How do I download an m3u8 file from thecube.com?

[mbebout]

I have a friend who's son graduated this past fall from High School. The school streamed the graduation on thecube.com, and she asked me if I could get her a copy of the ceremony. I've been trying for the past several hours - following countless methods that never worked out - and I'm just about to call it a defeat. I thought I would ask here if anyone might have some specific instructions on how to download the following video:

http://thecube.com/event/south-jefferson-high-school-2015-graduation-ceremo-513914

Thanks to the advice on another thread from user 'aazerty' I was able to ascertain that the file is an m3u8 file, and even found the playlist.m3u8 file. Here it is:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-main/assets/4351170/4351170-playlist.m3u8

But I have not been able to get any further. Any help with figuring out how to download this video would be greatly appreciated!

[poisondeathray]

you can use youtube-dl

open a command prompt copy & paste (you can specify the output directory by replacing the path, right now it's set to C:\)

youtube-dl https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-main/assets/4351170/4351170-playlist.m3u8 -o "C:\grad.mp4"

[mbebout]

Hi poisondeathray,

Thank you for the guidance! I've been working on you solution for a couple of hours and haven't been able to get it to work yet. Not sure what I am doing wrong, but I will try to figure it out tomorrow. I went ahead and got a GUI front end - YouTubeDLG - as I'm not terribly sophisticated with the command line interface. I was able to get that software to work on YouTube vids, but not the one I want yet.

Again, thank you and I'll try again tomorrow!

Thanks!

[poisondeathray]

What is not working exactly ? Is there an error message ? The link and command works fine here



If you don't have permission (e.g. you are not logged in as administrator), you might not be able to write to the C: drive

Run the command prompt from an administrator account, or change the path of the output file to another drive

Or are you having problems with command line usage ?

[mbebout]

The problem that I keep having is actually with the link to the m3u8 file itself. Here is the error that I am receiving:

================================================== ==========
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


C:\Users\Mark>C:\Users\Mark\Desktop\youtube-dl-2015.07.21.exe https://s3.amazona
ws.com/hsc-main/assets/4351170-playlist.m3u8 -o "c:\grad.mp4"
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Requesting header
WARNING: Could not send HEAD request to https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-main/assets
/4351170-playlist.m3u8: HTTP Error 404: Not Found
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Downloading webpage
ERROR: Unable to download webpage: HTTP Error 404: Not Found (caused by HTTPErro
r()); please report this issue on https://yt-dl.org/bug . Make sure you are usin
g the latest version; type youtube-dl -U to update. Be sure to call youtube-dl
with the --verbose flag and include its complete output.

================================================== ==========

So it looks like a "Could not send HEAD request" error to the website. Is that what you would say after looking at that message?

Thanks!

[poisondeathray]

I don't know, it's working here


EDIT: It looks like you didn't copy & paste the address correctly . Sometimes there are display problems with some browsers. Just edit the https address to the one you originally gave in the 1st post

You only have the first set of numbers 4351170
But it should be: 4351170/435117

E:\_DOWNLOADS>youtube-dl https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-main/assets/4351170/435117
0-playlist.m3u8 -o "E:\_DOWNLOADS\grad.mp4"
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Requesting header
WARNING: Falling back on generic information extractor.
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Downloading webpage
WARNING: URL could be a direct video link, returning it as such.
[download] Destination: E:\_DOWNLOADS\grad.mp4
ffmpeg version N-73497-g7ee935b Copyright (c) 2000-2015 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 4.9.2 (GCC)
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-av
isynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enab
le-iconv --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --
enable-libdcadec --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-l
ibilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enab
le-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --en
able-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --ena
ble-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc
 --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enabl
e-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-lzma --ena
ble-decklink --enable-zlib
  libavutil      54. 28.100 / 54. 28.100
  libavcodec     56. 47.100 / 56. 47.100
  libavformat    56. 40.100 / 56. 40.100
  libavdevice    56.  4.100 / 56.  4.100
  libavfilter     5. 21.100 /  5. 21.100
  libswscale      3.  1.101 /  3.  1.101
  libswresample   1.  2.100 /  1.  2.100
  libpostproc    53.  3.100 / 53.  3.100
Input #0, hls,applehttp, from 'https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-main/assets/4351170/
4351170-playlist.m3u8':
  Duration: 01:56:52.45, start: 0.066733, bitrate: N/A
  Program 0
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1024000
    Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 854x480 [
SAR 1:1 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1024000
    Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
 99 kb/s
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1024000
  Program 1
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 614400
    Stream #0:2: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 642x360 [
SAR 427:428 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 614400
    Stream #0:3: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
 99 kb/s
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 614400
  Program 2
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 256000
    Stream #0:4: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 320x180 [
SAR 1281:1280 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 256000
    Stream #0:5: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
 99 kb/s
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 256000
[mp4 @ 0000000006209080] Codec for stream 0 does not use global headers but cont
ainer format requires global headers
[mp4 @ 0000000006209080] Codec for stream 1 does not use global headers but cont
ainer format requires global headers
Output #0, mp4, to 'E:\_DOWNLOADS\grad.mp4.part':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf56.40.100
    Stream #0:0: Video: h264 ([33][0][0][0] / 0x0021), yuv420p, 854x480 [SAR 1:1
 DAR 427:240], q=2-31, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 90k tbc
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1024000
    Stream #0:1: Audio: aac ([64][0][0][0] / 0x0040), 44100 Hz, mono, 99 kb/s
    Metadata:
      variant_bitrate : 1024000
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (copy)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
[hls,applehttp @ 0000000004746900] No longer receiving playlist 1
[hls,applehttp @ 0000000004746900] No longer receiving playlist 2
frame=  250 fps=0.0 q=-1.0 size=    1051kB time=00:00:08.31 bitrate=1036.2kbits/
frame=  302 fps=233 q=-1.0 size=    1312kB time=00:00:10.05 bitrate=1068.7kbits/
frame=  412 fps=229 q=-1.0 size=    1641kB time=00:00:13.72 bitrate= 979.6kbits/
frame=  499 fps=163 q=-1.0 size=    1972kB time=00:00:16.67 bitrate= 969.0kbits/
frame=  542 fps=150 q=-1.0 size=    2278kB time=00:00:18.04 bitrate=1034.1kbits/
frame=  658 fps=159 q=-1.0 size=    2675kB time=00:00:21.94 bitrate= 998.6kbits/
frame=  749 fps=141 q=-1.0 size=    2990kB time=00:00:25.00 bitrate= 979.3kbits/
frame=  800 fps=137 q=-1.0 size=    3339kB time=00:00:26.65 bitrate=1026.3kbits/
s
.
.
.

[mbebout]

Hi poisondeathray,

I haven't given up on this yet, and I am making some progress.

The problem I was having before is because I didn't have ffmpeg running. So I figured that out and almost got as far as you did!

At this point I'm getting an error here:

>C:\Users\Mark\Desktop\youtube-dl-2015.07.21.exe https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-ma
in/assets/4351170/4351170-playlist.m3u8 -o "c:\grad.file"
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Requesting header
WARNING: Falling back on generic information extractor.
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Downloading webpage
WARNING: URL could be a direct video link, returning it as such.
[download] Destination: c:\grad.file
ffmpeg version N-74054-gb16b8c8 Copyright (c) 2000-2015 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 4.9.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-av
isynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enab
le-iconv --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --
enable-libdcadec --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-l
ibilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enab
le-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --en
able-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --ena
ble-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc
--enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enabl
e-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-lzma --ena
ble-decklink --enable-zlib
libavutil 54. 29.100 / 54. 29.100
libavcodec 56. 55.100 / 56. 55.100
libavformat 56. 40.101 / 56. 40.101
libavdevice 56. 4.100 / 56. 4.100
libavfilter 5. 29.100 / 5. 29.100
libswscale 3. 1.101 / 3. 1.101
libswresample 1. 2.101 / 1. 2.101
libpostproc 53. 3.100 / 53. 3.100
Input #0, hls,applehttp, from 'https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-main/assets/4351170/
4351170-playlist.m3u8':
Duration: 01:56:52.45, start: 0.066733, bitrate: N/A
Program 0
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 1024000
Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 854x480 [
SAR 1:1 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 1024000
Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
99 kb/s
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 1024000
Program 1
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 614400
Stream #0:2: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 642x360 [
SAR 427:428 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 614400
Stream #0:3: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
99 kb/s
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 614400
Program 2
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 256000
Stream #0:4: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 320x180 [
SAR 1281:1280 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 256000
Stream #0:5: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
99 kb/s
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 256000
c:\grad.mp4.part: Invalid argument


ERROR: ffmpeg exited with code 1

So the error is at the bottom: c:\grad.mp4.part: Invalid argument

I feel like this is something simple, but I can't put my finger on it. And it looks like an error coming from ffmpeg.

Any idea of what I'm doing wrong here?

Thanks!

[poisondeathray]

It might be that you have "grad.file" in the commandline, not "grad.mp4" , or it might be the permissions issue mentioned earlier about writing to the "c" drive if you are not logged in as administrator or using an elevated prompt

[mbebout]

That was just my t/s efforts. I have tried .mp4, I've tried leaving it blank. Just trying to see if I can eliminate the error message.

[poisondeathray]

Are you logged in as administrator ? Try doing it from an elevated command prompt, or writing output file to another drive

[mbebout]

Here are the results after defining .mp4

>C:\Users\Mark\Desktop\youtube-dl-2015.07.21.exe https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-ma
in/assets/4351170/4351170-playlist.m3u8 -o "c:\grad.mp4"
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Requesting header
WARNING: Falling back on generic information extractor.
[generic] 4351170-playlist: Downloading webpage
WARNING: URL could be a direct video link, returning it as such.
[download] Destination: c:\grad.mp4
ffmpeg version N-74054-gb16b8c8 Copyright (c) 2000-2015 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 4.9.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-av
isynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enab
le-iconv --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --
enable-libdcadec --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-l
ibilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enab
le-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --en
able-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --ena
ble-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc
--enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enabl
e-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-lzma --ena
ble-decklink --enable-zlib
libavutil 54. 29.100 / 54. 29.100
libavcodec 56. 55.100 / 56. 55.100
libavformat 56. 40.101 / 56. 40.101
libavdevice 56. 4.100 / 56. 4.100
libavfilter 5. 29.100 / 5. 29.100
libswscale 3. 1.101 / 3. 1.101
libswresample 1. 2.101 / 1. 2.101
libpostproc 53. 3.100 / 53. 3.100
Input #0, hls,applehttp, from 'https://s3.amazonaws.com/hsc-main/assets/4351170/
4351170-playlist.m3u8':
Duration: 01:56:52.45, start: 0.066733, bitrate: N/A
Program 0
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 1024000
Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 854x480 [
SAR 1:1 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 1024000
Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
99 kb/s
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 1024000
Program 1
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 614400
Stream #0:2: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 642x360 [
SAR 427:428 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 614400
Stream #0:3: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
99 kb/s
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 614400
Program 2
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 256000
Stream #0:4: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 320x180 [
SAR 1281:1280 DAR 427:240], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 256000
Stream #0:5: Audio: aac (LC) ([15][0][0][0] / 0x000F), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp,
99 kb/s
Metadata:
variant_bitrate : 256000
c:\grad.mp4.part: Invalid argument


ERROR: ffmpeg exited with code 1

[mbebout]

Just wanted to let you know that I was finally able to get it downloaded. The last issue was an issue with running the CL interface as Admin.

I really appreciate all your help on this. Thanks for your expertise very much, no way I could have done that on my own.

Props to you.

Mark