Download your favorite streaming videos free on Mac
How to download streaming videos 2020
Tools Needed:
- Apple Mac
- A Chromium browser like Brave or Chrome
- The plugin extension HLS Downloader
- VLC
- HandBreak
- Cable provider (Comcast, Cox, Frontier, etc)
Preamble( skip this if you want)
Have you ever wanted to download one of those streaming videos you watch on say, Adult Swim, or Cartoon Network? I have, and downloading them sometimes can be tough. But this article is going to show you a three step process in which you can download those files, make MP4’s out of them and host them on your Plex server or upload them on your iPad, or do what ever you want with them.
Sites like Adult Swim offer shows like Rick and Morty but generally the only offer clips free, and if you want the full episode you need to login. (But wait! if I can just log in and watch them on the website, why would I want to download them?) Great question! The answer is, maybe you want to host them on your OWN server and watch them in bed on your iPad or stream them to your TV. It’s all about options, once you have the file you can do with it what you will.
Lets Begin
Step 1
Ok so first, open your Chrome or Brave browser and install the extension HLS Downloader. Once you have to installed cruise on over to your favorite streaming site. (NOTE: not all sites use the same method of encoding) This article is focused on the .m3u8 format.
Once you’re on the site pick a video then up in the right corner of your browser you should see this.
Click on it to reveal your video link, then click the arrow on the right.
This will reveal the .m3u8 file path that contains all the video information you are going to need. Select the highest resolution stream you want (in this case its the first one 1280 x 720) and copy that link.
Step 2
Next open up your VLC app. You should see something like this. Select “Open Media”.
Choose the “Network” tab and paste your link into the “URL” field and select the “Stream output” checkbox.
Click the “Settings…” button, choose “File” and “Browse” for the location to save your file. Everything else should be defaulted but if not it should look like this.
Click the “Ok” button then, the “Open” button (see above) and let it do its thing. This will create a file with the extension .ts on it. This will be your movie file. The next step will be to convert that .ts file to a .mp4
Step 3
Once you have your .ts file made open up HandBreak. This tool is great for converting different video types. As soon as you open the app it will prompt you to select the file you wish to convert. Find your newly created .ts file and select it.
You can change the settings on this to what ever you like but I find that the presets work well and I have not had any issues with quality on these settings. (see image below)
Click the “Start” button and go do something else. This can take a few mins depending on your computers speed.
Thats it. Now you can enjoy your new movies!
