Saving Concertina Videos To My Computer; The Easy Way

[Leo]

A few emails, and questions prompted me to think about this how to. Please read all the info before actually starting to get a good idea of the sequence before deleting anything since cleaning the cache is irreversible, and cannot be undone. The only thing that will happen is the cookies will be deleted and autologin information to websites will be lost. Not a big thing, but annoying if it's unexpected.

 

Internet Explorer instructions.

Youtube, Google Video, MySpace and others play their videos in an embedded player on the internet from the web page, and store information for smooth playing on a computer in a "cache" file in the Temporary directory. The format they use is called Flash Video, or FLV format. They are then deleted over time depending on the preferences of the computer owner. Mine are deleted daily when I shut down my computer. Most videos are deleted when you exit the web page, and move on to another site.

 

A little detective work will allow a person to save the cache/buffer file and manipulate into a working video file saved in a directory other than a temporary location. The hard part is finding the cache file that looks like nothing recognisable. The first step is to make it easier:

 

1. On the menu bar of Internet Explorer click on the word tools, then the drop down menu item Internet Options. (This will be used twice, once in deleteing "stuff", and also finding the file).

 

2. Under Browsing History on the General tab click on the word delete for a new menu. You'll need to delete two items, Temporary Internet Files, and History. I don't use the history. If I want to come back to something I bookmark it, rather than search through date and time to find a page. My history option is defaulted to today, and don't save.

 

3. Close the two menu item, and now you're ready to work.

 

These two above steps may not be necessary depending on the computer useage, and the filesizes in the temp directory, but I find it easier to start from an almost clean location.

 

Find a video to watch. This one is nice:

English Concertina for Beginners Part 1

 

When it starts to play, pause it. It's an important step, otherwise it might be deleted when you exit the page. There will be a red bar across the bottom of the video moving to the right. This is usually faster than the black button showing position of the frame in the video. When it gets all the way to the right, the video is finished saving itself in a "buffer", and now ready to manipulate. You may not want to watch the whole movie for this step:

 

1. On the menu bar of Internet Explorer click on the word tools, then the drop down menu item Internet Options.

 

2. This time on the general tab, Browsing history click on Settings, then View files. It opens up Windows Explorer to the Temporary directory.

 

3. There are columns of information, of which three are used to find the correct file. Name, Internet Address, and Size. Click on the Size button at the top of the column until the little arrow head/triangle points down. The largest filesize will now be on the top, or close to it. I'll bet the information looks something like this:

 

Name Column

get_video?video_id=t6um4QHOz74

The name of the actual file stored in cache on the computer. This is the file to be manipulated into a working video file

 

Internet Address Column

h t t p://sjc-v29.sjc.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=t6um4QHOvZ4

Where the file is on the Internet (Note; this line has been edited with spaces in the http to eliminate the link and only show the text)

 

Size Column

22,488KB

The actual file size on the computer. Approximately 2MB per minit = approx 22 MB total file size, an estimate use to point to the correct file.

 

You've now found the cache file to convert.

 

The next step is to copy it to a place where the conversion can take place. I have a directory called Movies just for this process.

 

1. Right click on the file name.

2. Paste it where you want it.

Or drag and drop

 

It should look like this: get_video[2], or something similar with a filesize of 22,488KB.

 

3. Now the really hard part. Right click on that name, then the drop down menu item called rename. Call it tutor1.flv You need the .flv extension to tell the computer which program opens it. Since it's a flash video, then Adobe named their files .flv hence the extension.

 

Really easier done than explained. The whole process takes less than 5 minits, and no software, or internet connection to log into. It's done already just by renaming the cache/buffer file. The next video could be called tutor2.flv, or any other desirable convention describing the file with the .flv at the end.

 

To play a flash video you will need a player. I use one called GOM Player, from here: http://www.gomplayer.com/main.html

 

(note: Not a special endorsement, just the one I use. There are many available free. Another is VLC player. Just google "Flash Player", or "Flash Video Player".)

 

Firefox Instructions:

I'm not versed in Firefox, so this information is second hand. Look for the Firefox addon/extension called Video Download Helper from here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006

 

This is from my son who is better versed in Firefox than I am. You click play on the video, then click the download button on the firefox toolbar, and it's saved in an FLV format where you specify. You will also need to download a video player to watch it after saved.

 

Apple Instructions:

Convert Computer to Windows. Seriously I don't speak the language, and don't know how do do it there, but I'm sure there is a way as easy as previously described.

 

Both techniques work well, and free. FLV files can be converted to other formats, avi, div, wmv, mov, etc. but that's a whole other subject.

 

Let me know how it works for you

 

Thanks

Leo

Edited November 14, 2010 by Leo

[Takayuki YAGI]

Thanks for the detailed how-to .

To make these procedure easier, I am using this free service ( keepvid.com ).

I am not a mac user, but I am sure this also works fine on macs if you have a player for flv format and/or appropriate video converter.

 

Thanks,

Taka

[RatFace]

Firefox Instructions:

I'm not versed in Firefox, so this information is second hand. ..

 

This works really well. Thanks for the tip!

[Leo]

To get a (slightly noticeable) bump in resolution, try adding &fmt=6 to the end of the address line. The trick, seems to work primarily with newer videos, and bumps the resolution from 320x240 to 448x336.

 

Add &fmt=18 to the end of the URL in the address bar, and you might get an MP4-encoded version, with better audio and a 480x360 resolution. Same download to the temporary directory, renamed to .mp4 extension. These can be played in Apple Quick time player, Real player, and GOM player. This resolution change seems to work on most of these: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=comhaltas and might work on some of the newer uploads.

 

For a better explaination:

http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/03/y...ion-videos.html

 

Thanks

Leo

[keithfre]

There's a very simple way with Firefox, an add-on called Download Helper. When it detects a video (you have to start the video playing) a little pulldown menu appears next to a rotating 3-balls icon and you can simply click on the video on the menu to download it.

[gibet_b]

Apple Instructions:

Convert Computer to Windows. Seriously I don't speak the language, and don't know how do do it there, but I'm sure there is a way as easy as previously described.

 

On a mac with mac os x, the most easy way it's to use one of these two freeware : TubeTV or GetTube. TubeTV is my favourite but the two lets you download (and convert in other format than flash) youtube or daily motion video with one click only.

 

It's more easy than pc finally