Downloading trailers from YouTube (or wherever)

[Mike Blakesley]

Is there any particular good solution for downloading videos in HD from YouTube? I need a trailer for this movie called "Somewhere In Montana" and I can only find it on YouTube. I did google-search but there are about a billion options, some of which seem sketchy, and I looked on Reddit also, same situation. Some say "here's a great one I use all the time" and then there's a comment right after, "Don't use that one, it's loaded with spamware" etc.

So what's the best way to go?

[James Gardiner]

I use a python script called
yt-dlp
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp

Then use ffmpeg to convert it into the correct format targeting the requirements of the application I am using.

I actually have a set of tools that ingests any TLR I come across into a suitable mp4 file's and if I cannot get that. I just past the URL of the YouTube video and it goes fetch it form there.
You need to be careful it does not have end tag CRAP on the end, and also, "THIS IS A TRAILER" crap on the start on the YouTube video. Common for YouTube trailer channels.

[Mark Ogden]

ClipGrab is ridiculously simple and supports everything up to 4K.

clipgrab.org

[Brad Miller]

Go to https://en.loader.to

Paste the URL of the youtube video.
Select the format MP4 (1080P).
Click Download
After a moment it will have downloaded the trailer and will give you the option of downloading it to your computer.

That's it. Simple. No programs to install. You can then drop that downloaded file into DCP-O-Matic

[Graham Cooke]

I use 4k Video Downloader+ to download trailers. https://www.4kdownload.com/-54 I have the professional version so get automatic updates whenever they update. The process of downloading is very simple. Occasionally I have to use Handbrake to convert the format to one I can use. I then use DCP-o-matic2 to create our pre show trailoer DCPs.

[Ed Gordon]

I use 4k to download trailers. https://www.4kdownload.com/-54 I have the professional version so get automatic updates whenever they update. The process of downloading is very simple. Occasionally I have to use Handbrake to convert the format to one I can use. I then use DCP-o-matic2 to create our pre show trailoer DCPs.

I also use Video Downloader+. The free version is limited to 10 downloads per day, I have used many of the sketchy downloaders in the past that are packed with malware and crapware. Videodownloader is clean. It is also updated regularly.

[Gordon McLeod]

I use allavsoft to do youtube downloads works almost everytime

[Van Dalton]

Another upvote for yt-dlp.

Be aware it is not 100% user friendly: it is a command-shell utility and you need to have some familiarity with Youtube format codes to get the most out of it (there is a lookup table here: https://www.voussoir.net/writing/youtubedl_formats -- e.g. the command string ~$ yt-dlp -f625+140 https://youtube.com/watch?v=L54FyCIKiMA will download a scan of "Surround Fantastique"* in 3840x2160x24 MPEG4 with 128Kb stereo AAC audio). You need to keep it updated to stay ahead of G--gl-'s constant attempts at crippling Youtube downloaders (e.g. ~$ su, (enter root password), ~# yt-dlp -U, let it do its thing, ^D to exit su).

[ * Just outside the left of the shot as it clears the hill and opens up to the river, is my favorite summertime stomping ground/skinny-dipping place. IYKYK. ]

You can also download your video and audio tracks as separate files by specifying them individually; e.g. $ yt-dlp -f625 L54FyCIKiMA first to get the video, then $ yt-dlp -f140 L54FyCIKiMA later for the audio.

But it's not a very steep learning curve at all and is a very powerful downloader.

[Dennis Benjamin]

I had YTD Downloader (and paid for it!) but it doesn't work anymore. I found this program called Audials (Audials – Recorder Software for Video and Music Streaming - Audials). It works great and has a lot of other bells and whistles for doing other types of video edits.

[Hamzah Batha]

In the long-term it would be best to get in contact with distributors and ask if you could be put on their 'trailer distribution list'. Whenever there's a new/upcoming release, the trailer gets e-delivered automatically via LANSAT, GoFileX, MovieTransit, etc (whatever the equivalent is in your region).

There has been cases though where i've wanted a certain trailer to be shown and I go with one of three routes: Digital Digest (best), Apple TV (good) or YouTube (meh)


Digital Digest:

This site has a great archive of trailers in the MKV format and is by far the easiest route. The quality is brilliant since the source for a lot of them was DCP anyways. The only problem you might have is that very new or unpopular releases might not be on the site. It's down to their community to contribute these.


Apple TV:

This is still a very good choice since the quality is decent, most trailers are AC3 encoded and there isn't any fake letterboxing added to fit a 16:9 container that you can often find on YouTube.

- Just search the name of any film on Google with 'Apple TV' at the end (for example 'Piece by Piece - Apple TV'). Even if the film isn't available on Apple's VOD service or iTunes rentals, they normally do still have the trailers for it.

- You'll want to click on the result associated with your country. Trailers on ATV US often feature MPA ratings at the beginning whilst ATV UK doesn't have any ratings. If your country isn't available, i'd just stick with the US since you could always trim things like ratings off in DCP-O-Matic or any editor of your choice.

image.png

- Copy the URL and paste into Downie. This is a great piece of software for downloading videos from nearly any site but it is unfortunately only compatible with MacOS and there's a small cost. I'm not yet aware of any Windows equivalent that has the same capabilities and ease of use as this.

- Select the best version from the dropdown menu. I can already see that the one at the top is AC3 encoded and in good resolution. There are options for stereo, lower resolutions, etc.

Screenshot 2024-12-29 at 20.35.02.jpg

- Start the download by clicking the play button!


YouTube:

This is probably my least favourite option because of the issues I previously mentioned but sometimes the trailer you're looking for may only be available on the site. The other week I had the new Superman trailer on screen, in DCP within 30 minutes of it's premiere by downloading from YouTube.

Cobalt is a great, no-nonsense web tool made by a friend Wukko for downloading videos from YouTube, Vimeo and other streaming sites. It's completely FOSS and you also have the ability to self-host.

There's also Downie again and yt-dlp (this requires a bit of CLI usage). I'd be pretty cautious searching for downloaders on Google because a lot of them seem to be infested with ads and malware.