must generate a big file - I wonder what size a 30 min 384X288 wmv video would be.

~180 Mb.

Originally Posted by chiz@

I need to learn more about live stream recording and find a way around the dropouts and disconnections. Net Transport 2.84 resumes download but the interruptions result in chopped up videos. Is there a ripper that won't interrupt recording whilst streaming is interrupted?

What exactly do you mean by chopped up videos? When your connection is not good enough some parts of the live video can be skipped and you can't restore them by any software.

Imagine a live video broadcast. If you can't watch it, there is no recorder that can possibly restore full video. Otherwise the broadcast won't be live.

[chiz@]

WM Capture introduced a new feature recently. It allows you to place the window you record from on top of other windows.

Does that mean the other windows can't be maximized? Or if it's accidentally maximized it would affect screen video capturing since the player cannot be hidden?

What exactly do you mean by chopped up videos?

I have cable broadband connection. Last night the recordings worked seamlessly but occasionally a 30 min recording will generate 4 files on NT 2.84, it records from 8:30-8:44 then 8:44-8:46 then 8:46-8:49 then 8:49-9:00 but totals 20min50s recording (I attached a pic to demonstrate).

Unfortunately I did not save the log file that day. I just wish NT would produce only one file, that way, I could be certain it was a streaming problem and not the downloader, if it makes any sense.

Originally Posted by chiz@

Does that mean the other windows can't be maximized? Or if it's accidentally maximized it would affect screen video capturing since the player cannot be hidden?

Maximized windows do not affect any top windows at all.
The first question I asked to the developer of WM Capture after learning about this new feature was about other top windows. He said that this wouldn't be a problem, he had tested such cases.

Originally Posted by chiz@

I have cable broadband connection. Last night the recordings worked seamlessly but occasionally a 30 min recording will generate 4 files on NT 2.84, it records from 8:30-8:44 then 8:44-8:46 then 8:46-8:49 then 8:49-9:00 but totals 20min50s recording (I attached a pic to demonstrate).

Unfortunately I did not save the log file that day. I just wish NT would produce only one file, that way, I could be certain it was a streaming problem and not the downloader, if it makes any sense.

It is really hard to say whether NetTransport handles iterruptions of live video streams better than other programs.

But it seems that the developer decided to split files to show you explicitely that there were some problems with live streams. Otherwise you might need to fix the recorded file, but besides WM Recorder few programs have this feature.

[chiz@]

It's been frustrating the missed schedulings and constant dropouts. Last night I set three downloaders to record the same program and all three failed! NetTransport (NT) (freeware version) and NT 2.84 missed it entirely and Wellget dropped, recording only 4 min out of the 30 min program.

Macromaker has worked flawlessly with the multiple scheduling but getting Wellget downloader to start on schedule just to have it drop doesn't help. I might have to revert to Orbit Downloader and index the recorded file with another app, dunno why this isn't included but as long as it's free, I'm a happy customer

Wish NT had a forum as resourceful as this one