How to download stream video (youtube) to computer for free

[drcshine]

Many friends ask me how to download videos from YouTube, Myspace, Google Video or other video website. Videos come from those websites are streaming videos. You need special software to capture steaming videos. Today I take YouTube video for example, write a guide about how to download streaming video to computer for free, provide two methods:
1. with free online flv converter;
2. with firfox
My guide is also fit for other stream video websites as follow video list;
http://www.aimersoft.com/free-download-video-list.html

If you want to convert YouTube video on Mac OS X or MacBook Air, you may try Aimersoft Mac Video Converter which you can download from here for free http://www.aimersoft.com/mac-video-converter.html

1. With free online flv converter
Step1. Open this website: http://vixy.net/ .It's a free online FLV converter.

Step2. Then go to YouTube http://www.youtube.com and find a video that you loved. Copy the URL that in the Red box. Like this format: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUUx5FdySs
http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-1.jpg

Step3. Paste your video file URL to the input box (figure as follow), choose the right format you want. If you want to edit the video, AVI is a good choice. And MP4 is fit for iPod, PSP, Zune, Apple TV and other MP4 players. This online converter also can rip audio to MP3. Then wait for the conversion.
http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-2.jpg

http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-3.jpg

Step4. When the conversion finished, we got the download link of the output video. Click the download link to download the video and save in your computer, remember where you save it in. Done.
http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-4.jpg

you also can try this online converter, http://keepvid.com , very easy to use, just the same as above, copy the URL to the address box, done.
http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-7.jpg

2. With Firefox
If you have Firefox browser, you can follow these steps.
Step1. Install the videodownloader extension. This is a plug-in for Firefox. It enables you capture streaming video from website. Here is the free download link:
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2390

Step2. After installing videodownloader, restart Firefox. In the bottom right, you'll see a little box. Go to the video you want to download, double click that little box, and select download link. Then you could download the streaming video you want. (Note, you have to rename the file extension from “html” to “flv”)
http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-5.jpg

http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-6.jpg

You have to rename the file extension from “html” to “flv” when you save the link. (Make sure your compute is show file extension)

http://www.aimersoft.com/images/tutorial/download-youtube-7.gif

Done, if you have problem about this guide, please post your question here, I will reply to you ASAP :)

[mgh]

Use Download Helper (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006) for firefox-easier to use as it gives you flv file directly

[FishTank]

www.keepvid.com

thats another one to dl :)

[drcshine]

yes, www.keepvid.com is also a good online flv converter, I will add it to my guide later.

[wata]

use orbit downloader

[drcshine]

use orbit downloader

nice software, I will add it to my guide later.

[DanielSmith]

nice tools!
it is more convinient than the screen capture software (http://www.acasystems.com/en/screencapturepro/)i use now.

[varoom]

For multiple YouTube Videos, maybe "TubeME"

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64509/description.html

[drcshine]

For multiple YouTube Videos, maybe "TubeME"

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64509/description.html

That's really cool, I will add it to my guide later.