Re: Saving BBC streaming video clips?

de Terry Pinnell 01/31/2008 02:59

John <me@zen.co.uk> wrote:

>Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> John <me@zen.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>>> Anyone have a recommendation for a straightforward method to capture a
>>>> BBC video clip (typically streaming RealPlayer media) to my HD please?
>>>>
>>>> I looked for a short example with which to experiment and found this
>>>> 24 second clip:
>>>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/articles/d/devon_thebarton.shtml
>>>> I can view that OK by clicking WATCH THIS VIDEO. But how do I capture
>>>> it permanently? (Ideally in MPEG or WMV. But if in 'rm' format, I can
>>>> probably use something like SUPER to convert it).
>>>>
>>>> Apart from half a dozen commercial programs, my research produced one
>>>> possibility called Real7ime Converter (R7C). But I can't get it
>>>> working. Probably because I use RealPlayer Alternative, as I found
>>>> RealPlayer too intrusive.
>>>>
>>>> I also tried a method based on the assumption that, after playing in
>>>> full, the file must be in my Firefox cache folder. But immediately
>>>> after playing that short video example, I found not one but two new
>>>> files in there:
>>>> _CACHE_001_
>>>> _CACHE_002_
>>>>
>>>> Neither have extensions (which I find an annoyance - one small
>>>> advantage that IE Temporary Internet Files had!) so I tried adding
>>>> one, to give
>>>> _CACHE_001_.rm
>>>> _CACHE_002_.rm
>>>> But although d-clicking opens Media Player Classic, I just get an
>>>> unhelpful error message "RealMedia error".
>>>>
>>>> Any practical advice would be much appreciated please. There must be
>>>> some no-brainer way to do this!
>>>>
>>> Since you are using Firefox, you should download this add on:
>>>
>>> https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006
>>>
>>> And it will do what you want.
>>
>> Thanks, but no it won't!
>>
>> It saves a small file which is the *URL* of the file I want, not the
>> file itself. In the example I gave, I get a 1KB file:
>> devon_thebarton_4x3_bb.ram
>> On running that, the video is streamed to me again over the net.
>> Assuming it still exists (most BBC file have deadlines). And I can of
>> course achieve that by simply bookmarking the link.
>>
>Sorry Terry, but you are wrong. It downloads the video to a folder which
>can then be retrieved and played on media player.
>
>John.

Well, I do hope I *am* wrong! But can you spell it out please! Have
you successfully captured my example BBC video clip? (Not a YouTube or
Google clip.) If so, can you step me through it please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK