How to download AV1 videos from youtube

[jamespoo]

i have an old android media player has a 5inch screen at 384x288 screen im shocked how good it looks for such a low rez and looks kinda like a one of those black and white old portable tv

only downside is it only has 8gb storage i have installed a video player on it and it can play av1 encoded files

stats for nerds show youtube is playing the AV1 encoded video but IDM will only download the h.264 encoded video unless the video is 2k/4k

i really just want to download the AV1 encoded videos at 360p to save space and not have to download the video myself then encode them to AV1 myself

[Obo]

yt-dlp can do the job. What you want can be done with

yt-dlp -S "res:360" <video-url>

It will filter for the largest resolution but no better than 360p and prefer video codec av01 (which is an alias for AV1). All this explained in detail on the github page of yt-dlp.

[jamespoo]

yt-dlp can do the job. What you want can be done with

yt-dlp -S "res:360" <video-url>

It will filter for the largest resolution but no better than 360p and prefer video codec av01 (which is an alias for AV1). All this explained in detail on the github page of yt-dlp.

thanks i will give it a try

edit tried this it just gave me the h.264 mp4 video

[Obo]

Can you share the video url you tried? And to be sure: you've tried with the current version of yt-dlp, and also installed/used deno or node/nodejs along with ffmpeg for your download?

For me it works:

yt-dlp -S "res:360" cy3UkC3n58k
[youtube] Extracting URL: cy3UkC3n58k
[youtube] cy3UkC3n58k: Downloading webpage
[youtube] cy3UkC3n58k: Downloading android vr player API JSON
[youtube] cy3UkC3n58k: Downloading player 74edf1a3-tv
[youtube] [jsc:deno] Solving JS challenges using deno
[youtube] cy3UkC3n58k: Downloading m3u8 information
[info] cy3UkC3n58k: Downloading 1 format(s): 396+251
[download] Destination: Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies [cy3UkC3n58k].f396.mp4
[download] 100% of   12.79MiB in 00:00:02 at 5.33MiB/s
[download] Destination: Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies [cy3UkC3n58k].f251.webm
[download] 100% of   12.76MiB in 00:00:02 at 4.83MiB/s
[Merger] Merging formats into "Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies [cy3UkC3n58k].webm"
Deleting original file Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies [cy3UkC3n58k].f251.webm (pass -k to keep)
Deleting original file Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies [cy3UkC3n58k].f396.mp4 (pass -k to keep)

ffprobe Trump\ lashes\ out\ at\ Supreme\ Court\ over\ 2020\ election\ lies\ \[cy3UkC3n58k\].webm 
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies [cy3UkC3n58k].webm':
  Metadata:
    COMPATIBLE_BRANDS: iso6av01mp41
    MAJOR_BRAND     : dash
    MINOR_VERSION   : 0
    ENCODER         : Lavf62.3.100
  Duration: 00:16:00.29, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 222 kb/s
  Stream #0:0: Video: av1 (libdav1d) (Main), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 640x360, SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn (default)
    Metadata:
      HANDLER_NAME    : ISO Media file produced by Google Inc.
      VENDOR_ID       : [0][0][0][0]
      DURATION        : 00:16:00.251000000
  Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: opus, 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp (default)
    Metadata:
      DURATION        : 00:16:00.288000000

[abolibibelot]

Otherwise you can get the list of available formats with:

yt-dlp [link] -F

Then choose the formats you want, for instance, as shown above by “Obo”:

yt-dlp [link] -f 396+251

(-F uppercase F to get the list, -f lowercase f to choose formats)

H:\>yt-dlp cy3UkC3n58k -F --print title --print channel --print upload_date --print duration_string
ID  EXT   RESOLUTION FPS CH |   FILESIZE   TBR PROTO | VCODEC          VBR ACODEC      ABR ASR MORE INFO
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sb3 mhtml 48x27        0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
sb2 mhtml 80x45        0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
sb1 mhtml 160x90       0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
sb0 mhtml 320x180      0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
139 m4a   audio only      2 |    5.59MiB   49k https | audio only          mp4a.40.5   49k 22k [en-US] English (US) original (default), low, m4a_dash
249 webm  audio only      2 |    5.81MiB   51k https | audio only          opus        51k 48k [en-US] English (US) original (default), low, webm_dash
140 m4a   audio only      2 |   14.82MiB  129k https | audio only          mp4a.40.2  129k 44k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, m4a_dash
251 webm  audio only      2 |   12.76MiB  112k https | audio only          opus       112k 48k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, webm_dash
160 mp4   256x144     24    |    3.86MiB   34k https | avc1.4d400c     34k video only          144p, mp4_dash
278 webm  256x144     24    |    7.69MiB   67k https | vp9             67k video only          144p, webm_dash
394 mp4   256x144     24    |    5.77MiB   50k https | av01.0.00M.08   50k video only          144p, mp4_dash
133 mp4   426x240     24    |    7.28MiB   64k https | avc1.4d4015     64k video only          240p, mp4_dash
242 webm  426x240     24    |   11.50MiB  100k https | vp9            100k video only          240p, webm_dash
395 mp4   426x240     24    |    7.69MiB   67k https | av01.0.00M.08   67k video only          240p, mp4_dash
134 mp4   640x360     24    |   14.24MiB  124k https | avc1.4d401e    124k video only          360p, mp4_dash
18  mp4   640x360     24  2 |   40.74MiB  356k https | avc1.42001E         mp4a.40.2       44k [en] 360p
243 webm  640x360     24    |   22.91MiB  200k https | vp9            200k video only          360p, webm_dash
396 mp4   640x360     24    |   12.79MiB  112k https | av01.0.01M.08  112k video only          360p, mp4_dash
135 mp4   854x480     24    |   22.74MiB  199k https | avc1.4d401e    199k video only          480p, mp4_dash
244 webm  854x480     24    |   28.17MiB  246k https | vp9            246k video only          480p, webm_dash
397 mp4   854x480     24    |   20.53MiB  179k https | av01.0.04M.08  179k video only          480p, mp4_dash
136 mp4   1280x720    24    |   33.98MiB  297k https | avc1.4d401f    297k video only          720p, mp4_dash
247 webm  1280x720    24    |   45.18MiB  395k https | vp9            395k video only          720p, webm_dash
398 mp4   1280x720    24    |   35.93MiB  314k https | av01.0.05M.08  314k video only          720p, mp4_dash
137 mp4   1920x1080   24    |  113.61MiB  992k https | avc1.640028    992k video only          1080p, mp4_dash
248 webm  1920x1080   24    |   75.18MiB  657k https | vp9            657k video only          1080p, webm_dash
399 mp4   1920x1080   24    |   61.67MiB  539k https | av01.0.08M.08  539k video only          1080p, mp4_dash
271 webm  2560x1440   24    |  194.04MiB 1695k https | vp9           1695k video only          1440p, webm_dash
400 mp4   2560x1440   24    |  180.77MiB 1579k https | av01.0.12M.08 1579k video only          1440p, mp4_dash
313 webm  3840x2160   24    |  570.30MiB 4982k https | vp9           4982k video only          2160p, webm_dash
401 mp4   3840x2160   24    |  361.31MiB 3156k https | av01.0.12M.08 3156k video only          2160p, mp4_dash
Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies
Brian Tyler Cohen News
20260316
16:00

(for YouTube it works with only the 11 characters code at the end of the link / for others platforms the complete link is required)

Or in one step:

yt-dlp [link] -f -

(with “-f -” it will list available formats and display a prompt for which formats to choose, typing “396+251” will get the same result as above)

As mentioned above you might need to install a JavaScript runtime (deno is the most recommended, I use QuickJS).

But for some videos only AVC formats seem to be available.

H:\>yt-dlp Lo2n2NAVrDY -F --print title --print channel --print upload_date --print duration_string
ID  EXT   RESOLUTION FPS CH |  FILESIZE  TBR PROTO | VCODEC       VBR ACODEC      ABR ASR MORE INFO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sb2 mhtml 48x27        0    |                mhtml | images                               storyboard
sb1 mhtml 80x45        0    |                mhtml | images                               storyboard
sb0 mhtml 160x90       0    |                mhtml | images                               storyboard
139 m4a   audio only      2 |   4.28MiB  49k https | audio only       mp4a.40.5   49k 22k [en-US] English (US) original (default), low, m4a_dash
140 m4a   audio only      2 |  11.34MiB 129k https | audio only       mp4a.40.2  129k 44k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, m4a_dash
251 webm  audio only      2 |  10.40MiB 119k https | audio only       opus       119k 48k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, webm_dash
160 mp4   256x144     30    |   2.57MiB  29k https | avc1.4d400c  29k video only          144p, mp4_dash
134 mp4   640x360     30    |   9.21MiB 105k https | avc1.4d401e 105k video only          360p, mp4_dash
18  mp4   640x360     30  2 |  20.30MiB 232k https | avc1.42001E      mp4a.40.2       44k [en] 360p
136 mp4   1280x720    30    |  27.42MiB 313k https | avc1.64001f 313k video only          720p, mp4_dash
137 mp4   1920x1080   30    |  48.05MiB 549k https | avc1.640028 549k video only          1080p, mp4_dash
How to Automatically Transcribe and Add Subtitles to a Video Using Subtitle Edit
David Mbugua
20220328
12:15

Note: I used the same example video as provided above out of convenience, but perhaps it's not the most suitable kind of content for this forum, since discussions about politics are generally not welcome...

[jamespoo]

Otherwise you can get the list of available formats with:

yt-dlp [link] -F

Then choose the formats you want, for instance, as shown above by “Obo”:

yt-dlp [link] -f 396+251

(-F uppercase F to get the list, -f lowercase f to choose formats)

H:\>yt-dlp cy3UkC3n58k -F --print title --print channel --print upload_date --print duration_string
ID  EXT   RESOLUTION FPS CH |   FILESIZE   TBR PROTO | VCODEC          VBR ACODEC      ABR ASR MORE INFO
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sb3 mhtml 48x27        0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
sb2 mhtml 80x45        0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
sb1 mhtml 160x90       0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
sb0 mhtml 320x180      0    |                  mhtml | images                                  storyboard
139 m4a   audio only      2 |    5.59MiB   49k https | audio only          mp4a.40.5   49k 22k [en-US] English (US) original (default), low, m4a_dash
249 webm  audio only      2 |    5.81MiB   51k https | audio only          opus        51k 48k [en-US] English (US) original (default), low, webm_dash
140 m4a   audio only      2 |   14.82MiB  129k https | audio only          mp4a.40.2  129k 44k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, m4a_dash
251 webm  audio only      2 |   12.76MiB  112k https | audio only          opus       112k 48k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, webm_dash
160 mp4   256x144     24    |    3.86MiB   34k https | avc1.4d400c     34k video only          144p, mp4_dash
278 webm  256x144     24    |    7.69MiB   67k https | vp9             67k video only          144p, webm_dash
394 mp4   256x144     24    |    5.77MiB   50k https | av01.0.00M.08   50k video only          144p, mp4_dash
133 mp4   426x240     24    |    7.28MiB   64k https | avc1.4d4015     64k video only          240p, mp4_dash
242 webm  426x240     24    |   11.50MiB  100k https | vp9            100k video only          240p, webm_dash
395 mp4   426x240     24    |    7.69MiB   67k https | av01.0.00M.08   67k video only          240p, mp4_dash
134 mp4   640x360     24    |   14.24MiB  124k https | avc1.4d401e    124k video only          360p, mp4_dash
18  mp4   640x360     24  2 |   40.74MiB  356k https | avc1.42001E         mp4a.40.2       44k [en] 360p
243 webm  640x360     24    |   22.91MiB  200k https | vp9            200k video only          360p, webm_dash
396 mp4   640x360     24    |   12.79MiB  112k https | av01.0.01M.08  112k video only          360p, mp4_dash
135 mp4   854x480     24    |   22.74MiB  199k https | avc1.4d401e    199k video only          480p, mp4_dash
244 webm  854x480     24    |   28.17MiB  246k https | vp9            246k video only          480p, webm_dash
397 mp4   854x480     24    |   20.53MiB  179k https | av01.0.04M.08  179k video only          480p, mp4_dash
136 mp4   1280x720    24    |   33.98MiB  297k https | avc1.4d401f    297k video only          720p, mp4_dash
247 webm  1280x720    24    |   45.18MiB  395k https | vp9            395k video only          720p, webm_dash
398 mp4   1280x720    24    |   35.93MiB  314k https | av01.0.05M.08  314k video only          720p, mp4_dash
137 mp4   1920x1080   24    |  113.61MiB  992k https | avc1.640028    992k video only          1080p, mp4_dash
248 webm  1920x1080   24    |   75.18MiB  657k https | vp9            657k video only          1080p, webm_dash
399 mp4   1920x1080   24    |   61.67MiB  539k https | av01.0.08M.08  539k video only          1080p, mp4_dash
271 webm  2560x1440   24    |  194.04MiB 1695k https | vp9           1695k video only          1440p, webm_dash
400 mp4   2560x1440   24    |  180.77MiB 1579k https | av01.0.12M.08 1579k video only          1440p, mp4_dash
313 webm  3840x2160   24    |  570.30MiB 4982k https | vp9           4982k video only          2160p, webm_dash
401 mp4   3840x2160   24    |  361.31MiB 3156k https | av01.0.12M.08 3156k video only          2160p, mp4_dash
Trump lashes out at Supreme Court over 2020 election lies
Brian Tyler Cohen News
20260316
16:00

(for YouTube it works with only the 11 characters code at the end of the link / for others platforms the complete link is required)

Or in one step:

yt-dlp [link] -f -

(with “-f -” it will list available formats and display a prompt for which formats to choose, typing “396+251” will get the same result as above)

As mentioned above you might need to install a JavaScript runtime (deno is the most recommended, I use QuickJS).

But for some videos only AVC formats seem to be available.

H:\>yt-dlp Lo2n2NAVrDY -F --print title --print channel --print upload_date --print duration_string
ID  EXT   RESOLUTION FPS CH |  FILESIZE  TBR PROTO | VCODEC       VBR ACODEC      ABR ASR MORE INFO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sb2 mhtml 48x27        0    |                mhtml | images                               storyboard
sb1 mhtml 80x45        0    |                mhtml | images                               storyboard
sb0 mhtml 160x90       0    |                mhtml | images                               storyboard
139 m4a   audio only      2 |   4.28MiB  49k https | audio only       mp4a.40.5   49k 22k [en-US] English (US) original (default), low, m4a_dash
140 m4a   audio only      2 |  11.34MiB 129k https | audio only       mp4a.40.2  129k 44k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, m4a_dash
251 webm  audio only      2 |  10.40MiB 119k https | audio only       opus       119k 48k [en-US] English (US) original (default), medium, webm_dash
160 mp4   256x144     30    |   2.57MiB  29k https | avc1.4d400c  29k video only          144p, mp4_dash
134 mp4   640x360     30    |   9.21MiB 105k https | avc1.4d401e 105k video only          360p, mp4_dash
18  mp4   640x360     30  2 |  20.30MiB 232k https | avc1.42001E      mp4a.40.2       44k [en] 360p
136 mp4   1280x720    30    |  27.42MiB 313k https | avc1.64001f 313k video only          720p, mp4_dash
137 mp4   1920x1080   30    |  48.05MiB 549k https | avc1.640028 549k video only          1080p, mp4_dash
How to Automatically Transcribe and Add Subtitles to a Video Using Subtitle Edit
David Mbugua
20220328
12:15

Note: I used the same example video as provided above out of convenience, but perhaps it's not the most suitable kind of content for this forum, since discussions about politics are generally not welcome...

thank you