DownloadHelper to QuickTime .mov

Question

DownloadHelper to QuickTime .mov

Videos on YouTube can be downloaded with FireFox using an extension called DownloadHelper.

http://www.downloadhelper.net/index.php

DownloadHelper uses the .flv format. These files can be opened using QuickTime if the Perian plugin is installed, and from there be converted to the .mov format.

http://perian.org/

The problem is that using QuickTime to convert these files results in a loss of video quality. DownloadHelper can be configured to convert videos to the .mov format before the file is saved. Does anyone know how to set up this feature in DownloadHelper.

The documentation on how to do this is a little hard to follow.

http://www.downloadhelper.net/conversion-manual.php

jessetyler.photo

PowerBook G4 17 inch, PowerBook G4 12 inch, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Aug 16, 2009 4:10 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 16, 2009 9:28 AM in response to jessetyler.photo

"The documentation on how to do this is a little hard to follow."
Even though the doc instructions (pictures) are for PCs, the written instructions work the same for Macs for the most part.

Which parts of *Converting manually & Converting automatically* you did not understand?

I use the Media Converter extension which is a no brainer add-on. It is not compatible w/the latest versions of FF. Reason why I am still using v3.0.13.

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Answer 2

Aug 16, 2009 1:28 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

What happens in DownloadHelper, when I select download and convert to QuickTime .mov I get an error message that says - Conversion requires an external application that appears to be missing on you system.

After this there is a drop down window to set up either the FFMpeg converter or the MEncoder converter. I selected the FFMpeg with the path name /Tiger/Applications/ffmpegX.app

I thought this would be the right way to set this up but I get the error message. Maybe I'll have to be stuck with the .flv format.

jessetyler.photo

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Answer 3

Aug 17, 2009 9:04 AM in response to jessetyler.photo

"What happens in DownloadHelper, when I select download and convert to QuickTime .mov I get an error message......."
Which version of FF are you using? Are you sure DownloadHelper is compatible w/your current FF version?

DH works w/v3.0.13 which is what I am currently using.

Since DH author is no longer offering support for their product, you need to post over on FireFox Forums where the FF & DH users hang out.

Good luck!

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Answer 4

Aug 19, 2009 12:34 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

I could only get the .flv format with FireFox 3.0.13 using DownloadHelper 4.6. I should have mentioned that I was using Tiger 10.4.11.

I did find an acceptable workaround for this Issue.

Going back to Panther and FireFox 2.0 with DownloadHelper brought back the download choices that were missing. HQ-18 is the option that downloads videos in the MPEG4 format. HQ-18 shows up on most but not every YouTube video.

I have a partitioned drive with Panther and Tiger.

jessetyler.photo

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Answer 5

Aug 20, 2009 10:02 AM in response to jessetyler.photo

The new update to DownloadHelper version 4.6.2 fixed the HQ-18 option that lets you download web videos in the MEPEG4 format.

This is now working in Tiger and FireFox 3.5.2 and FireFox 3.0.13.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006

jessetyler.photo

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