If you often watch videos on platforms like YouTube and want to download them along with their subtitles, you're in the right place! In this guide, we will explore how to use yt-dlp, a fork of the popular youtube-dl command-line tool, to download videos with subtitles effortlessly.
Understanding the Task
You want to download videos from platforms like YouTube while ensuring that any available subtitles are included in the download. Let's clarify the original task into an easy-to-understand instruction:
Original Task: Create a method to download videos that come with subtitles using the youtube-dl tool.
Revised Task: Use the yt-dlp tool to download videos from platforms such as YouTube, ensuring that subtitles are included in the download.
Getting Started with yt-dlp
Before we dive into the downloading process, you'll need to have yt-dlp installed on your system. If you haven't installed it yet, follow these steps:
Installation Instructions
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Using pip (Python package installer):
pip install yt-dlp -
Using Homebrew (for macOS users):
brew install yt-dlp -
Download the executable (Windows users can directly download the
.exefile from the yt-dlp GitHub Releases page).
Basic Command to Download Videos with Subtitles
Now that you have yt-dlp installed, you can start downloading videos with subtitles using the following command:
yt-dlp --sub-lang "en" --write-subs --convert-subs srt "VIDEO_URL"
Command Breakdown
--sub-lang "en": This option specifies the language of the subtitles you want to download. Replace"en"with the desired language code.--write-subs: This flag ensures that subtitles are downloaded.--convert-subs srt: This option converts the subtitles into the SRT format, which is widely supported by most video players."VIDEO_URL": Replace this placeholder with the actual URL of the video you wish to download.
Example Command
Here's a practical example:
yt-dlp --sub-lang "en" --write-subs --convert-subs srt "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example"
Replace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example with the actual video link.
Additional Options for Customization
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Download only audio: If you're interested in downloading just the audio track along with subtitles, use:
yt-dlp --extract-audio --audio-format mp3 --sub-lang "en" --write-subs --convert-subs srt "VIDEO_URL" -
Select a specific quality: You can specify the quality of the video using the
-foption:yt-dlp -f 'bestvideo+bestaudio' --sub-lang "en" --write-subs --convert-subs srt "VIDEO_URL"
Why Use yt-dlp Over youtube-dl?
While youtube-dl has been a reliable tool for years, yt-dlp offers some additional features, such as:
- Improved performance: yt-dlp is better at downloading videos in high quality and has been optimized for several platforms.
- Additional options: It supports more formats and more options for downloading subtitles and playlists.
- Active development: yt-dlp is actively maintained, ensuring regular updates and features.
Conclusion
Downloading videos along with subtitles using yt-dlp is straightforward and efficient. Whether you're looking to keep educational content for offline viewing or enjoy foreign films with subtitles, this tool offers flexibility and ease of use.
For more information and detailed options, you can refer to the yt-dlp GitHub repository.
Useful Resources
By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be able to download videos with subtitles effortlessly. Happy downloading!
