Revision of How to download HTTP Dynamic Streaming video using Livestreamer and UnPlug from Sun, 01/26/2014 - 17:50

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Many websites now provide video using Adobe's HTTP Dynamic Streaming. Some videos delivered using this method can be viewed and downloaded by using Livestreamer and UnPlug without running non-free JavaScript.

First install the add-on UnPlug:

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

Then install livestreamer using pip:

sudo aptitude install python-pip
sudo pip install livestreamer

Here is an example of a website offering video using HTTP Dynamic Streaming:

http://news.walla.co.il/mahadura/?w=//2715352

By clicking the UnPlug icon the following link is offered but cannot be downloaded using the browser:

http://cache02.mintmark.co.il:1935/redirector/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4

Now copy this link to the browser and insert "view-source:" before it:

view-source:http://cache02.mintmark.co.il:1935/redirector/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4

Now more links are offered. Copy the one you want into the browser and add "view-source:" again:

view-source:http://199.203.85.3:1935/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4/chunklist.m3u8?wowzasessionid=273365045

Now we are offered this link followed by a list of media.ts files so this is the final link:

https://stream01.wcdn.co.il/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4/key.m3u8key?wowzasessionid=273365045

Now remove the final part (that starts with "key"), replace it by "manifest.f4m" and add "hds://" to the beginning of the url and feed it to livestreamer:

livestreamer hds://https://stream01.wcdn.co.il/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4/manifest.f4m

Now you will see the following output:

[cli][info] Found matching plugin stream for URL hds://https://stream01.wcdn.co.il/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4/manifest.f4m
Available streams: 234p (worst, best)

Now select the quality (e.g. "best") and download using "-o" filename:

livestreamer hds://https://stream01.wcdn.co.il/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4/manifest.f4m best -o out.mp4

You will see that livestreamer is downloading the file:

[cli][info] Found matching plugin stream for URL hds://https://stream01.wcdn.co.il/mediacache/_definst_/mp4:http/media_iphone/016/172/1617283-42.mp4/manifest.f4m
[cli][info] Opening stream: 234p
Written 5661062 bytes[cli][error] Error when reading from stream: Read timeout

[cli][info] Stream ended

Now you can view the video using your favorite video player such as Totem or VLC.

Revisions

01/26/2014 - 17:50
aloniv
09/21/2024 - 14:49
knife