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YouTube Downloader Help

Table of Contents

Introduction
FFmpeg
    FFmpeg presets used in YouTube Downloader
    Using the "Manual" conversion type
    Codecs and playing video
    FFmpeg parameters
Supported web sites
Additional information
Contact

Introduction

Welcome to the YouTube Downloader. With this tool you can download any video from YouTube and convert them to other video formats.


FFmpeg

YouTube Downloader uses the excellent, open source FFmpeg multimedia framework for converting videos.  Visit the FFmpeg.org website for more information on this tool.


FFmpeg Presets

This is the command line syntax used by the main program to convert in other formats. To choose the quality use -qscale 1 for High,  -qscale 7 for Optimal,  -qscale 15 for Medium and none for Low (default).  Commands are listed in the order Low, Medium, Optimal, High.

If you want to use a specific video codec use -vcodec or a specific format use -f.

Ipad Video (MPEG-4 MP4)

    ffmpeg.exe -i %1 -s 1024x768 -r 24.00 -b 500.00k -qscale 1 -ar 22050 -ab 64.00k -ac 2 -vol 256 -y %1.mp4

    ffmpeg.exe -i %1 -s 1024x768 -r 24.00 -b 500.00k -qscale 7 -ar 22050 -ab 64.00k -ac 2 -vol 256 -y %1.mp4

    ffmpeg.exe -i %1 -s 1024x768 -r 20.00 -b 500.00k -qscale 15 -ar 22050 -ab 64.00k -ac 1 -vol 256 -y %1.mp4

    ffmpeg.exe -i %1 -s 640x480 -r 20.00 -b 500.00k -ar 22050 -ab 64.00k -ac 1 -vol 256 -y %1.mp4

Ipod Video (Apple QuickTime MOV)

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 176x144 -r 20 -b 500k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 1 %1.mov

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 320x240 -qscale 15 -r 20 -b 500k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 1 %1.mov

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 320x240 -qscale 7 -r 24 -b 500k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 %1.mov

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 320x240 -qscale 1 -r 24 -b 500k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 %1.mov

Iphone Video (MPEG-4 MP4)

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -s 480x320 -r 29 -b 900k -ar 44100 -ab 96k -ac 2 %1.mp4

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -qscale 15 -s 480x320 -r 29 -b 900k -ar 44100 -ab 96k -ac 2 %1.mp4

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -qscale 7 -s 480x320 -r 29 -b 900k -ar 44100 -ab 128k -ac 2 %1.mp4

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -qscale 1 -s 640x480 -r 29 -b 1500k -ar 44100 -ab 128k -ac 2 %1.mp4

PSP Video (H.264 MP4)

    ffmpeg -i %1 -f psp -s 176x96 -r 14 -b 500k -ar 24000 -ab 64k -ac 1 %1.mp4

    ffmpeg -i %1 -f psp -s 320x240 -qscale 15 -r 29 -b 500k -ar 24000 -ab 64k -ac 1 %1.mp4

    ffmpeg -i %1 -f psp -s 320x240 -qscale 7 -r 29 -b 500k -ar 24000 -ab 64k -ac 2 %1.mp4

    ffmpeg -i %1 -f psp -s 368x208 -qscale 1 -r 29 -b 500k -ar 24000 -ab 64k -ac 2 %1.mp4

Cell Phone (H.263 3GP)

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec h263 -s 128x96 -r 10 -b 30k -ar 8000 -ab 12.2k -ac 1 %1.3gp

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec h263 -qscale 15 -s 176x144 -r 12 -b 30k -ar 8000 -ab 12.2k -ac 1 %1.3gp

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec h263 -qscale 7 -s 176x144 -r 15 -b 30k -ar 8000 -ab 12.2k -ac 1 %1.3gp

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec h263 -qscale 1 -s 352x288 -r 15 -b 30k -ar 8000 -ab 12.2k -ac 1 %1.3gp

Windows Media Video (V.7 WMV)

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec wmv2 -s 320x240 -b 50k -acodec wmav2 -ar 22050 -ab 56k -ac 1 -f asf %1.wmv

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec wmv2 -s 320x240 -qscale 15 -b 50k -acodec wmav2 -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 -f asf %1.wmv

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec wmv2 -s 320x240 -qscale 7 -b 50k -acodec wmav2 -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 -f asf %1.wmv

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec wmv2 -s 320x240 -qscale 1 -b 50k -acodec wmav2 -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 -f asf %1.wmv

XVid MPEG-4 Codec (AVI)

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -vtag XVID -s 320x240 -b 200k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 1 %1.avi

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -vtag XVID -qscale 15 -s 320x240 -b 200k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 %1.avi

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -vtag XVID -qscale 7 -s 320x240 -b 200k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 %1.avi

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec mpeg4 -vtag XVID -qscale 1 -s 320x240 -b 200k -ar 22050 -ab 64k -ac 2 %1.avi

MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vn -ar 22050 -ab 96k -ac 2 %1.mp3

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vn -ar 44100 -ab 128k -ac 2 %1.mp3

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vn -ar 48000 -ab 192k -ac 2 %1.mp3

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vn -ar 48000 -ab 256k -ac 2 %1.mp3


Manual conversion

The program converts the videos in the more common formats, if you do not find the format that you want, you can try to convert the video manually, example:

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 320x240 -r 14 -b 50 -ar 22050 -ab 56 -ac 1 %1.mov

Where:

-i Input file (%1 it's the file selected)
-s Video size* (WidthxHeight). Example: 176x96, 176x144, 320x240, 352x240, 368x288, 480x320, 552x414, 640x360, 640x480
Note: valid sizes for Cell Phone are: 128x96, 176x144, 352x288, 704x576 and 1408x1152.
-r Video frame rate (Fps). Example: 10, 12, 15, 14, 20, 24, 29
-b Video bitrate (Kb/s). Example: 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 256, 384, 500, 512, 640, 768, 900, 1500
-ar Audio sample rate (Hz). Example: 8000, 16000, 22050, 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000
-ab Audio bitrate (Kb/s). Example: 12, 16, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 192, 224, 256
-ac Audio channels (1 mono, 2 stereo). Example: Use 2 if you convert in MP3
%1.xxx Output file (.xxx the format to convert!). Example: .mov, .ra, .mpg, .mp4, .mp3, .wma...


You can also convert to other formats (if you have installed the appropriate codec).  This is the command line syntax for converting to the .mpg format, with the same quality:

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 320x240 -sameq -b 500 -ar 22050 -ab 56 -ac 2 %1.mpg

There are also many other options, such as cutting the video, disable the audio, etc. but we reccomend the use of these options only for expert users.

Manual Conversion Examples

How to cut the video and disable audio:

If you have necessity to cut the video, you must use the options -ss to set the start time offset and -t to set the recording time (duration), expressed in seconds.

For example if you want to cut the first 10 seconds of video and the duration of the video is 2:22 (142 seconds) the command line syntax is:

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 320x240 -r 14 -b 50 -ar 22050 -ab 56 -ac 1 %1.mov -ss 10 -t 132

Otherwise if you want even/or disable audio, you must use the options -an (in substitution of -ab and -ac), example:

    ffmpeg -i %1 -s 320x240 -r 14 -b 50 -ar 22050 -an %1.mov -ss 10 -t 132

How to convert video to Apple's iPhone

If you look at the technical specs of the iPhone, the Apple website says the screen is 480x320-pixels.

Now if you read the fine print at the bottom of the screen it says "Up to 5 hours of battery life is based on H.264 1.5-Mbps video at 640-by-480 resolution combined with 128-Kbps audio".

Now we're going to make the assumption that if it supports H.264 video compression, it will also support baseline MPEG-4 compression, just as the video-capable iPod does. We'll be using this baseline MPEG-4 option although you're free to stick with H.264 if you want.

The reason we want MPEG-4 is because it is easier to decode than H.264 and that means less CPU required.

Another way to convert for iPhone is this:

    ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec h264 -sameq -s 480x320 -r 29 -b 768 -ar 44100 -ab 96 -ac 2 %1.mp4

The conversion can make much use of your computer time and resources.


Converting Video files to play in PSP

The ffmpeg tool does everything we need to convert videos to play on PSP devices.

Istructions step by step:

1. Convert the video to PSP format:

    ffmpeg -i %1 -f psp -s 320x240 -r 29 -b 768 -ar 24000 -ab 64 %1.mp4

1.1. The widescreen resolution of 368x208 is also known to work.

1.2. If "-r 29" does NOT work try "-r 14"

1.3. Remember, you must rename the output file use names like M4V00001.mp4, M4V00002.mp4, ...

2. Extract the thumbail image:

    ffmpeg -y -i %1 -f image2 -ss 5 -vframes 1 -s 160x120 -an %1.thm

2.1. Rename the output file use names like M4V00001.thm, M4V00002.thm, ...

3. Copy the files in your PSP


Codecs and playing different video formats

By default, most Windows OSes do not have the ability to play common web video formats, e.g. .flv files.  You have two choices - install a player which can play those files, or convert those files to a format you can play.  Since converting a file can sometimes cause problems, you might want to install a player that can play these files.

If you want to install a player, we suggest the free, open source VLC media player which can play most video formats.

If you want to convert the files, codecs are necessary to convert and play/watch videos converted in other formats. If after converting the video you hear the audio but there is no video, you must install or update the codec of your PC (or if the program shows an error message if you try to convert the video without codec).

If you use Windows Media Player to play videos, allow the player to update online its codecs.

It's suggested to install these free FFDshow video codecs.


FFmpeg Parameters

These are the command line options for FFmpeg.  You can also see this list by typing "ffmpeg.exe -h" in a DOS window.

Usage: ffmpeg [[infile options] -i infile]... {[outfile options] outfile}...

Main options:
-L show license
-h show help
-version show version
-formats show available formats, codecs, protocols, ...
-f fmt force format
-img img_fmt force image format
-i filename input file name
-y overwrite output files
-t duration set the recording time
-fs limit_size set the limit file size
-ss time_off set the start time offset
-itsoffset time_off set the input ts offset
-title string set the title
-timestamp time set the timestamp
-author string set the author
-copyright string set the copyright
-comment string set the comment
-album string set the album
-v verbose control amount of logging
-target type specify target file type ("vcd", "svcd", "dvd", "dv", "dv50", "pal-vcd", "ntsc-svcd", ...)
-dframes number set the number of data frames to record
-scodec codec force subtitle codec ('copy' to copy stream)
-newsubtitle add a new subtitle stream to the current output stream
-slang code set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current subtitle stream


Video options:
-b bitrate set video bitrate (in kbit/s)
-vframes number set the number of video frames to record
-r rate set frame rate (Hz value, fraction or abbreviation)
-s size set frame size (WxH or abbreviation)
-aspect aspect set aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9 or 1.3333, 1.7777)
-croptop size set top crop band size (in pixels)
-cropbottom size set bottom crop band size (in pixels)
-cropleft size set left crop band size (in pixels)
-cropright size set right crop band size (in pixels)
-padtop size set top pad band size (in pixels)
-padbottom size set bottom pad band size (in pixels)
-padleft size set left pad band size (in pixels)
-padright size set right pad band size (in pixels)
-padcolor color set color of pad bands (Hex 000000 thru FFFFFF)
-vn disable video
-bt tolerance set video bitrate tolerance (in kbit/s)
-maxrate bitrate set max video bitrate tolerance (in kbit/s)
-minrate bitrate set min video bitrate tolerance (in kbit/s)
-bufsize size set ratecontrol buffer size (in kByte)
-vcodec codec force video codec ('copy' to copy stream)
-sameq use same video quality as source (implies VBR)
-pass n select the pass number (1 or 2)
-passlogfile file select two pass log file name
-newvideo add a new video stream to the current output stream


Advanced Video options:
-pix_fmt format set pixel format
-g gop_size set the group of picture size
-intra use only intra frames
-vdt n discard threshold
-qscale q use fixed video quantiser scale (VBR)
-qmin q min video quantiser scale (VBR)
-qmax q max video quantiser scale (VBR)
-lmin lambda min video lagrange factor (VBR)
-lmax lambda max video lagrange factor (VBR)
-mblmin q min macroblock quantiser scale (VBR)
-mblmax q max macroblock quantiser scale (VBR)
-qdiff q max difference between the quantiser scale (VBR)
-qblur blur video quantiser scale blur (VBR)
-qsquish squish how to keep quantiser between qmin and qmax (0 = clip, 1 = use differentiable function)
-qcomp compression video quantiser scale compression (VBR)
-rc_init_cplx complexity initial complexity for 1-pass encoding
-b_qfactor factor qp factor between p and b frames
-i_qfactor factor qp factor between p and i frames
-b_qoffset offset qp offset between p and b frames
-i_qoffset offset qp offset between p and i frames
-ibias bias intra quant bias
-pbias bias inter quant bias
-rc_eq equation set rate control equation
-rc_override override rate control override for specific intervals
-me method set motion estimation method
-me_threshold motion estimaton threshold
-mb_threshold macroblock threshold
-bf frames use 'frames' B frames
-preme pre motion estimation
-bug param workaround not auto detected encoder bugs
-strict strictness how strictly to follow the standards
-deinterlace deinterlace pictures
-psnr calculate PSNR of compressed frames
-vstats dump video coding statistics to file
-vhook module insert video processing module
-intra_matrix matrix specify intra matrix coeffs
-inter_matrix matrix specify inter matrix coeffs
-top top=1/bottom=0/auto=-1 field first
-sc_threshold threshold scene change threshold
-me_range range limit motion vectors range (1023 for DivX player)
-dc precision intra_dc_precision
-mepc factor (1.0 = 256) motion estimation bitrate penalty compensation
-vtag fourcc/tag force video tag/fourcc
-skip_threshold threshold frame skip threshold
-skip_factor factor frame skip factor
-skip_exp exponent frame skip exponent
-qphist show QP histogram
-vbsf bitstream filter


Audio options:
-aframes number set the number of audio frames to record
-ab bitrate set audio bitrate (in kbit/s)
-aq quality set audio quality (codec-specific)
-ar rate set audio sampling rate (in Hz)
-ac channels set number of audio channels
-an disable audio
-acodec codec force audio codec ('copy' to copy stream)
-vol volume change audio volume (256=normal)
-newaudio add a new audio stream to the current output stream
-alang code set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current audio stream


Advanced Audio options:
-atag fourcc/tag force audio tag/fourcc
-absf bitstream filter


Subtitle options:
-scodec codec force subtitle codec ('copy' to copy stream)
-newsubtitle add a new subtitle stream to the current output stream
-slang code set the ISO 639 language code (3 letters) of the current subtitle stream

Audio/Video grab options:
-vd device set video grab device
-vc channel set video grab channel (DV1394 only)
-tvstd standard set television standard (NTSC, PAL (SECAM))
-ad device set audio device
-grab format request grabbing using
-gd device set grab device


Advanced options:
-map file:stream[:syncfile:syncstream] set input stream mapping
-map_meta_data outfile:infile set meta data information of outfile from infile
-benchmark add timings for benchmarking
-dump dump each input packet
-hex when dumping packets, also dump the payload
-re read input at native frame rate
-loop_input loop (current only works with images)
-loop_output number of times to loop output in formats that support looping (0 loops forever)
-threads count thread count
-vsync video sync method
-async audio sync method
-vglobal video global header storage type
-copyts copy timestamps
-shortest finish encoding within shortest input
-dts_delta_threshold timestamp discontinuity delta threshold
-ps size set packet size in bits
-error rate error rate
-muxrate rate set mux rate
-packetsize size set packet size
-muxdelay seconds set the maximum demux-decode delay
-muxpreload seconds set the initial demux-decode delay



Supported sites

They supported the main websites in the world of video sharing, as YouTube, Google video, MySpace, DailyMotion, Metacafe, iFilm, Break, Guba, and many others.

You can find the complete list on the YouTube Downloader Supported Sites page.


Additional Information

For additional information on using YouTube Downloader, see the Frequently Asked Questions list. Also you can check out our new website.


Contact Information

Support: Contact us via the online support form.

Website: http://youtubedownload.altervista.org