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Help in understanding video downloads

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FotS
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:06 pm

Help in understanding video downloads

Postby FotS » Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:29 pm

Hi,

Need a little help in understanding downloading videos via FDM.

Specifically, the 2 videos I've tried downloading are these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ToztqqDcaY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=f ... AtlWk&NR=1

For the first, FDM downloads 2 copies of the video (although subsequent attempts give 4 links?). The second, downloads 4, but no sound/picture. Also, trying to convert the hi-res version of the first into avi results in a file that has no sound/picture.

I'm a bit lost and confused here....
Victoria Nelson

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby Victoria Nelson » Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:37 am

Dear User!

Please specify what FDM build do you use?
FotS
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby FotS » Wed May 22, 2013 3:05 pm

Profound apologies on the delay... so much was happening I completely forgot about this post...

At the time, 3.9.2 1287, although today I'm being prompted to update to 1289. I can give that a try and see if it still does the same thing.

EDIT: Ok, so still getting the multiple download links, but at least now the downloaded videos seem to work.

BTW, I'm attempting to download the HD versions of the videos.

EDIT 2: Well, correction... some of the originals play fine, and converting from the downloaded flv to avi (and selecting highest quality) results in vid that is badly pixelated and no sound.
FotS
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby FotS » Wed May 22, 2013 4:53 pm

Ok, so to try an narrow this down, I deleted all of the downloaded videos and cleared them from FDM history (so I wouldn't be prompted with repeat download).

Here's the results:
First: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ToztqqDcaY
Once YouTube starts playing it, I change the quality to 720p (HD) and then hit the "Download with FDM" link at the upper left of the video. FDM prompts me with 5 downloads. Downloading all of them, 3 are .flv files of approx 34 MB, while 2 are .mp4 files of approx 77.1 MB and 82 MB (the 77.1 MB appears to be truncated of some of the intro credits). All 5 work fine (as tested with FDM and with Windows Media Player), the larger 2 appearing to be the HD versions I was after. My player of choice, however, is Winamp and it does not appear to play .mp4 (sound, but no picture). Using FDM's built in converter to convert to .avi (with quality settings set to highest) appears to work (picture and sound good and plays in Winamp), but picture quality is degraded (pixelated).

Second: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=QyYbvVAtlWk&NR=1
Same with first, once YouTube starts playing it, I change the quality to 720p (HD) and then hit the "Download with FDM" link at the upper left of the video. FDM prompts with 6 downloads, however. All 6 are .flv files, 1 at approx 1 MB, 1 at 11.5 MB, 3 at 23.2 MB, and the last at 87.5 MB. None will play in either Windows Media Player or Winamp (despite Winamp working with the .flv versions from the first download) but will play in FDM. Now here's a great part... all except the 11.5 MB file have picture, but no sound. The 11.5 MB file appears to be all sound, but no picture. And the 1 MB file is an Ad. Attempting to convert the .flv 87.5 MB file to .avi with quality settings at highest results in the same soundless picture, but of much poorer quality.

This is all using Firefox 21.0 on Win 7 64-bit SP1, and FDM at 3.9.2 1289
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Jahn
Posts: 221
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:25 am

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby Jahn » Thu May 23, 2013 2:15 am

Hello FotS:

Try the latest FDM version 3.9.2 build 1303 (Mar 27, 2013, link). Other than the multiple downloads problem, both videos download and play properly for me raw in VLC Media Player, or converted to .avi with FDM in WMP 11. Also, you may need an external codec pack if Winamp doesn't provide a built-in solution. You could try http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/win7codecs.html
FotS
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby FotS » Thu May 23, 2013 8:19 pm

Yup... now FDM doesn't even work with FF anymore.... *sigh* FF reporting extension incompatible.

EDIT: Ok, fixed extension issue. Removed then re-added. :?
Only got 1 download link this time off from second video, but it was not the HD version (23 MB) and was still soundless.
It also seems as though each time I go back to either video and re-download (after a successful one) the number of video links increases.

And sorry, yes, this is (as of now) using the 1303 release.

More editing: Bleh, sorry... and the conversion is still of poorer quality than the original.
Also, I already have additional codecs downloaded and doubt that's my issue anyway. As stated... .flv files from first link work fine... it's the second that's having all the issues (aside from conversion quality... that affects both).
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Jahn
Posts: 221
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Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby Jahn » Fri May 24, 2013 12:00 am

Yes, you're right. I cannot get audio on the second link now, either, raw or converted. Format Factory indicates there is no audio track. YouTube has changed something (again) since yesterday. Actually, I remember several posts here not too long ago about no audio on downloaded YouTube videos, don't know if it was ever resolved. I'll try to locate them by doing a forum search. I'm looking at another angle, too, and will post back as soon as possible.
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Jahn
Posts: 221
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Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby Jahn » Fri May 24, 2013 5:28 pm

No, I'm still not able to get audio on the second link. I think this is the same problem as the topic "mp4 downloads (youtube) do not play".
FotS
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby FotS » Tue May 28, 2013 2:53 pm

I might be inclined to agree, except my issue isn't with the mp4s. The first video gives me mp4s and flvs, all of which play fine. The second video only gives me flvs, of which none work. Also, today, it doesn't seem to matter how hard I try, I cannot get FDM to download the HD version of the video. Each time I refresh the page, switch to 720p (HD) and try again, I just get an extra download of the lower quality one. IE, first try downloads 1 copy... second try downloads 2 copies (with a prompt from FDM that one of the download links is identical to a previous download)... etc.

I'll post in that thread anyway, as it may be an issue beyond Codecs.

For the record, too, I have the k-lite codec pack (with Media Player Classic) downloaded onto this PC... it plays many things that WMP and Winamp cannot.
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Jahn
Posts: 221
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:25 am

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby Jahn » Tue May 28, 2013 9:43 pm

Hi again FotS,

I've done more testing and it does appear to be a FDM problem. Until FDM addresses/fixes the problem, I found I can successfully download the second video from a site like keepvid.com/. After you enter the Youtube url on that site, you are presented a list of various download possibilities, and the download can then be completed by FDM. I chose the 720p HD download @ 123 MB. Two caveats: You must have Java installed and enabled in your browser. Be sure the file download name in FDM includes a file extension so FDM will recognize/ be able to convert it to another format, if necessary. Cheers!
Jexuz
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:23 am

Re: Help in understanding video downloads

Postby Jexuz » Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:51 am

Hi Fots

I experimented similar problems with videos on youtube, I solved that problem and downloaded videos on your post with almost no problems.

With the second video I tried two times, the second time reloading the web page, but it's to easy following the procedure

Check this and try by yourself
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16496#p37150
jasta
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:58 am

You Tube playback-windows media player encountered a problem

Postby jasta » Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:50 am

No problem watching You Tube videos, unless I download one with FDM. Then, it won't play on WMP-12, Real Player, VLC, GOM, etc. This has started during the past few weeks. If I download an older you tube .flv video from, say, 6 months ago, it works. But the recent .flv videos won't work. What has changed?

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