Downloading FLASH movies....

OK...I Searched the Search / FAQ'ed the FAQ. I couldn't find it. I want to download a couple of FLASH movies embedded in a website - how?

Mpeg Streamclip - no go. Punch in URL it says "can't open".

Thanks

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

I know you can use Safari's Activity window (OPTION-APPLE-A) to see the file and save it by double-clicking, but you'd get a blank file that apparently contains the video information, but doesn't open with MPEG Streamclip, Flash Player, or QuickTime Player. There's a set of instructions here for Firefox (see below), but Firefox's Page Information - Media dialog box turned out to be so full of crap that I didn't get farther than with Safari.

[www.funponsel.com]

Googling "download Flash movies" turned up some freeware that apparently can do conversions. Perhaps the "Safari" method above would work for me if I had software that could open the file?


www.derekmok.com

> but you'd get a blank file

This will help read it (free)...

[perian.org]

I googled, D. I downloaded a few things. They would only allow me to download clips from sites they have on their list.

Perian looks to be a quicktime helper...but what does that do for downloading files from a URL?

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

> I googled, D.

I figured you did...

I was originally under the impression that the "Activity window" method (can't remember where it came from) resulted in a usable file. I was more wondering what the hell that "get video" file from this method was. Big enough for a movie file, but no extension and no identity.


www.derekmok.com

approach 1 (works on some sites, but not all)

1 launch activity window
2 launch download window (Safari>window>downloads)
2 locate the .flv file (reload the page with activity monitor open, and look for the file that takes longer to load, size is usually in MB)
3 cmd c this file
4 cmd v this file into the download window
5 convert in quicktime with perian installed

approach 2

1 Firefox
2 Downloadhelper (add on)
3 read with perian component in quicktime and convert

Snapz didn't work? We have Snapz-Pro and we can capture anything anywhere on two screens.

We did get the Safari file locater thing to work once or twice, but then at the worst possible time (director waiting with the engine running), it failed, so we went with the Snapz thing.

Koz

I usually use Snapz Pro, but that thing's in real time, so it's a workaround, at best. Also, even when using a brain-dead codec like DV NTSC at 29.97fps and 720x480px, Snapz Pro movie files can behave very strangely in FCP -- showing the incorrect frame in the Viewer, no real-time playback, etc.


www.derekmok.com

Eddie,

Approach 2 works. You rock.

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

Gentleman -- I have your solution -- go here -- I know it works for YouTube Videos not sure about other flash video sites......will convert to Itunes TV format and then you can use quicktime to scale it to your desired timeline size - happy converting - Andy


Tube TV Flash to Quicktime converter

Glad it worked out for you

Keep Perian handy because it's a neat little add on that works with Compressor too.

Also, if you have the RealPlayer by Real Networks (remember them?). If you have it installed on your PC (I don't know about Mac...haven't tried it), on flash videos it will popup a little thingy that says "Download this video" right above the clip, and if you click it, it will.

Casey Petersen
www.unitedvideoinc.com

Wow, thanks so much for that. Approach number 2 does work. Yay!