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UPDATE: YouTube has reworked their code several times in response to this article. They hate methodshop.com. We try to update this page frequently with new tricks so check back often. If you get an error when trying to download a YouTube video, please try some of the plug-ins and scripts listed in step #3.

YouTube.com is a great resource. YouTube allows users to freely upload, view, and even share video clips on your blog or web site. But because anyone can upload a video clip on YouTube, copyright violations are rampant. In an effort to prevent the widespread distribution of illegal copied video files, YouTube encodes its video files in the Macromedia Flash format, which prevents viewers from downloading files and making digital copies.

If someone reports a video file to YouTube because it's objectionable or in copyright violation, the video in question can quickly and easily be taken down. All it takes is one report to YouTube and the clip goes dead. This means that the great video you found on YouTube may be gone before you even have time to post it on your blog and email it to your friends. That's what happened with the SNL skit Lazy Sunday. NBC made YouTube take it down. Damn you YouTube! Why wont you let us download files off your site like Google Video does. While we wait for YouTube to let users freely download videos, there are several ways to get around this limitation.

Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to copy video files off YouTube.com and convert them for iPad, iPod, Apple TV, iPhone or even just to watch in iTunes. This trick will work on either Mac or PC using Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer.

In this tutorial we will be copying the rare 1991 Conan O'Brien/Adam West TV pilot called Lookwell off YouTube.com.

Requirements:

• An iPhone, Apple TV or iPod Video
• iTunes 6.0.1 or later
• A web browser with the Flash plug-in installed
• An Internet connection
• QuickTime Pro (Mac/PC; $30), HandBrake (Mac/PC; free), VisualHub (Mac) or iSquint (Mac)

1) Find a clip on YouTube.com Tens of thousands of video are submitted to YouTube everyday. Chances are you will find something good on the site. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will be downloading the 1991 TV pilot, Lookwell. It stars Adam West as a former actor turned amateur detective. The show is pure genius. It was written by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel, the voice of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Lookwell http://www.youtube.com/w/Lookwell!?v=l9ZX72K1Va4 Wait for the video file to completely load. Depending on the length of the clip, it make take several minutes to download. Once the clip is cached on your computer, you are ready to find it and convert it.

2) Let the clip COMPLETELY load in your browser

Wait for the video file to completely load! I'm serious. Wait for the video file to completely load! One more time? Wait for the video file to completely load! You'd be surprised how many idiots send us emails everyday that skip this step or are too dumb to know how to read. But they way, you should let the video completely load.

Depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the duration of the video file, it may take several minutes to fully load your clip. Lookwell is a full 30 minute TV show and took about 8 minutes to load. Wait until the status bar has filled in all the way to the right. The image below is only about 75% done loading. If the status bar never fully filled up and you unsuccessfully tried to download the clip, DON'T expect it to work. It's an incomplete file. Just have patience and wait.

3) Getting the FLV file

After the clip has completely loaded (you should be able to watch the entire clip in your web browser), you can then save the file on to your computer's hard drive.

There are 2 ways we can do this. The EASY way which will require you to purchase some cheap software (~$30), or the HARD way which is 100% free. Scroll down past the EASY section below if you want a free solution. If you just need to grab one or two videos then go with the free method. But if you find yourself saving and converting YouTube clips on a regular basis, then spend a few bucks and get the software.

4) The EASY Way: Purchasing Software to Easily Download & Convert the YouTube Clips

If you have a few bucks to spend, then there are plenty of great applications that will quickly and easily help you download YouTube video files and convert them to iPod, iPhone, Zune and even Apple TV. All you have to do is paste in the URL of the YouTube page you are on and the software will automatically download and convert the file for you.

Here are some of our favorite YouTube converting applications. The download links below all offer free demos so you can try out the apps and decide if they are worth buying. If you use one of these programs, then your job is done and you don't need to read much more of this tutorial. Skip down to step #7 now. If not, don't worry. Keep reading below for some free download solutions.

• Xilisoft YouTube to iPod Converter [pc]
• Xilisoft YouTube to iPod Converter [mac]
  
• Xilisoft YouTube Video Converter [pc]
  
• Xilisoft YouTube Video Converter [mac]

5) The HARD Way: But it's FREE!

Firefox users (Mac/PC) can use several different plug-ins like DownloadHelper to automatically download YouTube video files. However, each time YouTube updates their code, these plug-ins and scripts usually need to be updated. YouTube doesn't like these Firefox plug-ins and actively tries to disable them. If you can't get a Firefox plug-in to work, or don't use Firefox (Internet Explorer sucks btw!), there are more solutions below.

• DownloadHelper (EXCELLENT Firefox plug-in)
• Video Downloader (Firefox plug-in)
• MyVideoDownloader (downloads and converts videos from many sites, not just YouTube)
• KissYouTube (web site app)

Here are a few manual methods for downloading a FLV file from YouTube.com. Depending on what web browser and operating system you are using, how and where you find the video file on your computer will vary. Please try the easy ways listed above first. YouTube changes the way they code their site all the time to prevent many of these manual methods from working.

• The Hard Way: Firefox (Mac/PC)
• The Hard Way: Internet Explorer (PC)
• The Hard Way: Safari (Mac)

4) Rename the FLV file

You probably don't want a file called something like "eBXal1GAA4A.flv" or "get_video", so rename your file something like to something that makes sense like "Lookwell.flv". Be sure to add the ".flv" to the end of your file name so other applications know it's a Flash Video file. One more time. Make sure you add the ".flv" to the end of your file name so other applications know it's a Flash Video file.

If you find later on that your FLV file isn't working, try naming it ".flv1"

If all you want is a FLV file, then congrats you are done. If you want to convert this file to something that will work in iTunes or play on a Video iPod, then keep reading.

5) Picking a video conversion application

Before you open up this Flash video clip in a converter application, make sure you add ".flv" to the end of your file name (see above). If you ignore this step, then please try to stick your elbow in your ear before sending us an email asking for help.

1. HandBrake is a software application that can convert MPEG video (including DVDs) into a MPEG-4 video file in .mp4, .avi, .ogm, or .mkv containers. Originally developed for BeOS, HandBrake is now cross-platform, and available for Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Solaris.
   
   
   
2. VisualHub (Mac) is a great application that can quickly convert almost any type of video into another. WMV, MP4, M4V, DV, AVI, MPEG, Flash, etc. I've always seen success when using VisualHub to convert YouTube videos. Unfortunately the company that made VisualHub shutdown in 2008 and the application is no longer available.
   
   
   
3. QuickTime Pro (Mac/PC) is a fantastic application that works on both Mac and PC. It supports every common movie format including: MOV, MPG, AVI, DV and FLV. QuickTime Pro does a lot more than just convert Flash video files and only costs $30. For more information or if you need to buy it, check out QuickTime Pro in the software section of Apple.com.
   
   Once you have QuickTime Pro, please install these QuickTime plug-ins. They will allow you to open FLV files:

• Perian plug-in (Mac) - NOTE: Perian requires flv files to have a .flv1 file extension
• Adobe Flash Video Exporter (Mac)
• Adobe Flash Video Exporter (PC)
  
  

If you are a PC user, please download this file called "FLV.qtx" and copy it here on your hard drive:

• C:\\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\DVA\FLASH

You may also need to copy the "FLV.qtx" file to these locations as well:

• C:\\Program Files\QuickTime\QTComponents
• C:\\Windows\system32
  

Depending on what version of Microsoft Windows you have installed, these locations may or may not exist on your computer. Just copy the "FLV.qtx" to as many of the locations listed above on your computer as possible.

6) Open and Convert FLV files

The exact steps need to convert the FLV file will vary depending on which application you are using. Handbrake and VisualHub both have conversion presets that make the process much easier.

Converting FLV files with QuickTime Pro is a little more involved. Launch the QuickTime application. Select Open from the File menu and browse your computer to find your the FLV video file (File > Open). QuickTime will open it (see image on right) and you will be able to Export it out to another format.

If you want to tinker with the audio/video settings of the video, then just take a look at the Info and Properties screens under the Window menu.

To export the clip, select Export from under the File menu. QuickTime Pro has export presets for Apple TV, iPhone and iPod. That's it (File > Export).

7) Import Video into iTunes

When the FLV is finished converting to a MP4 or M4V file, you can import it into iTunes. Open iTunes and select Open from the File menu (File > Open).

And if you just want to just export out a MP3 of your video clip, then there's another methodshop.com tutorial that you might like: How to Convert Between Audio File Formats for Free Using iTunes

8) That's It!

Congratulations! You are done. Go buy yourself a drink... and feel free to buy us one too. These articles don't write themselves. Show us some love and drop a PayPal dollar in our MethodShop.com Beer Fund. Beer Fund If you are low on cash, you can say thanks by following us on Twitter, fanning us on Facebook, subscribing to our RSS feed or joining our weekly mailing list. We totally appreciate your support.

If you really run into trouble, you can also try using screen capture software like Snapz Pro (Mac) or Snag It (PC). These capture applications will record audio and video of what you see on your computer screen and save it as a QuickTime movie.

If you run into any issues or have questions, please drop us a line.

Also, here's another video tutorial that might help answer any other questions you might have: