How to copy YouTube videos off YouTube

The video sharing websites, such as YouTube, Google Video, Hulu, Fox, and Pandora, are all great resources for FLV files. Take YouTube as the example. This site allows users to view and share video clips at ease, and any one can upload a video clip on this site freely.

In an effort to prevent the widespread distribution of illegal copied video files, YouTube encodes its video files in the Macromedia Flash format (SWF) as a player, with Flash video (FLV) data embedded within, which prevents viewers from downloading files and making digital copies. The video files will be streaming directly to the embedded player on the web page without any downloadable link for users to save the video locally for offline viewing or for transferring/synchronizing to portable media player.

Compared with YouTube, Google Video offers, however, wider access for users to downloading video files off their site. Some video-sharing web sites, which serve only for the region of USA, use RTMP protocol. Most downloading tool can not support it. These web sites contain high definition FLV with good quality. However for YouTube FLV Downloader, it is so easy.

This article will demonstrate on how to get around the limitation and download video files from YouTube and other similar virtual video hosting and sharing sites. Meanwhile, this article will show the approach to play downloaded FLV files offline and then convert FLV into MPEG 4 compatible with iPod.

In order to download and convert FLV, first you must install YouTube FLV Downloader.

1. Find a good video clip on YouTube

Tens of thousands of video clips are submitted to YouTube everyday. Probably you will find some video you like on the site. Use YouTube FLV Downloader to download and save them as well as converting to other video formats like MP4 for portable devices.

2. Download FLV and save on your PC.

You have three methods to download YouTube videos: New task, Capture URL and drag thumbnail to floating icon.

First method: Click on “New” icon. “New Download” window will pop up. If you do not want to more customized settings, just do not change them and remain by default. Type in URL of YouTube video and one click on “OK”. The download will begin.

Second method: The floating icon will be along with the pop-up main interface. Open the web site and drag the thumbnail listed on the web page to the floating icon. The “New Download” window will appear. Click “OK” to start downloading YouTube videos if remaining settings by default.

Third method: This downloading free tool can automatically capture online FLV as long as the video is playing on supported browsers. You can just open the web page where video is playing and click “Capture” tab. The downloader will auto start analyzing URL and list on this tab. Select URL you want to download and Hit “Download” icon. The “New Download” window pops up. Click “OK” to begin downloading.

What settings you can configure in pop-up window of “New Download”:

a. Specify the output folder on your PC.

b. Rename the downloaded FLV file in “Save As” box.

c. Choose to save it as a movie or music in “Library”.

d. Check the option: “Convert to video” to list the downloaded files in “Convert” tab.

e. Leave a note as the comment.

3. Convert downloaded FLV.

The downloaded FLV files will be saved on the program in “History” and “Convert” if checking the option “Convert to video”. If in “History”, select FLV files to convert and hit “Download” icon. It will prompt that the selected FLV has gone to “Convert” tab for conversion. In “Convert” tab, also select FLV and click “Start” button to activate “FLV to Video Converter Pro 2”.

Besides converting, Moyea FLV to Video Converter Pro 2 allows you to edit the FLV files, such as trimming and cropping, adding a watermark, setting the frame size, frame rate, bit rate, selecting a proper audio or video codec to suit your video player, etc. You can learn more about how to convert FLV to MP4 compatible with iPod.

4. Sync the converted MP4 file to iTunes.

Under the help of iTunes, you can import the downloaded and converted files to iPod for enjoy them on the go. Now just relax and have fun with your favorite videos from YouTube, Google Video, Hulu, Pandora, etc. That’s fabulous!