How to download from YouTube and edit in FCP?

[HueyNRolf]

I've tried using the activity monitor in Safari to get an .flv file, but it doesn't playback in VLC. Does anyone have a workflow for this?

[Dr. Benway]

So, firstly, do you have the .flv file? (Yes, but it won't play? They are often corrupt.) Have you tried changing the quality and then downloading the .mp4?

[HueyNRolf]

I can't do a thing with the .flv files I'm getting.

[Dr. Benway]

They'll be bung, incomplete. Can you up the YouTube quality for the .mp4?

http://www.verticalforest.com/youtube5-extension/

[cgbier]

You got MPEG Streamclip? Got Perian?

[HueyNRolf]

Nothing, I installed YouTube5 and it doesn't work.

[simulacro]

Nothing, I installed YouTube5 and it doesn't work.

the last version of mpeg streamclip would do the job.

the "file" menu has an "open url" option. then, you can export it to a more friendly video format. the program is free

[HueyNRolf]

You got MPEG Streamclip? Got Perian?

Thanks, I'll check those tomorrow. Bedways is rightways now.

[HueyNRolf]

the last version of mpeg streamclip would do the job.

the "file" menu has an "open url" option. then, you can export it to a more friendly video format. the program is free

Thanks!

[cgbier]

If you use VLC, you'll need Perian to play flv.

[Janke]

Have you tried "Download helper" software?

[Dr. Benway]

I installed YouTube5 and it doesn't work.

Bummer. I've got IDM - http://www.internetdownloadmanager.com/ - it's so useful.

[Almohada]

There was an app just for that!!! It had a URL slot and a convert setting just for Final Cut. I think I deleted it for some reason. I'm trying to find it again

[HueyNRolf]

Thanks everyone. A lot of choice there. I think I'll give MPEG Streamclip a try.

[drapeama]

Hey Huey, I've just read this thread.
To download a video from youtube, you should try JDownloader: works with a simple copy&paste of the youtube link and automatically detects what's available to download in it, as shown here:
3 jdownloader youtube.png
Then, right click on what you want (individually) or select the whole package. Then you'll have your .flv or .mp4 video to work with.
I'm using it and it's working fine.

[HueyNRolf]

Thanks Draps.

[Almohada]

Aha! It's called iSkySoft: http://www.iskysoft.com/

It has a built-in Youtube to FCP converter

[cgbier]

Yeah, I have iskysoft too. The free version doesn't convert the downloaded FLV (and only downloads from a handful of sites). The paid version knows ~100 sites (according to the advertisement) and does convert. The encoder in that software sucks though. I use either MPEG Streamclip or Media Encoder for the converting process.

[HueyNRolf]

I managed to get what I needed with YouTube5, it works on some files, a little sporadic. I tried MPEG Streamclip and it didn't work.

Thanks for all the suggestions. If I need more I'll try some of the other solutions. I really appreciate the input, thanks again.

[Dr. Benway]

No problem. A little awkward, well frustrating, cos' I'm on Windows. But good luck.

[drapeama]

Jdownloader offer multiples formats, like .mp4 , .flv and .mp3 for audio.
I think .mp4 should work in most NLE, right?

[cgbier]

MP4 still has to be transcoded to AIC or ProRes Apple's older NLEs. FCP X can use it directly, but will transcode it in the b/g

[kaydawgy]

Realplayer works good

[cgbier]

Realplayer? I thought that dinosaur went extinct quite a while ago. You're still using it?

[cgbier]

They'll be bung, incomplete. Can you up the YouTube quality for the .mp4?

http://www.verticalforest.com/youtube5-extension/

Hey, Doc. Thanks for that link. That thing works perfectly! Much better than YouTube's original player... and the HD downloads have all been mp4s so far!