Download Videos from the Web 

Use RealPlayer to record and save internet videos with a one-click download button.

The Web Download and Recording feature identifies embedded videos on websites such as YouTube, MySpace, or TV station sites. A download button appears near each available video. Use the button to quickly download and save the videos directly to the My Library "Downloads & Recordings" category for viewing anytime, even offline.

RealPlayer records the entire video regardless of when you start the download — 2 seconds into it, half-way through it, or even after you reach the end. The download occurs in a separate window and does not require you to manage or monitor the process.

You can repeat this procedure in quick succession to download multiple videos simultaneously. They will download in the backgroundWhen a process is set to run "in the background" there is often no visual cue to alert you that something is happening. During a background process, you can continue to work normally. while you do other things within RealPlayer or elsewhere on your computer.

This feature works with your web browser even if you don't have RealPlayer currently running.

Download and Record a Web Video to My Library

1. When you view a video on a web site, the Download This Video button appears just outside the top right edge of the video:

By default, the button appears during the first 7 seconds after the page loads, and also whenever you place your cursor over the video display. To change this default setting, open Preferences: Download and Recording.

2. Click the button to begin downloading the video.
3. A separate window, the Download & Recording Manager opens. You may use it to monitor, pause, or stop the download progress; however, you're also free to ignore it as it downloads the video. Because the Download & Recording Manager is handling the download, you may close the page or move on to other videos or websites.
4. If you like, repeat steps 1 and 2 with other videos while the first is downloading.
5. RealPlayer saves these videos to My Library under Downloads & Recordings. (To change this default location, open Preferences: Download and Recording.)

Because they're in My Library, you can treat your videos as you would any other media in your collection. You can play them anytime, rename them, add your own ratings or other information, create video playlists, burn them to CDs or DVDs, and so on.

Good to Know

What is the resolution and sound quality of my recordings? 

Whenever possible, RealPlayer downloads content at the same level of quality as it was viewed originally on the web. In some cases streaming content will be converted to RealVideo at a slightly lower quality to allow for capturing of the recorded stream.

Are all videos recordable?

RealPlayer supports all the major video types, including RealMedia, Windows Media, Flash, QuickTime, and MP3. However, videos that have DRMDigital Rights Management - Technologies or restrictions used by publishers or copyright owners to restrict access to or usage of digital data or hardware. or other content protection systems applied to them by their owners are not recordable.

If RealPlayer detects that the video is not recordable, the Download This Video button will not be available.

Tell Me About Transcoding

Audio and video media come is a wide variety of file types, as seen in file name extensions such as .WMV, .AVI, and so on. In order to download and record different file types, RealPlayer may transcode a media file — meaning that it digitally converts the file from one type to another. Transcoding is a common means of communicating files in media technology.

For example, RealPlayer transcodes — converts — WMV and QuickTime videos to RealVideo during the recording process.

With live streaming media, RealPlayer always transcodes the live stream in real time. On-demand media files may be transcoded or else maintained in their native format, depending on the file type involved.

Files that are transcoded will appear in My Library with the extension .IVR (Internet Video Recording). This extension is the same for audio or video file types.

You can adjust transcode preferences at Preferences: Download and Recording. Clicking Advanced Settings opens a dialog where you can adjust the conversion quality of videos you download.

Does playing downloaded content locally eliminate buffering that sometimes happens with streaming videos?

Yes, one of the key advantages of downloading a video first and then playing it back in RealPlayer is that the buffering and stuttering that sometimes occurs is eliminated.

If a download fails

If a download fails, RealPlayer will usually show you a message saying why.

If the content is DRM protected, you will get a message stating that the owner of the content does not allow recording.

If a download times out, there will be a Retry button on the Download & Recording Manager.

If it fails repeatedly, or the download button dos not appear, it may be the rare case when the download and recording feature is not yet compatible with that particular web site or file.

Turn this feature On or Off 

The Web Download and Recording feature is typically enabled during your initial RealPlayer setup. If you did not enable it then and would like to enable it now, open Preferences: Download and Recording. Likewise, you can disable this feature at those Preferences settings.