WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DOWNLOAD A VIDEO FROM YOUTUBE?

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I will try to answer all of your questions as detailed as possible.
There is obviously more than one way to do this:

>http://www.youtubedownloaderhd.com
Pros:
1. is a free and neat application.
2. Will download any youtube video in any quality: standard, high quality, HD. (provided that the video is available in HD on youtube)
3. it will download the video in varous formats: flv for standard quality, mp4 for high quality, and avi for HD.
4. You can get the HD video in avi without using a converter.
Cons:
1. you have to download and install the program
2. on occasions, the download ends before it is complete. But I guess you can avoid this if you have a decent internet connection.
3. Only one download at a time.

>> http://www.youtubesnips.com
Pros:
1. web-based solution, very handy and easy to use
2. It also lets you choose the quality of your downloaded video
3. has three very convenient methods for downloading (copy-paste the url, direct download, and by bookmarks)
4. You can use a download accelerator, the video downloads like any other file on the web
Cons
1. no avi, HD video comes in mp4 format
[ there are literally 100s of websites out there, each with different options and features, see http://www.gazzump.com/ it has various formats but no quality selection. You can also use websites like this to rip audio tracks (download just the audio).]

>>> https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006
Pros:
1. The add on may also convert the file to your desired format.
2. Works with all youtube like websites (dailymotion, metacafe, myspace...).
3. As easy as a click.
4. has the option of one at a time or multiple downloads.
Cons:
1.You must have Firefox web browser
2. You don't get the 'chose quality' option, the thing just downloads whatever you are watching as it is.

>>>> Real player
Pros:
1. You can use its direct download feature where you get a 'Download' button whenever you hover your mouse over the video.
2. Works with multiple web browsers
3. The video is stored in the real player library and is easily accessed from the 'downloads' tab.
4. You can run multiple downloads.
Cons:
1. You don't get the quality as options, similar to the above method the program only downloads what you are watching in your browser window.
2. You have to have real player.
3. uses only FLV format

NOTE: This was my choice method of downloading before youtube went HD. I have not used it to download an HD video and I am not aware of any updates made.I think the format conversion is for premium users.

I personally prefer the website (2nd way), but it really is a matter of what suits you the most. The same goes for formats.

To answer your question about formats. The FLV format is the one used in the flash player (where you watch the video). The thing about it is that it does not run with all media players. Very often you will need to download a free FLV player or the latest Real player to view the video. But it is catching on and more companies are including it i their products. Personally, I find no interest in keeping videos in FLV format on my PC.

AVI is your basic windows video format. It will run smoothly on windows media player (and many other players) and is easily burned on DVDs.

MP4 is used in the iPod. But it's still an acceptable format for the PC. Of course you have to have the software (like quicktime)

MP3 is audio only. It will play on virtually any software or protable player. Good if you want just the video's soundtrack. I recommend it over WAV....Show more

I am so tired of visiting YouTube downloader web sites that require you to register or fill out surveys or other annoying tasks. I found a better solution that avoids all of this. Below is the method that I use on all three of my computers.

I use a FREE software called Real Player SP. It allows me to download and organize my favorite videos from thousands of websites, then watch them anytime, anywhere I want.
It also plays every major media type, including Flash, Quicktime MPEG4, Windows Media, DVDs and CDs.
I enjoy HD and near DVD quality video and audio with my broadband internet connection.

Everytime I view any video anywhere, if I move my cursor to the upper right hand corner of that video, a DOWNLOAD VIDEO button will appear. I then just click on that and the video begins to download in another window. To continue watching the video while it is downloading, I just minimize the download window or click anywhere on the video window in the background. It is so simple to use.

One final point. There are two versions of Real Player SP that you can download. There is Real Player SP which is FREE. And there is Real Player SP Plus that costs $40 because it has more features such as the ability to burn DVDs.
Download the FREE Real Player SP version first and try it.

To learn more, visit the source link I posted below....Show more

1- if you have real player installed on your pc,when you open a youtube video on the top right of the video it will tell you to download the video
2- go to www.savevid.com and paste the link inside this website and then click download(copy the video link from youtube and paste it there)
3- go to www.keepvid.com and like the previous one...Show more

Hi there!
I would definitely try ConvertDirect.com
- Simple to use.
- Less than a minute to convert the video off Youtube.

Just find your desired video URL from Youtube. Copy, then paste into the box at the top of the page.
I hope this helped (:...Show more

IcyVideo

Choose "Download MP4 - High Definition".
Note: The HD download link is only available for HD videos on YouTube.

Guide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02nR6q9N8Qo...Show more