Not too long ago I was watching some YouTube videos and was wondering how to get the sound track from them. Doing some Google searching will yield tons of results, but I discovered many them were klunky to follow. Many were even obsolete, because apparently this is a problem YouTube is actively combating. This documents the way I prefer to do this on a Mac (should work on Linux as well). Though I am sure many similarly well suited options are available for Windows.
The first thing you will need is a plugin for Firefox called DownloadHelper. I believe this should work on all platforms; however, to be clear, this explanation is with Firefox 3.0.8 for Mac OS X. This will add a toolbar to your Firefox installation that can be used to rip media content from many well known websites. Of interest to us, is its ability to rip flash videos from YouTube (ie, .flv files). Simply install the plugin and visit a video you are interested in ripping on YouTube. You should see the DownloadHelper logo starting to spin next to the address bar. This indicates, as far as I can tell, that it is trying to find media that it can tap into. For best results, you will need to let your video fully load and may need to watch it in its entirety before saving off the .flv file. Once it is ready, click on the DownloadHelper logo and one of the things in the menu that shows up should be a file named after the title of the current YouTube page. Select that file and choose somewhere to save it. It is suggested to save this on a mac in a directory that has a file path that contains no special characters (ie, spaces). This will help not to complicate things later on.
The second part of this operation involves software needed to encode/decode audio and video files. The software of choice for this process is ffmpegX. This is freeware for Mac OS X that is relatively popular and very robust. Please follow the installation instructions ffmpegX 0.0.9y. From my lessons learned, this is where you should make sure to install this tool in a file path that has no special characters (ie, spaces). In order for this software to comply with some licensing, you will also need to download the mpeg2enc binary, mplayer and mencoder binaries. Please make sure to install these in a no special character file path as well. Once the binaries have been linked to with ffmpegX, you will no longer needs these files as the application should be in your Application directory and have made local copies of the binaries.
Now simply start up ffmpegX and drag and drop the .flv file downloaded earlier to the left hand side of the app. Next, choose a format to encode it with. If you want the soundtrack, simply choose “movie audio to mp3” for the target format on the right hand side. Then, click the Encode button and an mp3 should be generated. One problem I kept encountering at first was files seemed to be completing their conversions immediately. It turns out they were and generated 0Kb files. After looking for a solution for a while it turns out that sometimes the audio and video tracks are encoded differently, causing them to be in a different order (this may be done on purpose by YouTube). If this occurs, select the “Audio” tab and select “Invert Mapping,” and try again. If this still does not work, select the blue “i” next to the suspect problem for a log of the conversion process. Use the information provided to do a Google search and try to find a solution.
ffmpegX proves to be a very useful tool and one that has many other uses. I enjoy using this to convert .flv files into mp3s and videos that I can play on my iPhone, but there are many other formats to convert audio/video files to and from. Please provide any feedback or corrections you have and I will try to address them as best as I can.
This post is a testament to your expertise and hard work. Thank you!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this article. It was exactly what I needed to enjoy reading!
I appreciate the unique viewpoints you bring to your writing. Very insightful!
This is a brilliant piece of writing. You’ve nailed it perfectly!
Your post was a beacon of knowledge. Thank you for illuminating this subject.
The Writing has become like a favorite meeting spot, where great minds and ideas mingle.
The grace and authority you handle topics with are as mesmerizing as a moonlit dance. I’m thoroughly impressed.
Shedding light on this subject like you’re the only one with a flashlight. Refreshing to see someone who thinks they have all the answers.
Shedding light on this subject like you’re the only one with a flashlight. Refreshing to see someone who thinks they have all the answers.
A masterpiece of writing! You’ve covered all bases with elegance.
I admire the way you tackled this complex issue. Very enlightening!
Your post was a beacon of knowledge. Thank you for illuminating this subject.
I’m in awe of the way you handle topics with both grace and authority.
This post is packed with useful insights. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I’m impressed by your ability to convey such nuanced ideas with clarity.
This was a thoroughly insightful enjoy reading. Thank you for sharing your expertise!
Your attention to detail is remarkable. I appreciate the thoroughness of your post.
Thank you for the hard work you put into this post. It’s much appreciated!
The clarity of The writing is like a perfectly tuned instrument, making hard to understand melodies seem effortless.
The Writing is like a warm fireplace on a cold day, inviting me to settle in and stay awhile.
Brilliant piece of writing. It’s like you’re showing off, but I’m not even mad.
Reading this gave me a lot of insights. The expertise really shines through, and I’m grateful for it.
The writing has the warmth and familiarity of a favorite sweater, providing comfort and insight in equal measure.
The finesse with which you articulated The points made The post a true pleasure to read.
The ability to break down tough concepts is as impressive as a magician’s trick. Color me amazed.
The Writing is a constant source of inspiration and knowledge, like a muse that never fails to inspire. Thank you for being my muse.
I’m always excited to see The posts in my feed. Another excellent article!
The article was a delightful read. It’s clear you’re passionate about what you do, and it shows.
The creativity and intelligence shine through this post. Amazing job!
The words are like seeds, planting ideas that blossom into understanding and appreciation.
Shedding light on this subject like you’re the only star in my night sky. The brilliance is refreshing.
The ability to convey hard to understand ideas so effortlessly is as attractive as a perfectly tailored suit.
The Writing is a constant source of inspiration and knowledge for me. I can’t thank you enough.
The piece was both informative and thought-provoking. Thanks for the great work!
Reading The post was like going on a first date with my mind. Excited for the next rendezvous.
I’m so grateful for the information you’ve shared. It’s like receiving a thoughtful gift from someone special.
Appreciate the balance and fairness, like a judge, but without the gavel.
This piece was beautifully written and incredibly informative. Thank you for sharing!
The creativity and intelligence shine through, blinding almost, but I’ll keep my sunglasses handy.
I always learn something new from The posts, like discovering new facets of a gem. Thanks for the gems!
The thought-provoking post has me looking forward to more. It’s like the intellectual equivalent of a second date.
Provoked thought and taught me something new, as if my brain needed more exercise.
A beacon of knowledge, or so I thought until I realized it’s just The shining confidence.
Discovering The Writing has been a game-changer for me. The contributions are invaluable.
The prose is as smooth as silk, making hard to understand topics feel like a gentle caress to my mind.
The blend of informative and entertaining content is perfect. I enjoyed every word.
The blend of informative and entertaining content is perfect. I enjoyed every word.
Making hard to understand topics accessible is a gift, and you have it. Thanks for sharing it with us.