I See It, I Like It, I Want It, I youtube-dl It
Feb 02, 2020
youtube-dl
is the best way to download high quality videos from YouTube. Instructions for how to install it are located here. The tool has a large API surface area and dense documentation which can result in a frustrating experience when you just want to download a video. If you see it, like it, want it, this guide will help you get it.
#List Available Formats
youtube-dl -F https://youtu.be/QYh6mYIJG2Y
[youtube] QYh6mYIJG2Y: Downloading webpage
[youtube] QYh6mYIJG2Y: Downloading video info webpage
[info] Available formats for QYh6mYIJG2Y:
format code extension resolution note
249 webm audio only tiny 61k , opus @ 50k (48000Hz), 1.15MiB
250 webm audio only tiny 79k , opus @ 70k (48000Hz), 1.50MiB
140 m4a audio only tiny 130k , m4a_dash container, mp4a.40.2@128k (44100Hz), 2.86MiB
251 webm audio only tiny 150k , opus @160k (48000Hz), 2.91MiB
394 mp4 256x144 144p 85k , av01.0.00M.08, 24fps, video only, 1.62MiB
278 webm 256x144 144p 98k , webm container, vp9, 24fps, video only, 1.94MiB
160 mp4 256x144 144p 110k , avc1.4d400c, 24fps, video only, 1.71MiB
395 mp4 426x240 240p 193k , av01.0.00M.08, 24fps, video only, 3.31MiB
242 webm 426x240 240p 221k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 3.52MiB
133 mp4 426x240 240p 294k , avc1.4d4015, 24fps, video only, 3.57MiB
396 mp4 640x360 360p 352k , av01.0.01M.08, 24fps, video only, 5.90MiB
243 webm 640x360 360p 408k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 6.27MiB
134 mp4 640x360 360p 573k , avc1.4d401e, 24fps, video only, 6.55MiB
397 mp4 854x480 480p 638k , av01.0.04M.08, 24fps, video only, 10.28MiB
135 mp4 854x480 480p 725k , avc1.4d401e, 24fps, video only, 8.95MiB
244 webm 854x480 480p 746k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 9.58MiB
136 mp4 1280x720 720p 1142k , avc1.4d401f, 24fps, video only, 13.73MiB
398 mp4 1280x720 720p 1279k , av01.0.05M.08, 24fps, video only, 20.58MiB
247 webm 1280x720 720p 1454k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 16.57MiB
399 mp4 1920x1080 1080p 2237k , av01.0.08M.08, 24fps, video only, 35.73MiB
248 webm 1920x1080 1080p 2659k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 41.98MiB
137 mp4 1920x1080 1080p 3965k , avc1.640028, 24fps, video only, 48.01MiB
18 mp4 640x360 360p 589k , avc1.42001E, mp4a.40.2@ 96k (44100Hz), 12.99MiB (best)
#Determine The Highest Quality Video+Audio Formats
Do not rely on the (best)
note. Follow this simple algorithm instead.
- Find the largest video with the highest resolution in the desired format.
- Find the largest compatible audio.
Applying the algorithm to the example results in 248
and 251
. I chose webm
because I find it looks and plays better than mp4
.
#Download
youtube-dl -f 248+251 https://youtu.be/QYh6mYIJG2Y
[youtube] QYh6mYIJG2Y: Downloading webpage
[youtube] QYh6mYIJG2Y: Downloading video info webpage
[download] Destination: Ariana Grande - 7 rings-QYh6mYIJG2Y.f248.webm
[download] 100% of 41.98MiB in 00:00
[download] Destination: Ariana Grande - 7 rings-QYh6mYIJG2Y.f251.webm
[download] 100% of 2.91MiB in 00:00
[ffmpeg] Merging formats into "Ariana Grande - 7 rings-QYh6mYIJG2Y.webm"
Deleting original file Ariana Grande - 7 rings-QYh6mYIJG2Y.f248.webm (pass -k to keep)
Deleting original file Ariana Grande - 7 rings-QYh6mYIJG2Y.f251.webm (pass -k to keep)
I used ffmpeg
, a dependency of youtube-dl
, to make the loop above.
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter_complex "[0:v]reverse,fifo[r];[0:v][r] concat=n=2:v=1 [v]" -map "[v]" output.mp4
The command concatenates a reversed version of the clip to itself.