ee.Yrewind

-url -start -duration -resolution -ffmpeg -output -cookie -executeonexit

Yrewind is a command line utility to save YouTube live stream in its original quality. The program has the following features:

• Delayed start recording
• Recording in real time
• Rewinding to the specified time point in the past
• Rewinding to the first available time point in the past
• Waiting for the scheduled live stream to start and then automatically recording from the first second
• Monitoring the specified channel for new live streams and then automatically recording from the first second

The program also allows to set the required duration, resolution and media format. For a list of changes in new version, see the changelog. Short tutorial video here.

>> download version 21.062

Screenshot

Quick start

1. Unpack the downloaded archive
2. Open run.bat in a text editor and paste the URLs of required streams instead of existing samples
3. Save run.bat and run it

• Short tutorial video here

Usage

The only required command line argument is the -url:

-url=[url]

With this command, the program records a livestream in real time for 1 hour at 1080p resolution, or at a lower if 1080p is not available. URL can be specified in various formats:

yrewind -url='youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE'
yrewind -url=https://www.youtu.be/9Auq9mYxFEE
yrewind -url=9Auq9mYxFEE
(etc.)

You can also specify a channel URL (along with parameter -start=wait) to automatically record if livestream URL and start time are unknown. Please note that when specifying a channel URL, active livestreams on the channel are ignored, the program will wait for a new one to start. The channel URL can also be specified in various formats:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyNews' -start=wait
yrewind -url=www.youtube.com/user/SkyNews/ -start=wait
yrewind -url='youtube.com/channel/UCoMdktPbSTixAyNGwb-UYkQ' -start=wait
yrewind -url=UCoMdktPbSTixAyNGwb-UYkQ -start=wait

To rewind the livestream or delay the start of recording, use the -start parameter. It has several spellings:

-start=[YYYYMMDD:hhmm], -start=[YYYYMMDD:hhmmss]

-start=[Y:hhmm], -start=[T:hhmm]

-start=-[minutes], -start=+[minutes]

-start=beginning, -start=wait

This parameter specifies the point in time from which to save the stream. It is calculated relative to the moment the program was started (displayed in the first line). If the parameter is absent, the program records the livestream in real time.

To download the time interval from 7:10AM to 8:10AM on July 15, 2020:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=20200715:0710

To download the time interval from yesterday 10:15PM to 11:15PM:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=Y:2215

To download the time interval from today 02:00AM to 03:00AM:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=T:0200

To download the time interval from 3 hours ago to 2 hours ago:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=-180

To record 1 hour of livestream with a 2 hour delay:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=+120

To download the time interval from the first currently available moment:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=beginning

To record the scheduled livestream from the first second when it starts:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=wait

The program also has several other parameters:

-duration=[minutes]

Specifies the required duration in minutes. The minimum value is 1, the maximum is limited to 300. If the parameter is missing, the program uses the default 60. The example below saves 15 minutes of the livestream:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -duration=15

-resolution=[heightPixels]

Specifies the required resolution in pixels (height). If this parameter is missing, the program uses the default 1080. If the requested resolution is not available, the program uses the nearest lower. In the examples below, the livestream will be saved at 480p:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -resolution=500
yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -resolution=480

-ffmpeg='c:\path\to\ffmpeg\'

Specifies the path to FFmpeg library. If a relative path is specified, the base folder is the folder from which the command line was run. If this parameter is missing, Yrewind uses FFmpeg located in its folder.

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -ffmpeg='c:\Program Files\FFmpeg\'

-output='c:\dir1\dir2\filename.extension'

Specifies custom folder, filename and extension (media container format) for the saved livestream. If a relative path is specified, the base folder is the folder from which the command line was run. If this parameter is missing, the program uses the default values:

• [batch file folder]\saved_streams\ - for folder
• [id]_[date]-[time]_[duration]_[resolution] - for filename
• .mp4 - for extension

The -output parameter can be specified partially, then the missing parts are replaced with the default values. In this case, the part of the string to the right of the last slash is interpreted as filename and/or extension. If the string does not contain slashes, it's fully interpreted as filename and/or extension:

• c:\dir1\dir2\ - custom folder, default filename, default extension
• dir1\filename - custom subfolder, custom filename, default extension
• dir1\.extension - custom subfolder, default filename, custom extension
• filename - default folder, custom filename, default extension
• .extension - default folder, default filename, custom extension

Folder and filename supports renaming masks: *id*, *start*, *start[customDateTime]* (recognizes letters yyyyMMddHHmmss), *duration*, *resolution*, *channel_id*, *author* and *title*.

The extension defines the format of the media container in which the livestream will be saved. Formats description:

• .avi, .mp4 - use AVC and MP4a data (if AVC is unavailable, use VP9)
• .asf, .mkv, .wmv - use VP9 and MP4a data (if VP9 is unavailable, use AVC)
• .3gp, .flv, .mov, .ts - use AVC and MP4a data (does not support 1080+ resolutions - saves at 1080p even if requested higher resolution is available)
• .aac, .m4a, .wma - use MP4a data (saves audio only)

The example below saves the livestream as \saved_streams\9Auq9mYxFEE_20210123-185830_060m_1080p.ts:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -output=.ts

The next example saves the livestream as d:\My saved streams\Sky News\2021-01-12_12-34.mp4:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -output='d:\My saved streams\*author*\*start[yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm]*'

-cookie='c:\path\to\cookie\file.ext'

Specifies the path to the cookie file. If a relative path is specified, the base folder is the folder from which the command line was run. The parameter is required if YouTube displays captcha page. Cookie file can be obtained using a browser add-on, or, alternatively, cookie string can be copied directly from the browser developer console and saved as a text file. Please note, that cookie obtained as a result of solving captcha is usable for only a few hours. Possibly, instead of solving captcha, it's better to log in to YouTube and create cookie file containing the login data.

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -cookie='cookies.txt'

-executeonexit='c:\path\to\some\file.ext'

Specifies the command to run after Yrewind exits. If it's an executable file, you can also specify the arguments it supports (don't forget the quotes - nested supported). The non-executable file will be launched by the associated program. The parameter supports two rename masks - *output*, which contains the full path of the saved video, and *getnext*, which contains the command to start Yrewind again to get the next interval of the stream. When using -executeonexit=*getnext* command inside a batch file, keep in mind that this file is first executed to the end, and only then the *getnext* command is executed. Also use rename masks *start* and *start[customDateTime]* to avoid duplicate names of saved stream parts (or just use default auto-naming). In the first example below, the saved video will be opened by the associated program, in the second - using the specified program:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -executeonexit=*output*
yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -executeonexit=''c:\Program Files\VLC mediaplayer\vlc.exe' *output*'

More examples:

To save 15 minutes of the stream from yesterday 10:45AM to 11:00AM, at 1080p:

yrewind -url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auq9mYxFEE' -start=Y:1045 -duration=15

To save 1 hour of the stream from 04:55AM to 05:55AM on May 5, 2020, at 720p, to specified folder:

yrewind -url=9Auq9mYxFEE -start=20200505:0455 -resolution=720 -output='d:\My saved streams\'

To save 90 minutes of the stream, starting from half an hour ago, at the highest available resolution:

yrewind -u=9Auq9mYxFEE -s=-30 -d=90 -r=9999

Notes

• All arguments and keywords can be replaced with single-character aliases: -url with -u, -start with -s, beginning with b, etc. This does not apply to rename *masks*
• Loss of packets on the streamer side causes the estimated time to shift. The offset is usually seconds, but if its internet connection is unstable and/or the stream has been running for a long time, it can be minutes or even hours. For example, if the stream was interrupted for a total of 1 hour, then 24-hour frames will be downloaded as 23-hour. Thus, start point time accuracy can only be guaranteed for the current moment. The farther the livestream is rewound, the greater the probability of an error. Also, if there are interruptions in the livestream at the specified time interval (this often happens at the beginning of the stream), the duration of the saved file will be shorter by the total duration of those interruptions; a warning for this incompleted file will be displayed
• Most media formats allows to watch livestream while it is downloading
• Occasionally, the message unable to verify the saved file is correct appears. The reasons may be as follows: if the duration of the saved file cannot be verified (there is a possibility that the file is damaged); if the duration of the saved file does not match the requested one (also in this case, the output file name contains the word INCOMPLETE); if the starting point of the requested time interval cannot be accurately determined (for example due to server side error)
• To reduce the likelihood of output file corruption during live recording (without rewind function), it is better not to use Moov Atom formats - .3gp, .m4a, .mov, .mp4
• When using proxy, VPN or special firewall settings, keep in mind that not only Yrewind should have appropriate access, but also FFmpeg

Terms of use

• This software provides access to information on the Internet that is publicly available and does not require authorization or authentication
• This software is free for non-commercial use and is provided 'as is' without warranty of any kind, either express or implied
• The author will not be liable for data loss, damages or any other kind of loss while using or misusing this software
• The author will not be liable for the misuse of content obtained using this software, including copyrighted, age-restricted, or any other protected content

Developer info

• C#
• .NET Framework 4.5
• Visual Studio Community 2019

Requirements

• FFmpeg static build (included in the archive)
• Windows 7 and on / Windows Server 2008 and on

Tested configuration

• FFmpeg 4.3 x86 (by Zeranoe)
• Windows 10 Pro x32 version 1909
• Windows 10 Pro x64 version 1909

Tags

download dvr live livestream record rewind save stream youtube

About

Save YouTube live stream: rewind to the beginning, record in real time, wait for a new one, etc.

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