pyarxiver

Python Youtube Arxiver - record from any point of live streams

This is a compact, resource-efficient program to download youtube live streams from any point of the stream, up to the limit of past 5 days. The program is inspired by ytarchive, but with the option to choose the start time and more resource friendly.

You can run the program with or without a Python installation.

• With Python (any OS):

  • python pyarxiver.py video-link
    • download from the present at 720p (default)
  • python pyarxiver.py video-link 2:30
    • download from 2 hours 30 minutes ago at 720p
  • python pyarxiver.py video-link 1:1:0 1920x1080
    • download from 1 day and 1 hour ago (25 hours back) at 1920x1080

• Without Python (Windows only):

  The program is also packaged as binary executable, thanks to pyinstaller. Download and extract the zip file pyarxiver-win.zip, put it in your path, and run it just like above. For example,

  • pyarxiver video-link 0:30
    • download from 30 minutes ago at 720p

The video is downloaded in chunks of .ts files to the default directory fragsdir. Each file is playable without interrupting download, better yet they can be combined to a single video file with your favorite tool. One such tool is provided here too, combts-win.zip. It combines the chunks (fragments) and can be used as follows:

• combts fragsdir
  • combines all files (up to 1440, or 2 hours) in fragsdir to vid-combtsXYZ.ts, leaving the fragments in place. Here XYZ is a sequence 1,2,3 etc. to label the combined videos.
• combts fragsdir 1440 delete
  • combines up to 1440 files (actual files may be fewer) in fragsdir and delete the fragments after the video file is produced
  • the option delete is preferred as it removes used chunks, so only fresh ones are included the next time you run combts. This way one can play the video as it is being downloaded. Of course, the .ts files may also be processed with FFmpeg, eg, converting them to mp4 files.

If you use the binary executables, verify the checksums to be sure:

• pyarxiver-win.zip SHA1: D2B06F25B1278611850A0146122DDBDE6118AD1F
• combts-win.zip SHA1: 7DFD50B1DC6257F60A4E34ADE7785A4AF4EBB6A8

pyarxiver works on LIVE streams only. For non-live videos, try yt-dlp.