Capturing a video from Hulu

[Rick-E]

Hi
is it possible to download/capture a video off Hulu?
I tried using Streamtransport but it only gives me the download link of some random ad.

[Brad]

From what I've read, only GetFLV works since Hulu changed to "Type 9 RTMPE handshakes". Not going to be trying it myself as Comodo says it's using some spyware when I installed the trial.

http://stream-recorder.com/forum/rtmpdump-does-not-start-error-handshake-type-t8603.html

[julianme]

From what I've read, only GetFLV works since Hulu changed to "Type 9 RTMPE handshakes". Not going to be trying it myself as Comodo says it's using some spyware when I installed the trial.

http://stream-recorder.com/forum/rtmpdump-does-not-start-error-handshake-type-t8603.html

Hmm, don't think that one's absolutely the only Hulu Recorder still working to capture Hulu videos. I mean I use some Audials piece of software for the job, and worked just fine the last time I used it to capture some movie streaming from Hulu and save it to my computer.

Of course this one works to capture and record Hulu streams, doesn't mess with the rtmp-e protection in any way, probably that's why it works without any issues to capture Hulu streaming.

[Brad]

Yes, that's just a screen capture software.

[julianme]

Yes, that's just a screen capture software.

Well yeah that's what I was saying also, that audials program just records Hulu streaming movies.

But after all it's good as long as it gets the job done, at least you don' t get any spyware in the package with this one.

[jman98]

From what I've read, only GetFLV works since Hulu changed to "Type 9 RTMPE handshakes". Not going to be trying it myself as Comodo says it's using some spyware when I installed the trial.

http://stream-recorder.com/forum/rtmpdump-does-not-start-error-handshake-type-t8603.html

You do understand the concept of "false positives" right? I'm not saying that there is or is not spyware in the program, but if you were to pick any anti-spyware program and bet your life on it being 100% correct all the time, you'd be dead within a day. There are tons of programs out there that are completely free of spyware, yet if you run them through any 10 random anti-spyware programs, a couple of them will give you dire warnings like "leet h4xors will control ur pc if u load this" and the others will report the program as being completely safe.

[Seeker47]

From what I've read, only GetFLV works since Hulu changed to "Type 9 RTMPE handshakes". Not going to be trying it myself as Comodo says it's using some spyware when I installed the trial.

http://stream-recorder.com/forum/rtmpdump-does-not-start-error-handshake-type-t8603.html

Since Streamtransport makes a marquee statement about its use for Hulu, one might think they would have some interest in staying current with whatever Hulu is doing.

Has anyone tried Coojah / Blader for Hulu ?
[EDIT: Or Jaksta, or Net Transport ?]
(So far, there has not been anything I wanted to obtain from Hulu . . . . )

[Brad]

You do understand the concept of "false positives" right?

Of course, and I wasn't that interested in testing the software for OP in the first place, especially since he hasn't returned to the thread. A program that I wrote myself was flagged as containing a virus by some software for a short period. Thanks for caring though.

@Seeker47, you would think so, wouldn't you. But I see the same behavior that OP and others have reported; it just grabs ads instead of the actual video links. I couldn't manage to figure out Coojah + Blader at all.

[Seeker47]

@Seeker47, you would think so, wouldn't you. But I see the same behavior that OP and others have reported; it just grabs ads instead of the actual video links. I couldn't manage to figure out Coojah + Blader at all.

Yeah, it's not one of the more transparent options. I got some basic use of it through a lot of trial and error. This thread might be of some help with it:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/212472-How-to-capture-record-streaming-Google-youtu...=1#post2021540

(One thing I don't know is how many of these programs rely upon RTMPDUMP ? As mentioned in recent threads, it has not been developed further for awhile, and the current version cannot deal with something that Hulu -- and probably other sites -- are now using. If all such transport capture programs have this component in common, we are SOL until RTMPDUMP gets updated.)

If you post some sample links for things from Hulu, I'd be willing to give them a shot.

[Seeker47]

From what I've read, only GetFLV works since Hulu changed to "Type 9 RTMPE handshakes". Not going to be trying it myself as Comodo says it's using some spyware when I installed the trial.

http://stream-recorder.com/forum/rtmpdump-does-not-start-error-handshake-type-t8603.html

Possibly some good news on this front. See:

http://stream-recorder.com/forum/can-download-latest-version-rtmpdump-source-binaries-t5533p2.html

(Post #17 in thread)

This may have some implications for other programs (incl. the free ones) that rely upon RTMPDUMP.

[Brad]

Thanks for that. I gave it a go today with RTMP Explorer as GUI helper. No problems grabbing the stream of a Daily Show episode from Hulu, though it does give a lot of weird warnings and "error" messages.

[Seeker47]

Thanks for that. I gave it a go today with RTMP Explorer as GUI helper. No problems grabbing the stream of a Daily Show episode from Hulu, though it does give a lot of weird warnings and "error" messages.

I was under the impression -- which may or may not be correct -- that several of these stream-capture programs depend upon RTMPDUMP. But when I look in the program directories of Orbit, Coojah / Blader, Replay Media Catcher, and Streamtransport, I can't spot any direct evidence of this. However, I don't know what code they may have "borrowed" and then tucked inside their own .DLLs.

If they are using it, I hope they put this update to good use soon, as tools like these are much easier to use than trying to manually parse the right RTMPDUMP command lines for each clip you go after.

EDIT: I just found this

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/20110506020042.png/

which indicates that connection for Blader, and sort of suggests that an updated RTMPDUMP could be deployed for it (by the user ?) . . . but I don't see where. That said, Coojah / Blader is not particularly intuitive. I was curious about the GUI you mention, but then I see it requires Net Framework 4. Programs like this should really be standalone and self-contained, IMO. Especially when you see portable versions of various programs coming out regularly. I mean, Jeez, there's even a portable Open Office now -- not exactly a small or simple thing to roll out.

[freebird73717]

I just used RTMPexplorer with the new rtmpdump package and was able to download a new video from hulu. Worked ok. Not perfect and certainly not elegant but it did work. Similar to Streamtransport in that you just type in a web address of the video you want to download and it get's it for you. The top of the page in the RTMPexplorer window is cut off/hard to get to . You do have to rename the downloaded file yourself.

As far as the dot net thing, I think that has more to do with what programming language the programmer was comfortable with. I'm sure the program could be coded with c++ or something to make it standalone but whoever coded rtmpexplorer probably used visualstudio.net to program it as using .net can make alot of the background work easier for a coder.

[Brad]

I was curious about the GUI you mention, but then I see it requires Net Framework 4. Programs like this should really be standalone and self-contained, IMO. Especially when you see portable versions of various programs coming out regularly. I mean, Jeez, there's even a portable Open Office now -- not exactly a small or simple thing to roll out.

Not sure what you mean. I would actually consider OpenOffice much worse in this regard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openoffice#Use_of_Java

RTMPExplorer is a 14.5KB EXE file that you place in the same directory as rtmpdump. The .NET Framework isn't much larger than all the MSVC CRTs I've had to install to use various "native" apps, and no more annoying to update, but I guess we all draw our line in different places.

[vidds]

I mean I use some Audials piece of software for the job, and worked just fine the last time I used it to capture some movie streaming from Hulu and save it to my computer.

Yes, that's just a screen capture software.

It just captures video without sound?

[Brad]

It records the decompressed video and sound, in contrast to actually downloading the stream file.

[Seeker47]

I was curious about the GUI you mention, but then I see it requires Net Framework 4. Programs like this should really be standalone and self-contained, IMO. Especially when you see portable versions of various programs coming out regularly. I mean, Jeez, there's even a portable Open Office now -- not exactly a small or simple thing to roll out.

Not sure what you mean. I would actually consider OpenOffice much worse in this regard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openoffice#Use_of_Java

I read through this, and it seems like they were talking about OO up through v. 2. I have the portable version of OO 3.2. Haven't used it heavily yet, but so far it seems to run quite smoothly. (Or maybe the fact that the computers I've run it on already had Java has some bearing here ?)

RTMPExplorer is a 14.5KB EXE file that you place in the same directory as rtmpdump. The .NET Framework isn't much larger than all the MSVC CRTs I've had to install to use various "native" apps, and no more annoying to update, but I guess we all draw our line in different places.

True. I finally, with some reluctance, installed the earlier Net Frameworks, and may eventually come around on this latest one. But, I'm getting tired of seeing the reliance on this. I would be delighted if just about every app I ran was fully portable. Meaning you could have it on a stick and run it anywhere you like.

[sldvd]

I just downloaded a few videos from Hulu using the latest RTMPDump and RTMPExplorer. It seemed to work, even though it did show some errors. For one video I even had to try it 4 times before it worked.

I am curious though about how RTMPExplorer works behind the scenes. I read that there is a manual process you can follow to use RTMPDump without using RTMPExplorer that involves modifying the Windows hosts file (which I couldn't get to work). I wonder if RTMPExplorer modifies any system files. Hopefully it remembers to revert any system changes after it finishes downloading videos.

Another thing is that RTMPExplorer downloaded the 360p versions of videos. When I actually watch the videos on Hulu, I can change a setting to watch the 480p version. Is there any way to have RTMPExplorer download the 480p version instead of the 360p version?

[Suwadith]

Well RTMP Dump is good but it's giving me a head ache
When i download a video which is set @ 480p
I mean when i add the pop out URL of 480p it still downloads 240p + 360p + 480p
is there any other way to make it download only 480p?

[handyguy]

Put your digital camera in video mode & record the screen.

[videobruger]

Put your digital camera in video mode & record the screen

or use

http://applian.com/replay-video-capture/