Recommend GUI Video Downloaders that Can Capture Soft Subtitles?

[TEH]

Am new to Video Downloaders so do not know all the correct terminology. Tried to search both the VH Forum and Google using key words "video downloaders" can capture "soft subtitles" but for both got nothing relevant so must be doing something wrong.

Would like to capture the English soft subtitles for Shoshana Zuboff on surveillance capitalism | VPRO Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw which is excellent!

I posted this as "Portable Windows Video DownLoader & SubTitles?" https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/406420-Portable-Windows-Video-DownLoader-SubTitles

videobruger recommended using yt-dlp.

I downloaded it but got nowhere because am totally new to trying to use cmd with Windows 10.

Had no problems using FireDM portable but it is No longer developed. https://www.videohelp.com/software/sections/video-streaming-downloaders

Think at this time it is best for me to stick to GUI Video Downloaders.

Appreciate any recommendations for GUI Video Downloaders that Can Capture Soft Subtitles.

[[ss]vegeta]

I downloaded it but got nowhere because am totally new to trying to use cmd with Windows 10.

But it's so fun, and easier when you get the hang of it.
Here, check this
https://streamable.com/qx815r

ytdlp.exe --write-subs --skip-download "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw"

Because we used --skip-download, it will not download video/audio, only subtitles.
If we want video/audio we just don't use --skip-download. Then, ytdlp will download best quality automatically.

If we want video/audio in different quality, then we use the -F to see what quality is available

ytdlp.exe --write-subs -F "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw"

If we want 1080p avc and m4a audio we use -f 137+140

ytdlp.exe --write-subs -f 137+140 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw"

You also need ffmpeg.exe inside the same folder so it can merge video/audio.

[TEH]

[ss]vegeta

"But it's so fun, and easier when you get the hang of it. Here, check this https://streamable.com/qx815r"

Checked the video, my problem is it is totally unfamiliar which is why I would like to use a GUI for now.

Have done a number of searches but so far nothing relevant.

Instead get "It looks like there aren't many great matches for your search" so am doing something wrong.

Would be nice if there was a list of functions for yt-dlp GUIs.

Also seems like there are others having problems. ex "Hi can someone eli5 how to get yt-dlp working on windows 10" https://www.reddit.com/r/youtubedl/comments/u4cc3m/hi_can_someone_eli5_how_to_get_ytdlp_working_on/

[jindev]

I downloaded it but got nowhere because am totally new to trying to use cmd with Windows 10.

But it's so fun, and easier when you get the hang of it.
Here, check this
https://streamable.com/qx815r

ytdlp.exe --write-subs --skip-download "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw"

Because we used --skip-download, it will not download video/audio, only subtitles.
If we want video/audio we just don't use --skip-download. Then, ytdlp will download best quality automatically.

If we want video/audio in different quality, then we use the -F to see what quality is available

ytdlp.exe --write-subs -F "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw"

If we want 1080p avc and m4a audio we use -f 137+140

ytdlp.exe --write-subs -f 137+140 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw"

You also need ffmpeg.exe inside the same folder so it can merge video/audio.

Perfeito! =)

[[ss]vegeta]

Also seems like there are others having problems.

Yeah, okay, sorry for bringing it up.
Indeed, this Reddit link is a hard proof that something is just not right with this whole rocket science CLI thingies.
Good luck with the GUIs.

[Axel Slingerland]

Just adding my 2¢ worth...

I used to use GUIs all the time, specifically youtube-dl-gui, because I'm going blind and had problems seeing text on command lines, but some of the members here (including [ss]vegeta) changed my mind about them. The good thing about yt-dlp is that you can put a command into an old school DOS batch file and it works fine. Here's an example of one I use regularly:

@echo off
cd Movies

yt-dlp.exe --output %%(title)s.%%(ext)s http://path_to_video

pause

There are dozens of command options you can use, such as if you have to login to a website you can add:
--ap-mso your_streaming_service_name --ap-username your_username --ap-password your_password

If they store your login in a cookie you can add:
--cookies c:\path_to_cookie_folder\cookies.txt

You can see what formats are available for a video with:
--list-formats

Once you know what is available, you can specify a specific format with:
--format format or --format hls-xxxx
or
-f "best[height=1080]" or -f "best[height=720]"

Create a subtitle file:
--write-sub

Subtitle format:
--sub-format format

There are many more in the youtube_dl manual, including more subtitle options. I put several different commands in a text file, like this:

yt-dlp.exe --output %%(title)s.%%(ext)s
yt-dlp.exe -f "best[height=720]" --output %%(title)s.%%(ext)s
yt-dlp.exe --format hls-xxxx --output %%(title)s.%%(ext)s
yt-dlp.exe --cookies c:\mp3\2\cookies.txt --output %%(title)s.%%(ext)s
yt-dlp.exe --cookies c:\mp3\2\cookies.txt -f "best[height=720]" --output %%(title)s.%%(ext)s

Then copy whatever I need to put in a batch file. Personally, I find this much better than a GUI, because when I edit links in a text file, I can see what I'm doing much better.

You can put as many links as you like (one per line) in a batch file, but I stick to 5 at a time and not too many blocks of 5 in one session, because I think downloading dozens of videos in the time it takes to watch one attracts unwanted attention from system administrators who swing the Ban Hammer...

Give it a try... You might like it!

Ax