FFAStrans forum

Hello,

is there a way of configuring youtube-dl by a configuration file? I’ve tried to create one as described in the readme-file from the creators of youtube-dl, but it’s ignored when a video ist downloaded - where should the configuration file be created?
I’m using Windows XP (inside a VM).

Thanks!
Jan

Hi Jan and thank you for using FFAStrans

Can you please give a bit more datail about what you want to achieve, and are you using the "YouTube"-decoder?
If the youtube-dl.exe, which is used by the "YouTube"-decoder, automatically search for a file named "youtube-dl.conf" then I guess it might work if you follow the instructions by the creators of youtube-dl. But please notice that "YouTube"-decoder downloads the best possible media file available so it can be used as a predefined source for further FFAStrans processing. If there is a possible conflict between this workflow and the use of a configuration file then we have a problem.

Also, please notice that FFAStrans is no longer tested with Windows XP. Any problems you might have because of the OS wont be addressed.

-steipal

Thank you for your fast response!

yes, I’m using the Youtube-Decoder in FFAStrans (by the way: I’m really impressed by the program an appreciate all the work you put in it!)
The reason why i’m asking is that the youtupe-decoder is downloading only the 720p version, although a 1080p ist selectable on Youtub’s site - assuming that the 1080p is streamed with separate audio I want to use a special configuration to try ending up with a 1080 ProRes for editing.

Since I couldn’t figure out how to configure youtube-dl because the directories for the configuration-file didn't exits on XP (I’v tried to create them, but this didn't help) I was asking the question above, but will now first try to set up a new VM with Win7 before wasting your time with XP-related stuff

Greetings from Hamburg, Germany
Jan

I really appreciate your feedback, Jan

FFAStrans should download the best possible media file but if it turns out it doesn't, I ought to look into the matter. I might also implement an option to select what quality to download.

-steipal

I found some time for new testings, including updating from windows xp to windows 7, which fixed the problem of the ignored youtube-dl configuration-file.

Entering -f 137 inside this configuration file tells youtube-dl to download the 1080p-version of the video (without audio, because Youtube separates audio and video for the high-res files and gave all formats and variants some number-codes.)
So far everything is fine.

Entering „-f bestvideo+bestaudio/best“ inside the configuration file should youtube-dl let grab the best qualities for audio and video it can find an combine them into one file, but leads to the outcome „No video or audio found in media“ inside the monitor.
(There are two separate mp4-files created inside a folder in the ffastrans_work_root, one with the video in the highest resolution offered on Youtube's Site and one with the audio, both playing back without problems in quicktime player.)

Assuming that the merging of the two files failed in some way because youtube-dl didn’t know where to find ffmpeg I’ve tried to add -ffmpeg-location C:\Users\Jan\Desktop\ffastrans\Processors\FFMpeg inside the configuration file.
Now I get an rather cryptic error message as outcome: „Unable to download webpage: <urlopen error unknown url type: c> (caused by URLError(u'unknown url type: c’,))“

What could be the next thing to try?

Thanks in advance!
Jan

Hi again, Jan.

Thank you for bringing the issues with the "YouTube"-decoder to my attention Users like you are important to the evolution of FFAStrans!

The changes in how youtube-dl works dodged my radar and I can see now that the "YouTube"-decoder need a little rework. Right now I'm in the middle of my holiday so there wont be much development going on but this issue will have high priority when development continues.

-steipal