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Youtube Recording instead of Youtube direct Download

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Background: Video DRM Systems in General


Video streaming providers have the choice to restrict access to their videos. These restrictions specifically relate to the possibilities of:

  • Direct Download – the video is transferred "as an original file"
  • Recording – the video is played and recorded frame by frame or audio sample by audio sample to create a recording

The restriction is implemented by the provider using DRM systems. In practice, three levels are used:

  • Level 1: Unrestricted
    – no DRM use -
    both download and recording are possible.
    This is used by several public broadcasters
  • Level 2: Recording allowed, download not possible
    – DRM like "widevine software level" –
    while direct download is excluded, recording is possible.
    This is used by commercial music streaming providers and by video streaming providers for medium video resolutions
  • Level 3: Recording and download not possible
    – DRM like "widevine hardware level" –
    excludes the creation of any copies.
    This is used by commercial video streaming providers for highest resolutions, e.g., 4K

Audials of course complies with these restrictions and can only download or record if the video streaming provider has permitted it through their choice of DRM.


Special Case YouTube

YouTube does NOT use a typical DRM system like "widevine" to protect its content from downloads. Therefore, it is technically possible to directly access and download YouTube files – although YouTube uses a method sometimes called "rolling cipher" where the actual download addresses change regularly.

One might assume YouTube belongs to Level 1 mentioned above.

However, this has sparked a legal dispute about whether circumventing YouTube downloads constitutes bypassing "effective protection," which would then be legally impermissible. The press reported on this:

YouTube itself has not commented on the question.

As a result, the Hamburg Higher Regional Court concluded that YouTube uses a DRM system that provides effective protection against direct downloads.

Thus, YouTube would be considered Level 2 mentioned above.

 

Audials No Longer Supports Direct YouTube Downloads

Therefore, Audials has also removed the functionality to use the freeware tool "youtube-dl" for direct downloading of YouTube content.

This court decision naturally also affects YouTube downloader tools from other manufacturers – it is possibly no longer permissible to use these.


Recording YouTube Content is Still Possible in Audials

Regardless, it is still possible to play and record YouTube content. This does not involve downloading the original file from YouTube, and consequently does not circumvent a "rolling cipher download protection."

This functionality remains part of Audials.

This is how you can continue to save YouTube content.

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