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How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

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shutter
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How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

I watch a few programmes on ZDF tv.. ( German tv station ) . LIVE - on line.. (.ON MY LAPTOP ) .. and sometimes I would like to record a programme for watching again, at a later time... or "just because I liked it, watch it again"...

 

Can anyone recommend an "add on" for Firefox ( or CYBERFOX )... that is simple to use.. i.e. once recorded/downloaded, it can be played back immediately, without any further processing...


OR..

 

Can anyone recommend a FREE program that I can install that will do the job,

 VLC shows "Stream" in the drop down menu, but I cant get that to work ...

ATubeCatcher also has a "Stream catcher"... but again,... can`t get it to work...  ( anyone know how to get them working  ? )

 

Please note... I am using a LAPTOP to watch this station - on line - ... not through the normal telly... as we don`t have the tech to do that...i.e. we have FREE to air FREEVIEW... and not on-line telly ....

19 REPLIES 19
rongtw
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

@shutter this may help  Thumbs_Up     http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-screen-recorder

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shutter
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

@rongtw Thanks for that linky... will have a look at that OBS one later.... 

Pete11
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

Fix

here's another you can try...and yes, it's free.  Thumbs_Up

 

http://www.any-video-recorder.com/

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shutter
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

@Pete11Thanks... will give that a try... as the OBS one only seems to record the sound .... and needs "dedicated" streaming services... but ... I could be wrong about that.... just not very helpful to find how to get it working...

German TV is on "Livestream"... and therefore " should " be able to record it... as that is one of the listed streams .

 

shutter
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

@Pete11  Go to the top of the class ! ! .... that works a treat.... downloaded, installed and got my first short test clip, in the space between last post and this one... !   (Less than 10 minutes ! ! )..

Good quality too !..

Thanks..  have a nice day... !

Wink

Pete11
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

@shutter

No probs mate..enjoy.  Thumbs_Up

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VileReynard
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

I tried this in a Windows 7 VM on my Linux PC. Cheesy

Really wanted to run it full screen - but couldn't see how to manage it.

The audio & video aren't quite in sync and you get a basic level of mp4.

Unfortunately, I'd quite like a better version at 1920 x 1080.

According to my (Linux) stats program, a 5 minute Channel 4 programme gives:-

General
Complete name : /home/jeremy/Desktop/video_2017122619100.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 98.9 MiB
Duration : 4mn 59s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 2 766 Kbps
Writing application : Lavf52.81.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Advanced Simple@L5
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Codec ID : 20
Duration : 4mn 59s
Duration_FirstFrame : 129ms
Bit rate : 2 700 Kbps
Width : 1 916 pixels
Height : 960 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.996
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 15.458 fps
Original frame rate : 20.000 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.095
Stream size : 96.5 MiB (98%)
Writing library : XviD 64

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 4mn 59s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 2.29 MiB (2%)

 

 

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shutter
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

@VileReynard Yup.... that`s what geeks love to do...... things, the hard way.!...if you had used the Any Video Recorder, with WINE installed... you would have had a perfect copy, with no hassle... once you have recorded it, you could play it back through any QUALITY video player, such as VLC ......

 

But then again.... what do you expect with Linux.... Huh

 

Hassle, to do the simple things in life... Roll_eyes

VileReynard
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

You may like post-process the video with a program such as handbrake - strangely, it seems to improve the quality.

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VileReynard
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop


@shutter wrote:

@VileReynard Yup.... that`s what geeks love to do...... things, the hard way.!...if you had used the Any Video Recorder, with WINE installed... you would have had a perfect copy, with no hassle... once you have recorded it, you could play it back through any QUALITY video player, such as VLC ......

But then again.... what do you expect with Linux.... Huh

Hassle, to do the simple things in life... Roll_eyes


I've always tried not to install WINE because it's rather complicated and uninstalling it is very messy - just like Windows.

Anyway, I already had a Windows VM installed plus a few Linux VM's. Funny

"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."

shutter
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

@VileReynard There`s nowt difficult about installing WINE... it comes ready to use....  even I could do it.... and you know that I am not a LINUX GEEK.... from years of questions on the old Linux Forums ! ! ...

No need to "post process" the video downloaded on AnyVideoRecorder..... just click on it and play it with your favourite video viewer.... mine is GOM player.... unfortunately, that won`t run on WINE on LINUX... shame ! ! ..

 

 

HairyMcbiker
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

You could of course use something like Jdownloader (http://jdownloader.org/download/index) on Linux or even M$.
NB Not tried on ZDF as I don't speak German.
VileReynard
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

That jdownloader is a horrible thing. It put hundreds of files and a load of Java rubbish into a directory.

Luckily I tried it in a Linux VM first!

I won't be using it. Ticked_off

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shutter
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Re: How to... record LIVE TV stream on laptop

I didin`t like the many changes of site ownership, before finally resting on one in New Zealand... so didn`t bother.... anyway.. That linky to AnyVideoRecorder worked straight away...  so @VileReynard bite the bullet,,... get WINE installed.... You get it from your usual source on LInux.... and then You can run AnyVideoRecorder, and many other Windows type software  ( notice I did not say MICROSOFT software, as they are usually NOT microsoft software,. .. so your aversion is pointless ! ! ).. without going OTT with a Virtual Windows Machine... ....  .... Simples !  Smiley