How to Save a YouTube Video As an MPEG
By Jason Artman
Many websites and web browser add-ons exist to download a video from the video-sharing website YouTube and save it to the computer in the FLV (Flash) format. FLV videos can't be played on many mobile devices, which means that downloading a video in the FLV format means you need an Internet connection to watch YouTube videos, as well as a computer. Download YouTube videos in the MPEG-4 (MP4) format and you can transfer them to and view them on portable players such as iPods.
Step 1
Browse to the YouTube video that you would like to download. Click in the address bar at the top of the screen while the video is playing and highlight all of the text, from the "http" to the end. The entire address bar will have an URL that begins with "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" and ends with a string of letters and numbers. Right click on the highlighted text, and click "Cut."
Step 2
Browse to Vixy.net. Right click in the bar labeled "URL" at the top of the page and click "Paste" to paste the video address copied from YouTube.
Step 3
Click the "Converts To" drop-down menu, and select "MP4 for iPod/PSP."
Step 4
Click "Start." The conversion to MPEG-4 may take several minutes depending on the size of the video. When the conversion is complete, a download window automatically opens in the browser.
Step 5
Save the converted MPEG-4 YouTube video to the location of your choice.
References
Tips
- MPEG-4 videos can also be played on the computer using media players such as iTunes, VLC, or Windows Media Player.
- Vixy.net is one of many websites that convert YouTube videos online. Two other sites include KeepVid.com and SaveVid.com.
Writer Bio
Jason Artman has been a technical writer since entering the field in 1999 while attending Michigan State University. Artman has published numerous articles for various websites, covering a diverse array of computer-related topics including hardware, software, games and gadgets.