===================================================
Tartube - The Easy Way To Watch And Download Videos
===================================================
------------------------------------------------------------
Works with YouTube, BitChute, and hundreds of other websites
------------------------------------------------------------
.. image:: screenshots/tartube.png
:alt: Tartube screenshot
* `1 Introduction`_
* `2 Why should I use Tartube?`_
* `3 Downloads`_
* `4 Quick start guide`_
* `5 Installation`_
* `6 Using Tartube`_
* `7 Frequently-Asked Questions`_
* `8 Contributing`_
* `9 Authors`_
* `10 License`_
1 Introduction
==============
**Tartube** is a GUI front-end for `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__, partly based on `youtube-dl-gui <https://mrs0m30n3.github.io/youtube-dl-gui/>`__ and written in Python 3 / Gtk 3.
It runs on MS Windows, Linux, BSD and MacOS.
Problems can be reported at `our GitHub page <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>`__.
2 Why should I use Tartube?
===========================
- You can download individual videos, and even whole channels and playlists, from YouTube and hundreds of other websites (see `here <https://ytdl-org.github.io/youtube-dl/supportedsites.html>`__ for a full list)
- You can fetch information about those videos, channels and playlists, without actually downloading anything
- **Tartube** will organise your videos into convenient folders (if that's what you want)
- **Tartube** can alert you when livestreams are starting (**YouTube** only)
- If creators upload their videos to more than one website (**YouTube** and **BitChute**, for example), you can download videos from both sites without creating duplicates
- **Tartube** can, in some circumstances, see videos that are region-blocked and/or age-restricted
- You can easily grab just the audio, rather than full videos, if you want
- Certain popular websites manipulate search results, repeatedly unsubscribe people from their favourite channels and/or deliberately conceal videos that they don't like. **Tartube** won't do any of those things
- **Tartube** is free and open-source software
2.1 What's new in version 2.2.0
-------------------------------
- **Tartube** is confirmed to work on MacOS see `5.2 Installation - MacOS`_
- For a while, **Tartube** has been unable to display video thumbnails, after **YouTube** started using a format that no-one supports. Both **youtube-dl** and **Tartube** have been updated with workarounds; they will only work if you have installed `FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__ (for help with that, see below)
- If you like tidy directories (folders), you can store the thumbnail and metadata files in a sub-folder, leaving the main folder containing only videos. To enable this, click **Edit > Download options... > Files > Write/move files**
- Videos can now be sent to FFmpeg directly for processing (in other words, after the download has finished). Right-click one or more videos and select **Process with FFmpeg...**
- **Tartube** now supports forks of **youtube-dl**, such as `youtube-dlc <https://github.com/blackjack4494/youtube-dlc>`__
For a full list of new features and fixes, see `recent changes <CHANGES>`__.
3 Downloads
===========
Latest version: **v2.2.003 (30 Sep 2020)**
Official packages (also available from the `Github release page <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/releases>`__):
- `MS Windows (64-bit) installer <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.2.003/install-tartube-2.2.003-64bit.exe/download>`__ and `portable edition <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.2.003/tartube-portable-64bit.zip/download>`__ from Sourceforge
- `MS Windows (32-bit) installer <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.2.003/install-tartube-2.2.003-32bit.exe/download>`__ and `portable edition <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.2.003/tartube-portable-32bit.zip/download>`__ from Sourceforge
- `DEB package (for Debian-based distros, e.g. Ubuntu, Linux Mint) <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.2.003/python3-tartube_2.2.003.deb/download>`__ from Sourceforge
- `RPM package (for RHEL-based distros, e.g. Fedora) <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.2.003/tartube-2.2.003.rpm/download>`__ from Sourceforge
There are also some DEB/RPM packages marked STRICT. In these packages, updates to **youtube-dl** from within **Tartube** have been disabled. If **Tartube** is uploaded to a repository with lots of rules, such as the official Debian repository, then you should probably use the STRICT packages.
Semi-official packages:
- `Gentoo ebuild (available in src_prepare-overlay) <https://gitlab.com/src_prepare/src_prepare-overlay/>`__ from Gitlab
- `Arch AUR package <https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/tartube/>`__
Source code:
- `Source code <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.2.003/tartube_v2.2.003.tar.gz/download>`__ from Sourceforge
- `Source code <https://github.com/axcore/tartube>`__ and `support <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>`__ from GitHub
4 Quick start guide
===================
4.1 MS Windows
--------------
- Download the MS Windows installer, using the links above
- Start **Tartube** from the Start menu, or by clicking the icon on the desktop
- When prompted, choose a folder where **Tartube** can store videos
- When prompted, let **Tartube** install **youtube-dl** for you
- It's strongly recommended that you install `FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__ . From the menu, click **Operations > Install FFmpeg**
If you don't want **Tartube** to add videos to its database, click the **Classic Mode** Tab. If you *do* want to update the database, do this instead:
- Go to the `YouTube website <https://www.youtube.com/>`__, and find your favourite channel
- In **Tartube**, click the **Add a new channel** button (or from the menu, click **Media > Add channel...** )
- In the dialogue window, add the name of the channel and the address (URL)
- Click the **OK** button to close the window
- Click the **Check all** button. **Tartube** will fetch a list of videos in the channel
- Click **All Videos** to see that list
- If you want to download the videos, click the **Download all** button
4.2 Linux/BSD/MacOS
-------------------
- Install **Tartube**, using any of the methods described below
- It's strongly recommended that you install `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too
- Run **Tartube**
- When prompted, choose a directory where **Tartube** can store videos
- Install **youtube-dl** by clicking **Operations > Update youtube-dl**
If you don't want **Tartube** to add videos to its database, click the **Classic Mode** Tab. If you *do* want to update the database, do this instead:
- Go to the `YouTube website <https://www.youtube.com/>`__, and find your favourite channel
- In **Tartube**, click the **Add a new channel** button (or from the menu, click **Media > Add channel...** )
- In the dialogue window, add the name of the channel and the address (URL)
- Click the **OK** button to close the window
- Click the **Check all** button. **Tartube** will fetch a list of videos in the channel
- Click **All Videos** to see that list
- If you want to download the videos, click the **Download all** button
5 Installation
==============
5.1 Installation - MS Windows
-----------------------------
MS Windows users should use the installer `available at the Tartube website <https://tartube.sourceforge.io/>`__. The installer contains everything you need to run **Tartube**. You must be using Windows Vista or above; the installer will not work on Windows XP.
There is also a portable edition; use this if you want to install **Tartube** onto removable media, such as a USB drive. Download the ZIP file, extract it, and run the file **tartube_portable_64bit.bat** or **tartube_portable_32bit.bat**.
It's strongly recommended that you install `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__ - see `6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv`_.
Both the installer and the portable edition include a copy of `AtomicParsley <https://bitbucket.org/jonhedgerows/atomicparsley/wiki/Home>`__, so there is no need to install it yourself.
5.1.1 Manual installation - MS Windows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some users report that **Tartube** will install but won't run. This problem should be fixed as of v1.2 but, if you still have problems, you can try performing a manual installation. This takes about 10-30 minutes, depending on your internet speed.
- This section assumes you have a 64-bit computer
- Download and install MSYS2 from `msys2.org <https://msys2.org>`__. You need the file that looks something like **msys2-x86_64-yyyymmdd.exe**
- MSYS2 wants to install in **C:\\msys64**, so do that
- Open the MINGW64 terminal, which is **C:\\msys64\\mingw64.exe**
- In the MINGW64 terminal, type:
**pacman -Syu**
- If the terminal wants to shut down, close it, and then restart it
- Now type the following commands, one by one:
**pacman -Su**
**pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3**
**pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3-pip**
**pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3-gobject**
**pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3-requests**
**pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-gtk3**
**pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-gsettings-desktop-schemas**
**pip3 install feedparser**
**pip3 install playsound**
- Download the **Tartube** source code from Sourceforge, using the links above
- Extract it into the folder **C:\\msys64\\home\\YOURNAME**, creating a folder called **C:\\msys64\\home\\YOURNAME\\tartube**
- Now, to run **Tartube**, type these commands in the MINGW64 terminal (don't forget to use *forward* slashes):
**cd /home/YOURNAME/tartube**
**python3 tartube/tartube**
5.2 Installation - MacOS
------------------------
MacOS users should use the following procedure (with thanks to JeremyShih):
- Install `Python 3 <https://www.python.org/downloads>`__ by downloading an installer, or with homebrew:
**brew install pkg-config**
**brew install python**
- Install `Gtk 3 <https://python-gtk-3-tutorial.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`__
**pip install pycairo**
**brew install gobject-introspection**
**pip install PyGObject**
**brew install gtk+3**
- Install `Python Requests module <https://3.python-requests.org/>`__
**pip install requests**
- Install `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__
**pip install youtube-dl**
- Install adwaita-icon-theme for icons used by Tartube (optional)
**brew install adwaita-icon-theme**
- It is strongly recommended that you install `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too
**brew install ffmpeg**
After installing dependencies (see above):
1. Download & extract the source code (see the links above)
2. Change directory into the **Tartube** directory
3. Type: ``python3 tartube/tartube``
5.3 Installation - Linux/BSD
----------------------------
Linux/BSD users can use any of the following installation methods.
5.3.1 Install using the DEB package
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linux distributions based on Debian, such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint, can install **Tartube** using the DEB package (see the links above).
**Tartube** requires `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__. If it's already installed on your system, then you can start **Tartube** immediately. Otherwise, do this:
1. Run **Tartube**
2. **Tartube** asks you to choose a data directory, so do that
3. Click **Operations > Update youtube-dl**
It is strongly recommended that you install `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too. On most Debian-based systems, you can open a terminal window and run this command:
**sudo apt-get install ffmpeg**
5.3.2 Install using the RPM package
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linux distributions based on RHEL, such as Fedora, can install **Tartube** using the RPM package (see the links above).
**Tartube** requires `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__. If it's already installed on your system, then you can start **Tartube** immediately.
Otherwise, if **pip** is already installed on your system, do this:
1. Run **Tartube**
2. **Tartube** asks you to choose a data directory, so do that
3. Click **Operations > Update youtube-dl**
If neither **youtube-dl** nor **pip** are installed on your system, then the recommended way to install **youtube-dl** is from the command line, using **pip**. (Software managers usually don't offer the most recent version of **youtube-dl**.)
On Fedora, the procedure is:
1. Open a terminal window
2. Type: ``dnf -y install python3-pip``
3. Type: ``pip3 install youtube-dl``
4. You can now run **Tartube**.
It is strongly recommended that you install `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too. On most RHEL-based systems (for example, Fedora 29-32), you can open a terminal window and run these commands:
**sudo dnf -y install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm**
**sudo dnf -y install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm**
**sudo apt-get install ffmpeg**
5.3.3 Install using the AUR package
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Arch-based systems. such as Manjaro, Tartube can be installed using the semi-official AUR package. The procedure is:
1. Open a terminal window
2. Type: ``git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/tartube.git``
3. Type: ``cd tartube``
4. Type: ``makepkg -si``
5. You can now run **Tartube**.
It is strongly recommended that you install `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too. On most Arch-based systems, you can open a terminal window and run this command:
**sudo pacman -S ffmpeg**
5.3.4 Install using the ebuild package
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Gentoo-based systems, **Tartube** can be installed using the semi-official ebuild package, using the link above.
Tartube requires `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__. It is strongly recommended that you install `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too.
If you're not sure how to install using ebuild, then it might be easier to install from PyPI.
5.3.5 Install using PyPI
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Tartube** can be installed from `PyPI <https://pypi.org/project/tartube/>`__ with or without root privileges.
Here is the procedure for Debian-based distributions, like Ubuntu and Linux Mint. The procedure on other distributions is probably very similar.
5.3.6 Install using PyPI (with root privileges)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Make sure **youtube-dl** has been completely removed from your system
2. Type: ``sudo apt install python3-pip``
3. Type: ``sudo pip3 install youtube-dl tartube``
4. Type: ``tartube``
5.3.7 Install using PyPI (without root privileges)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Type: ``sudo apt install python3-pip``
2. Type: ``pip3 install tartube``
3. The **Tartube** executable is stored in **~/.local/bin** by default. If that is already in your path, you can start **Tartube** by typing ``tartube``. Otherwise, type ``~/.local/bin/tartube``
4. **Tartube** asks you to choose a data directory, so do that
5. In the **Tartube** main window, click **Edit > System preferences... > youtube-dl**
6. In the box marked **Actual path to use**, select **Use PyPI path (\~/.local/bin/youtube-dl)**
7. Click **OK** to close the dialogue window
8. Click **Operations > Update youtube-dl**
9. Once the update has finished, **Tartube** is ready for use
5.3.8 Manual installation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For any other method of installation on Linux/BSD, the following dependencies are required:
- `Python 3 <https://www.python.org/downloads>`__
- `Gtk 3 <https://python-gtk-3-tutorial.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`__
- `Python Requests module <https://3.python-requests.org/>`__
- `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__
These dependencies are optional, but recommended:
- `Python pip <https://pypi.org/project/pip/>`__ - keeping youtube-dl up to date is much simpler when pip is installed
- `Python feedparser module <https://pypi.org/project/feedparser/>`__ - enables **Tartube** to detect livestreams
- `Python moviepy module <https://pypi.org/project/moviepy/>`__ - if the website doesn't tell **Tartube** about the length of its videos, moviepy can work it out
- `Python playsound module <https://pypi.org/project/playsound/>`__ - enables **Tartube** to play an alarm when a livestream starts
- `Ffmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__ - required for various video post-processing tasks; see the section below if you want to use FFmpeg
- `AtomicParsley <https://bitbucket.org/wez/atomicparsley/src/default/>`__ - required for embedding thumbnails in audio files
5.3.9 Install from source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After installing dependencies (see above):
1. Download & extract the source code (see the links above)
2. Change directory into the **Tartube** directory
3. Type: ``python3 setup.py install``
4. Type: ``tartube``
5.3.10 Run without installing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After installing dependencies (see above):
1. Download & extract the source code (see the links above)
2. Change directory into the **Tartube** directory
3. Type: ``python3 tartube/tartube``
6 Using Tartube
===============
* `6.1 Choose where to save videos`_
* `6.2 Check youtube-dl is updated`_
* `6.3 Setting youtube-dl's location`_
* `6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv`_
* `6.4.1 On MS Windows`_
* `6.4.2 On Linux/BSD/MacOS`_
* `6.5 Introducing system folders`_
* `6.6 Adding videos`_
* `6.7 Adding channels and playlists`_
* `6.8 Adding videos, channels and playlists together`_
* `6.9 Adding folders`_
* `6.10 Things you can do`_
* `6.11 General download options`_
* `6.12 Other download options`_
* `6.13 Custom downloads`_
* `6.13.1 Independent downloads`_
* `6.13.2 Diverting to HookTube / Invidious`_
* `6.13.3 Delays between downloads`_
* `6.14 Watching videos`_
* `6.15 Filtering and finding videos`_
* `6.16 Marking videos`_
* `6.16.1 Bookmarked videos`_
* `6.16.2 Favourite channels, playlists and folders`_
* `6.17 Combining channels, playlists and folders`_
* `6.17.1 Combining one channel and many playlists`_
* `6.17.2 Combining channels from different websites`_
* `6.17.3 Download all videos to a single folder`_
* `6.18 Archiving videos`_
* `6.19 Managing databases`_
* `6.19.1 Importing videos from other applications`_
* `6.19.2 Multiple databases`_
* `6.19.3 Multiple Tartubes`_
* `6.19.4 Exporting/importing the database`_
* `6.20 Converting to audio`_
* `6.21 Classic Mode`_
* `6.22 Livestreams`_
* `6.22.1 Detecting livestreams`_
* `6.22.2 Customising livestreams`_
* `6.22.3 Livestream notifications`_
* `6.22.4 Compatible websites`_
* `6.23 Detecting missing videos`_
* `6.24 More information about FFmpeg and AVConv`_
* `6.24.1 Using FFmpeg / AVConv with youtube-dl`_
* `6.24.2 Using FFmpeg directly`_
* `6.24.3 Changing the filename`_
* `6.24.4 Changing the video format`_
* `6.24.5 FFmpeg command-line options`_
* `6.25 Using youtube-dl forks`_
6.1 Choose where to save videos
-------------------------------
When you first start **Tartube**, you will be asked to choose where **Tartube** should save its videos.
.. image:: screenshots/example1.png
:alt: Setting Tartube's data folder
Regardless of which location you select, you can change it later, if you need to - see `6.19 Managing databases`_
- In the main menu, click **File > Database preferences...**
- In the new window, check the location of the **Tartube data directory**
- If you want to change it, click the **Change** button
6.2 Check youtube-dl is updated
-------------------------------
*If you installed Tartube via a repository such as the official Debian repository, then Tartube may not be allowed to update youtube-dl, in which case this section does not apply.*
**Tartube** uses **youtube-dl** to interact with websites like YouTube. You should check that **youtube-dl** is also installed and running correctly.
If you are using MS Windows, you will be prompted to install **youtube-dl**; you should click **Yes**.
.. image:: screenshots/example2.png
:alt: Installing youtube-dl on MS Windows
**youtube-dl** is updated every week or so. You can check that **youtube-dl** is installed and up to date:
.. image:: screenshots/example3.png
:alt: Updating youtube-dl
- Click **Operations > Update youtube-dl**
6.3 Setting youtube-dl's location
---------------------------------
If the update operation fails on MS Windows, you should `ask the authors for help <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/>`__.
On other systems, users can modify **Tartube**'s settings. There are several locations on your filesystem where **youtube-dl** might have been installed.
.. image:: screenshots/example4.png
:alt: Updating youtube-dl
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > youtube-dl > File paths**
- Try changing the setting **Actual path to use**
- Try changing the setting **Shell command for update operations**
- Try the update operation again
6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv
------------------------------
`FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__ and `AVConv <https://sourceforge.io/projects/avconv/>`__ are commonly use for various video-processing tasks.
**It is strongly recommended that all users install FFmpeg**. Without it, Tartube won't be able to do any of these things:
- Display thumbnails from **YouTube**
- Download high-resolution videos from any website
- Download certain other video formats
- Convert video files to audio
**youtube-dl** uses FFmpeg by default, but it can use AVConv for certain tasks.
For more information about **Tartube**'s use of Ffmpeg and AVConv, see `6.24 More information about FFmpeg and AVConv`_.
6.4.1 On MS Windows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On MS Windows, the usual methods of FFmpeg installation will not work. You **must** download an Msys2-compatible version of FFmpeg. The quickest way to do this is from **Tartube**'s main menu: click **Operations > Install FFmpeg**.
There is no known method of installing a compatible version of AVConv.
6.4.2 On Linux/BSD/MacOS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On all other operating systems, **Tartube** and **youtube-dl** should be able to use FFmpeg (and AVConv, if it is also installed) without any help from you.
If the FFmpeg / AVConv executables have been installed to an unusual location, you can tell **Tartube** where to find them.
.. image:: screenshots/example5.png
:alt: Updating FFmpeg and AVConv
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > youtube-dl > FFmpeg / AVConv**
- Click the **Set** buttons and select the FFmpeg or AVConv executable
- Click the **Reset** buttons to remove that selection
- Click the the **Use default path** buttons to explictly use the normal location for the executables
6.5 Introducing system folders
------------------------------
On the left side of the **Tartube** window is a list of folders. You can store videos, channels and playlists inside these folders. You can even store folders inside of other folders.
**Tartube** saves videos on your filesystem using exactly the same structure.
.. image:: screenshots/example6.png
:alt: Tartube's system folders
When you start **Tartube** for the first time, there are several folders already visible. You can't remove any of these folders (but you can hide them, if you want).
- The **All Videos** folder shows every video in **Tartube**'s database, whether it has been downloaded or not
- The **Bookmarks** folder shows videos you've bookmarked, because they're interesting or important (see `6.16.1 Bookmarked videos`_ )
- The **Favourite Videos** folder shows videos in a channel, playlist or folder that you've marked as a favourite (see `6.16.2 Favourite channels, playlists and folders`_ )
- The **Livestreams** folder shows livestreams. Videos are automatically removed from this folder (but not from other folders) when the livestream is finished
- The **Missing videos** folder (see `6.23 Detecting missing videos`_ ) shows videos that you've downloaded, but which have since been removed from the website by their creator
- The **New Videos** folder shows videos that have been downloaded, but not yet watched
- The **Waiting Videos** folder shows videos that you want to watch soon. When you watch the video, it's automatically removed from the folder (but not from **Tartube**'s database)
- Videos saved to the **Temporary Videos** folder will be deleted when **Tartube** next starts
- The **Unsorted Videos** folder is a useful place to put videos that don't belong to a particular channel or playlist
6.6 Adding videos
-----------------
*If you want a simpler way to download videos, see* `6.21 Classic Mode`_.
You can add individual videos by clicking the **'Videos'** button near the top of the window. A dialogue window will appear.
.. image:: screenshots/example7.png
:alt: Adding videos
Copy and paste the video's URL into the dialogue window. You can copy and paste as many URLs as you like.
When you're finished, click the **OK** button.
Finally, click on the **Unsorted Videos** folder to see the videos you've added.
.. image:: screenshots/example8.png
:alt: Your first added video
6.7 Adding channels and playlists
---------------------------------
You can also add a whole channel by clicking the **'Channel'** button or a whole playlist by clicking the **'Playlist'** button.
**Tartube** will download all of the videos in the channel or playlist.
.. image:: screenshots/example9.png
:alt: Adding a channel
Copy and paste the channel's URL into the dialogue window. You should also give the channel a name. The channel's name is usually the name used on the website (but you can choose any name you like).
6.8 Adding videos, channels and playlists together
--------------------------------------------------
When adding a long list of URLs, containing a mixture of channels, playlists and individual videos, it's quicker to add them all at the same time. Click the **'Videos'** button near the top of the window, and paste all the links into the dialogue window.
**Tartube** doesn't know anything about these links until you actually download them (or check them). If it's expecting an individual video, but receives a channel or a playlist, **Tartube** will the handle the conversion for you.
By default, **Tartube** converts a link into a channel, when necessary. You can change this behaviour, if you want to.
- In **Tartube**'s main window, click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > URL flexibility**
- Select one of the behaviours listed there
Unfortunately, there is no way for **Tartube** to distinguish a channel from a playlist. Most video websites don't supply that information.
If your list of URLs contains a mixture of channels and playlists, you can convert one to the other after the download has finished.
- In **Tartube**'s main window, right-click a channel, and select **Channel actions > Convert to playlist**
- Alternatively, right-click a playlist, and select **Channel actions > Convert to channel**
- After converting, you can set a name for the new channel/playlist by right-clicking it, and selecting **Channel actions > Rename channel...** or **Playlist actions > Rename playlist...**
6.9 Adding folders
------------------
The left-hand side of the window will quickly still filling up. It's a good idea to create some folders, and to store your channels/playlists inside those folders.
Click the **'Folder'** button near the top of the window, and create a folder called **Comedy**.
.. image:: screenshots/example10.png
:alt: Adding a folder
Then repeat that process to create a folder called **Music**. You can then drag-and-drop your channels and playlists into those folders.
.. image:: screenshots/example11.png
:alt: A channel inside a folder
6.10 Things you can do
----------------------
Once you've finished adding videos, channels, playlists and folders, you can make **Tartube** do something. **Tartube** offers the following operations:
- **Check** - Fetches information about videos, but doesn't download them
- **Download** - Actually downloads the videos. If you have disabled downloads for a particular item, **Tartube** will just fetch information about it instead
- **Custom download** - Downloads videos in a non-standard way; see `6.13 Custom downloads`_
- **Refresh** - Examines your filesystem. If you have manually copied any videos into **Tartube**'s data directory, those videos are added to **Tartube**'s database
- **Update** - Installs or updates **youtube-dl**, as described in `6.2 Check youtube-dl is updated`_. Also installs FFmpeg (on MS Windows only); see `6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv`_
- **Info** - Fetches information about a particular video: either the available video/audio formats, or the available subtitles
- **Tidy** - Tidies up **Tartube**'s data directory, as well as checking that downloaded videos still exist and are not corrupted
.. image:: screenshots/example12.png
:alt: The Check and Download buttons
To **Check** or **Download** videos, channels and playlists, use the main menu, or the buttons near the top of the window, or right-click an individual video, channel or playlist. A **Custom Download** can be started from the main menu or by right-clicking.
To **Refresh** **Tartube**'s database, use the main menu (or right-click a channel/playlist/folder).
**Protip:** Do an **'Update'** operation before you do a **'Check'** or **'Download'** operation
**Protip:** Do a **'Check'** operation before you do **'Refresh'** operation
To fetch **Info** about a video, right-click it.
To **Tidy** the data directory, use the main menu (or right-click a channel/playlist/folder).
6.11 General download options
-----------------------------
**youtube-dl** offers a large number of download options. This is how to set them.
.. image:: screenshots/example13.png
:alt: Opening the download options window
- Click **Edit > General download options...**
A new window opens. Any changes you make in this window aren't actually applied until you click the **'Apply'** or **'OK'** buttons.
6.12 Other download options
---------------------------
Those are the *default* download options. If you want to apply a *different* set of download options to a particular channel or particular playlist, you can do so.
At the moment, the general download options apply to *all* the videos, channels, playlists and folders you've added.
.. image:: screenshots/example14.png
:alt: The window with only general download options applied
Now, suppose you want to apply some download options to the **Music** folder:
- Right-click the folder, and select **Apply download options...**
In the new window, click the **'OK'** button. The options are applied to *everything* in the **Music folder**. A pen icon appears above the folder to remind you of this.
.. image:: screenshots/example15.png
:alt: Download options applied to the Music folder
Now, suppose you want to add a *different* set of download options, but only for the channel **The Beatles**.
- Right-click the channel, and select **Apply download options...**
- In the new window, click the **'OK'** button
The previous set of download options still applies to everything in the **Music** folder, *except* the channel **The Beatles**.
.. image:: screenshots/example16.png
:alt: Download options applied to the Village People channel
6.13 Custom downloads
---------------------
By default, **Tartube** downloads videos as quickly as possible using each video's original web address (URL).
A **Custom download** enables you to modify this behaviour, if desired. It's important to note that a custom download behaves exactly like a regular download until you specify the new behaviour.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**
- Select one or more of the options to enable them
- To start the custom download, click **Operations > Custom download all**
6.13.1 Independent downloads
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By default, **Tartube** instructs the underlying **youtube-dl** software to download from a channel or a playlist; it doesn't actually supply a list of videos in each channel/playlist. **youtube-dl** is perfectly capable of working out that information for itself.
If you need to download videos directly, for any reason, you can:
- Firstly, fetch the list of videos, for example by clicking **Operations > Check all**
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**
- Click **In custom downloads, download each video independently of its channel or playlist** to select it
- You can now start the custom download
6.13.2 Diverting to HookTube / Invidious
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If **Tartube** can't download a video from YouTube, it's sometimes possible to obtain it from an alternative website instead.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**
- Click **In custom downloads, obtain the video from HookTube rather than YouTube** to select it
- You can now start the custom download
This only works when requesting individual videos, not whole channels or playlists. You should normally enable independent downloads as well (as described above)
There are a number of alternative YouTube front-ends available, besides `HookTube <https://hooktube.com/>`__. The original `Invidious <https://invidio.us/>`__ closed in September 2020, but there are a number of mirrors, such as `this one <https://invidious.site/>`__. To get a list of mirrors, `see this page <https://instances.invidio.us/>`__, or use your favourite search engine.
When specifying an alternative website, it's very important that you type the *exact text* that replaces **youtube.com** in a video's URL. For example, you must type **hooktube.com** not **www.hooktube.com** or **http://www.hooktube.com/**.
6.13.3 Delays between downloads
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If a video website is complaining that you are downloading videos too quickly, it's possible to add a delay betwen downloads. The delay can be of a fixed or random duration.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**
- Click **In custom downloads, apply a delay after each video/channel/playlist download** to select it
- Select the maximum delay
- If you also set a minimum delay, **Tartube** uses a random value between these two numbers
- You can now start the custom download
The delay is applied after downloading a channel or a playlist. If you want to apply the delay after each video, you should enable independent downloads as well (as described above).
6.14 Watching videos
--------------------
If you've downloaded a video, you can watch it by clicking the word **Player**.
.. image:: screenshots/example17.png
:alt: Watching a video
If you haven't downloaded the video yet, you can watch it online by clicking the word **Website** or **YouTube**. (One or the other will be visible).
Restricted YouTube videos (not available in your region, or not visible without a Google account) can usually be watched without restrictions on an alternative website, such as `HookTube <https://hooktube.com/>`__ or an Invidious mirror `such as this one <https://invidious.site/>`__.
As mentioned above, the original Invidious has now closed. You can change the Invidious mirror that **Tartube** is using, if you like.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Downloads**
- Enter a new mirror in the box
- You can now watch a video by clicking its **Invidious** label
6.15 Filtering and finding videos
---------------------------------
Beneath the videos you'll find a toolbar. The buttons are self-explanatory, except for the one on the right.
.. image:: screenshots/example18.png
:alt: The video catalogue toolbar
Click that button, and a second row of buttons is revealed. You can use these buttons to filter out videos, change the order in which videos are displayed, or find a video uploaded at a certain date.
.. image:: screenshots/example19.png
:alt: The toolbar's hidden buttons revealed
- Click the **Sort by** button to sort the videos alphabetically
- Click the button again to sort the videos by date of upload
- Click the **Find date** button to select a date. If there are more videos than will fit on a single page, **Tartube** will show the page containing the videos uploaded closest to this date
You can search for videos by applying a filter. For example, you could search for videos whose name contains the word **PewDiePie**:
- In the **Filter** box, type **pewdiepie**
- The search is case-insensitive, so it doesn't matter if you type **PewDiePie** or **pewdiepie**
- Click the magnifiying glass button. All matching videos are displayed
- Click the cancel button next it to remove the filter
You can search using a *regular expression* (regex), too. These searches are also case-insensitive. For example, to find all videos whose name begins with the word "village":
- In the **Filter** box, type **\^village**
- Click the **Regex** button to select it
- Click the magnifying glass button. All matching videos are displayed
- To search using ordinary text, rather than a regex, de-select the **Regex** button
6.16 Marking videos
-------------------
You can mark videos, channels, playlists and folders that you find interesting, or which are important.
- You can **bookmark** a video
- You can **favourite** a channel, playlist or folder
Bookmarked and favourite videos shouldn't be confused with archived videos, which are protected from automatic deletion - see `6.18 Archiving videos`_.
6.16.1 Bookmarked videos
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are several ways to bookmark a video.
- Right-click a video, and click **Video is bookmarked** to select it
- If the **Bookmarked** label is visible under the video's name, click it
- Right-click a channel, and select **Channel contents > Mark as bookmarked**. This will bookmark every video in the channel, but it won't bookmark videos that are added to the channel later
- (This can also be done with playlists and folders)
A bookmarked video appears in **Tartube**'s own **Bookmarks** folder, as well as in its usual location.
6.16.2 Favourite channels, playlists and folders
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you mark a channel, playlist or folder as a favourite, all of its videos will also be visible in **Tartube**'s own **Favourite Videos** folder.
If new videos are later added to the channel, playlist or folder, they will automatically appear in the **Favourite Videos** folder.
(It's possible to mark or unmark an individual video as a favourite, but it's better to use bookmarking for that.)
- Right-click a channel, and select **Channel contents > Mark as favourite**
- Right-click a playlist, and select **Playlist contents > Mark as favourite**
- Right-click a folder, and select **Folder contents > All contents > Mark as favourite**
- If you just want to mark a folder's videos as favourite, and not any channels or playlists it contains, select **Folder contents > Just folder videos > Mark as favourite**
6.17 Combining channels, playlists and folders
----------------------------------------------
**Tartube** can download videos from several channels and/or playlists into a single directory (folder) on your computer's hard drive. There are three situations in which this might be useful:
- A channel has several playlists. You have added both the channel and its playlists to **Tartube**'s database, but you don't want to download duplicate videos
- A creator releases their videos on **BitChute** as well as on **YouTube**. You have added both channels, but you don't want to download duplicate videos
- You don't care about keeping videos in separate directories/folders on your filesystem. You just want to download all videos to one place
6.17.1 Combining one channel and many playlists
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A creator might have a single channel, and several playlists. The playlists contain videos from that channel (but not necessarily *every* video).
You can add the channel and its playlists in the normal way but, if you do, **Tartube** will download many videos twice.
The solution is to tell **Tartube** to store all the videos from the channel and its playlists in a single location. In that way, you can still see a list of videos in each playlist, but duplicate videos are not actually downloaded to your filesystem.
- Click **Media > Add channel**..., and then enter the channel's details
- Click **Media > Add playlist**... for each playlist
- Now, right-click on each playlist in turn and select **Playlist actions > Set download destination...**
- In the dialogue window, click **Choose a different directory/folder**, select the name of the channel, then click the **OK button**
6.17.2 Combining channels from different websites
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A creator might release their videos on **YouTube**, but also on a site like **BitChute**. Sometimes they will only release a particular video on **BitChute**.
You can add both channels in the normal way but, if you do, **Tartube** will download many videos twice.
The solution is to tell **Tartube** to store videos from both channels in a single location. In that way, you can still see a list of videos in each channel, but duplicate videos are not actually downloaded to your filesystem.
- Click **Media > Add channel**..., and then enter the **YouTube** channel's details
- Click **Media > Add channel**..., and then enter the **BitChute** channel's details
- Right-click the **BitChute** channel and select **Channel actions > Set download destination...**
- In the dialogue window, click **Choose a different directory/folder**, select the name of the **YouTube** channel, then click the **OK button**
It doesn't matter which of the two channels you use as the download destination. There is also no limit to the number of parallel channels, so if a creator uploads videos to a dozen different websites, you can add them all.
6.17.3 Download all videos to a single folder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you don't care about keeping videos in separate directories/folders on your filesystem, you can download *all* videos into the **Unsorted videos** folder. Regardless of whether you have added one channel or a thousand, all the videos will be stored in that one place.
- Click **Edit > General download options... > Files > Filesystem**
- Click the **Download all videos into this folder** button to select it
- In the combo next to it, select **Unsorted Videos**
Alternatively, you could select **Temporary Videos**. If you do, videos will be deleted when you shut down **Tartube** (and will not be re-downloaded in the future).
6.18 Archiving videos
---------------------
You can tell **Tartube** to automatically delete videos after some period of time. This is useful if you don't have an infinitely large hard drive.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Filesystem > Video Deletion**
- Click the **Automatically delete downloaded videos after this many days** button to select it
- If you want to, change the number of days from 30 to some other value
If you want to protect your favourite videos from being deleted automatically, you can *archive* them. Only videos that have actually been downloaded can be archived.
- Right-click a video, and select **Video is archived**
You can also archive all the videos in a channel, playlist or folder.
- For example, right-click a folder and select **Channel contents > Mark videos as archived**
- This action applies to *all* videos that are *currently* in the folder, including the contents of any channels and playlists in that folder
- It doesn't apply to any videos you might download in the future
6.19 Managing databases
-----------------------
**Tartube** downloads all of its videos into a single directory (folder) - the **Tartube data directory**. The contents of this directory comprise the **Tartube database**.
*You should not use this directory (folder) for any other purpose*.
**Tartube** stores important files here, some of which are invisible (by default). Don't let other applications store their files here, too.
*You can modify the contents of the directory yourself, if you want, but don't do it while **Tartube** is running.*
It's fine to add new videos to the database, or to remove them. Just be careful that you don't delete any sub-directories (folders), including those which are hidden, and don't modify the **Tartube** database file, **tartube.db**.
6.19.1 Importing videos from other applications
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Tartube** is a GUI front-end for `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__, but it is not the only one. If you've downloaded videos using another application, this is how to add them to **Tartube**'s database.
- In **Tartube**'s main window, add each channel and playlist in the normal way
- When you're ready, click the **Check all** button. This adds a list of videos to **Tartube**'s database, without actually downloading the videos themselves
- Copy the video files into **Tartube**'s data directory (folder). For example, copy all your **PewDiePie** videos into **../tartube-data/downloads/PewDiePie**
- In the **Tartube** menu, click **Operations > Refresh database**. **Tartube** will search for video files, and try to match them with the contents of its database
- The whole process might some time, so be patient
6.19.2 Multiple databases
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Tartube** can only use one database at a time, but you can create as many as you want.
For example, if you've just bought an external hard drive, you can create a new database on that hard drive.
- In the main menu, click **File > Database preferences...**
- In the new window, click the **Change** button
- Another new window appears. Use it to create a directory (folder) on your external hard drive
**Tartube** remembers the location of the databases it has loaded. To switch back to your original database:
- In the main menu, click **File > Database preferences...**
- In the list, click the path to the original database to select it
- Click the **Switch** button
6.19.3 Multiple Tartubes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Tartube** can't load more than one database, but you can run as many instances of **Tartube** as you want.
If you have added three databases to the list, and if you have three **Tartube** windows open at the same time, then by default each window will be using a different database.
By default, the databases are loaded in the order they appear in the list.
6.19.4 Exporting/importing the database
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can export the contents of **Tartube**'s database and, at any time in the future, import that information into a different **Tartube** database, perhaps on a different computer.
It is important to note that *only a list of videos, channels, playlists, folders are exported*. The videos themselves are not exported, and neither are any thumbnail, description or metadata files.
- Click **Media > Export from database**
- In the dialogue window, choose what you want to export
- If you want a list of videos, channels and playlists that you can edit by hand, select the **Export as plain text** option
- Click the **OK** button, then select where to save the export file
It is safe to share this export file with other people. It doesn't contain any personal information.
This is how to import the data into a different **Tartube** database.
- Click **Media > Import into database > JSON export file** or **Media > Import into database > Plain text export file**
- Select the export file you created earlier
- A dialogue window will appear. You can choose how much of the database you want to import
6.20 Converting to audio
------------------------
**Tartube** can automatically extract the audio from its downloaded videos, if that's what you want.
The first step is to make sure that either FFmpeg or AVconv is installed on your system - see `6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv`_.
The remaining steps are simple:
- In **Tartube**'s main window, click **Edit > General download options...**
In the new window, if the **Sound only** tab is visible, do this:
- Click the **Sound Only** tab
- Select the checkbox **Download each video, extract the sound, and then discard the original videos**
- In the boxes below, select an audio format and an audio quality
- Click the **OK** button at the bottom of the window to apply your changes
If the **Post-process** tab is visible, do this:
- Click on the **Post-process** tab
- Select the checkbox **Post-process video files to convert them to audio-only files**
- If you want, click the button **Keep video file after post-processing it** to select it
- In the box labelled **Audio format of the post-processed file**, specify what type of audio file you want - **.mp3**, **.wav**, etc
- Click the **OK** button at the bottom of the window to apply your changes
N.B. Many video websites, such as **YouTube**, allow you to download the audio (in **.m4a** format) directly, without downloading the whole video, and without using FFmpeg or AVconv.
- In **Tartube**'s main window, click **Edit > General download options... > Formats**
- In the list on the left-hand side, select an **.m4a** format
- Click the **Add format >>>** button to add it to the list
- Click the **OK** button at the bottom of the window to apply your changes
6.21 Classic Mode
-----------------
**Tartube** compiles a database of the videos, channels and playlists it has downloaded.
If you want something simpler, then you can click the **Classic Mode** Tab for an interface that looks just like `youtube-dl-gui <https://mrs0m30n3.github.io/youtube-dl-gui/>`__.
.. image:: screenshots/example20.png
:alt: The Classic Mode Tab
- Copy and paste the URLs of videos, channels and/or playlists into the box at the top
- Click the **+** button to select a directory (folder). All the videos are downloaded into this directory
- Select a video or audio format, or leave the **Default** setting enabled
- Click the **Add URLs** button
- If you like, you can add more videos/channels/playlists, using a different directory and/or a different format
- When you're ready, click the **Download all** button
**Tartube** doesn't add any of these videos to its database. When you restart **Tartube**, all of the URLs will be gone. However, the videos themselves will still be on your hard drive.
Because the videos aren't in a database, you can move them anywhere you want (once you've finished downloading them).
**PROTIP:** If you *only* use this tab, you can tell **Tartube** to open it automatically. Click **Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Tabs** and select **When Tartube starts, automatically open the Classic Mode Tab**.
6.22 Livestreams
----------------
Since v2.1.0, **Tartube** has been able to detect livestreams, and to notify you when they start.
This feature is EXPERIMENTAL, has only been tested on **YouTube**, and may not work as intended.
Livestream detection does not work at all on 32-bit MS Windows.
6.22.1 Detecting livestreams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Tartube** searches for livestreams whenever you check or download channels and playlists.
Livestreams are easy to spot. A livestream that hasn't started yet has a red background. A livestream that's streaming now has a green background. (Livestreams that have stopped broadcasting have a normal background.)
.. image:: screenshots/example21.png
:alt: The main window with livestreams visible
Every few minutes, **Tartube** checks whether a livestream has started or stopped. This happens automatically in the background; there is no need for you to do anything.
6.22.2 Customising livestreams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can modify how often livestreams are checked (and whether they are checked at all). Click **Livestreams > Livestream preferences...**.
.. image:: screenshots/example22.png
:alt: Livestream preferences
For technical reasons, there are practical limits to what **Tartube** can detect. On busy channels, **Tartube** may not be able to detect livestreams that were announced some time ago. Even if you change the number of days from 7 to a very large number, there is no guarantee that **Tartube** will detect everything. (If you change the value to 0, **Tartube** will only detect livestreams that are listed before any ordinary videos.)
By default, **Tartube** checks a livestream every three minutes, waiting for it to start (or stop). Decreasing this period might not be a good idea; it's possible that the website will think you are spamming.
If you keep missing the start of your favourite livetreams, pester the creators until they add a short countdown. If you want to force a check, in the main window click **Livestreams > Update existing livestreams**.
A **Tartube** installation includes a number of sound effects. You can choose the one you want to use as an alarm. If you want to add your own sound effects, find the directory (folder) where Tartube is installed, copy the new **.mp3** or **.wav** files into **../sounds**, and restart **Tartube.**
6.22.3 Livestream notifications
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tartube can notify you when a livestream starts. (**Desktop notifications** do not work on MS Windows yet.)
The preferences window shows the actions **Tartube** takes by default. These preference are applied to a livestream as soon as it is detected.
Most users will prefer to leave the checkboxes unselected, and instead set up notifications only for the livestreams they want to see.
.. image:: screenshots/example23.png
:alt: Some example livestreams
- Click **Notify** to show a desktop notification when the stream starts (does not work on MS Windows)
- Click **Alarm** to sound an alarm when the stream starts
- Click **Open** to open the stream in your web browser as soon as it starts
- If you think the stream might be removed from the website, you can click **D/L on start** or **D/L on stop**. If you click both of them, **Tartube** will download the video twice. (Think of the first one as a backup, in case the second download doesn't succeed.)
To disable any of these actions, simply click the same label again.
**NOTE:** At the time of writing (April 2020), youtube-dl cannot download livestreams while they are broadcasting. Hopefully this is a **youtube-dl** issue that will be fixed in due course.
6.22.4 Compatible websites
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Tartube**'s livestream detection has only been tested on **YouTube**. It's possible that it might work on other websites, if they behave in the same way. Here is how to set it up.
Firstly, find the RSS feed for the channel or playlist. You may have to use a search engine to find out how to do that. (For **YouTube** channels/playlists, **Tartube** finds the feed for you automatically.)
Secondly, right-click the channel and select **Show > Channel properties...** (alternatively, right-click a playlist and select **Show > Playlist properties...**
Now click the **RSS feed** tab. Enter the address (URL) of the RSS feed in the box. Click the **OK** button to close the window.
6.23 Detecting missing videos
-----------------------------
**Tartube** can detect videos you have downloaded, but which have been since deleted by the original uploader.
This feature is EXPERIMENTAL and may not work as intended.
* Click Edit > System preferences... > youtube-dl > Preferences
* Click the button **Add videos which have been removed from a channel/playlist to the Missing Videos folder** to select it
Having enabled detection, removed videos will appear in the **Missing Videos** folder. To empty that folder, right-click it and select **Folder contents > All contents > Mark as not missing**.
**Tartube** only detects missing videos when checking/downloading whole channels or playlists. If you interrupt a download, no detection occurs.
6.24 More information about FFmpeg and AVConv
---------------------------------------------
6.24.1 Using FFmpeg / AVConv with youtube-dl
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you explicitly set the location of the FFmpeg and/or AVConv executables, then those locations are passed on to youtube-dl when you check or download videos.
If *both* locations are set, only one of them is passed on. Usually, that's the location of FFmpeg. However, if you specify the **prefer_avconv** download option, then that is passed on, instead.
- Click **Edit > General download options...**
- In the new window, if the **Show advanced download options** button is visible, click it
- Now click the **Post-processing** tab
- Click the **Prefer AVConv over FFmpeg** button to select it
- Make sure the **Prefer FFmpeg over AVConv (default)** button is not selected
- Click **OK** to apply your changes
For more information about download options, see `6.11 General download options`_.
6.24.2 Using FFmpeg directly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can call FFmpeg directly, if you want to. (It only works on videos you have actually downloaded.)
This is useful for converting a video file from one format to another, and many other tasks.
- Click a video, or select several videos together
- Right-click them and select **Process with FFmpeg...**
- In the new dialogue window, select some FFmpeg options
.. image:: screenshots/example24.png
:alt: The FFmpeg options window
6.24.3 Changing the filename
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first three boxes allow you to change the video's filename. *This might take a very long time, if you don't add options in the other boxes, too.*
The first box allows you to add some text to the end of the filename, something like **modified**, perhaps.
The second and third boxes allow you to search and replace inside the filename.
In the box **If regex matches filename**, you can enter a regular expression (regex). If the pattern matches the filename, the matching portion is substituted for whatever you put in the box **...then apply substitution**.
If you're familiar with regular expressions, then this should need no further explanation: it's a perfectly ordinary regex substitution.
If not, then there are unlimited tutorials available online. Here's a simple example. To replace the word **rabbit** with **dinosaur**, in every filename that contains it, enter **rabbit** in the regex box and **dinosaur** in the substitution box.
6.24.4 Changing the video format
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Converting a video from one format to another is as simple as adding the text **avi** or **mkv** or any other valid video format to the box **Change file extension**,
6.24.5 FFmpeg command-line options
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The last box allows you to specify FFmpeg options directly. For example, to convert the framerate of some videos to 24 fps, enter the following text into the box at the bottom:
**-r 24**
6.25 Using youtube-dl forks
---------------------------
`youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__ is open-source software, and there are a number of forks available (for example, `youtube-dlc <https://github.com/blackjack4494/youtube-dlc>`__).
If a youtube-dl fork is still compatible with the original, then **Tartube** can use it instead of the original.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > youtube-dl**
- In the box **youtube-dl compatible fork to use**, enter **youtube-dlc** (or the name of the fork)
- Click **OK** to close the preferences window
- Now click **Operations > Update youtube-dlc**, which will download (or update) the fork on your system
To switch back to using the original youtube-dl, just empty the same box.
7 Frequently-Asked Questions
============================
* `7.1 Tartube won't install/won't run/doesn't work`_
* `7.2 Tartube crashes a lot`_
* `7.3 "Download did not start" error`_
* `7.4 Can't download a video`_
* `7.5 Downloads never finish`_
* `7.6 Videos are missing after a crash`_
* `7.7 Tartube database is broken`_
* `7.8 'Check all' button takes too long`_
* `7.9 'Download all' button takes too long`_
* `7.10 Videos downloaded to inconvenient location`_
* `7.11 Tartube database file is getting in the way`_
* `7.12 Duplicate video names`_
* `7.13 Convert video to audio`_
* `7.14 FFmpeg fails to merge video/audio into single file`_
* `7.15 Too many folders in the main window`_
* `7.16 Not enough videos in the main window`_
* `7.17 Toolbar is too small`_
* `7.18 Toolbar is too big`_
* `7.19 YouTube name/password not accepted`_
* `7.20 Georestriction workarounds don't work`_
* `7.21 MS Windows installer is too big`_
* `7.22 Tartube can't detect livestreams`_
* `7.23 Livestream start time not visible`_
* `7.24 Livestream is already finished`_
* `7.25 Can't hear livestream alarms`_
* `7.26 Some icons not visible`_
* `7.27 Video thumbnails not visible`_
* `7.28 Tartube is not visible in the system tray`_
* `7.29 Tartube is not portable`_
* `7.30 Tartube hangs on videos with unicode characters`_
* `7.31 British spelling`_
* `7.32 No puedo hablar inglés`_
7.1 Tartube won't install/won't run/doesn't work
------------------------------------------------
*Q: I can't install Tartube / I can't run Tartube / Tartube doesn't work properly!*
A: Please report any problems to the authors at our `Github page <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>`__.
A: Tartube is known to fail on Windows 7 systems that have not been updated for some time. The solution is to install `this patch from Microsoft <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26767>`__. The simplest way to install the patch is to let Windows update itself, as normal.
A: On Linux, if the DEB or RPM package doesn't work, try installing via PyPI.
7.2 Tartube crashes a lot
-------------------------
*Q: I can install and run Tartube, but it keeps crashing!*
A: Tartube uses the Gtk graphics library. This library is notoriously unreliable and may even cause crashes.
If stability is a problem, you can disable some minor cosmetic features. **Tartube**'s functionality is not affected. You can do anything, even when the cosmetic features are disabled.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > General > Stability**
- Click **Assume that Gtk is broken, and disable those features anyway** to select it
Another option is to reduce the number of simultaneous downloads. (On crash-prone systems, two simultaneous downloads seems to be safe, but four is rather less safe.)
- In the main window, click the **Progress** Tab
- At the bottom of the tab, click the **Max downloads** checkbutton to select it, and reduce the number of simultaneous downloads to 1 or 2
- (It's not necessary to reduce the download speed; this has no effect on stability)
7.3 "Download did not start" error
----------------------------------
*Q: When I try to download videos, nothing happens! In the Errors/Warnings tab, I can see "Download did not start"!*
A: See `6.3 Setting youtube-dl's location`_
7.4 Can't download a video
--------------------------
*Q: I can't download my favourite video!*
A: Make sure **youtube-dl** is updated; see `6.2 Check youtube-dl is updated`_
Before submitting a `bug report <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>`__, find out whether **Tartube** is responsible for the problem, or not. You can do this by opening a terminal window, and typing something like this:
**youtube-dl <url>**
...where **\<url\>** is the address of the video. If the video downloads successfully, then it's a **Tartube** problem that you can report. If it doesn't download, you should submit a bug report to the authors of `youtube-dl <https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues>`__ instead.
Because most people don't like typing, **Tartube** offers a shortcut.
- Click **Operations > Test youtube-dl**, or right-click a video, and select **Downloads > Test system command**
- In the dialogue window, enter the address (URL) of the video
- You can add more **youtube-dl** download options, if you want. See `here <https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/>`__ for a complete list of them
- Click the **OK** button to close the window and begin the test
- Click the **Output** Tab to watch the test as it progresses
- When the test is finished, a temporary directory (folder) opens, containing anything that **youtube-dl** was able to download
7.5 Downloads never finish
--------------------------
*Q: I clicked the 'Download all' button and it starts, but never finishes!*
A: This generally indicates an error in the Python, Gtk and/or **Tartube** code. If you're running **Tartube** from a terminal window, you should be able to see the error, which you can report on `our GitHub page <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>`__.
There are two things you can try in the meantime:
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > General > Modules**, and select the **Assume that Gtk is broken, and disable some features** box
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Filesystem > DB Errors**, and then click the **Check** button
7.6 Videos are missing after a crash
------------------------------------
*Q: After I downloaded some videos, Tartube crashed, and now all my videos are missing!*
A: **Tartube** creates a backup copy of its database, before trying to save a new copy. In the unlikely event of a failure, you can replace the broken database file with the backup file.
- Open the data directory (folder). If you're not sure where to find **Tartube**'s data directory , you can click **Edit > System preferences... > Filesystem > Database**
- Make sure **Tartube** is not running. The **Tartube** window is sometimes minimised, and sometimes only visible in the system tray. A good way to make sure is to run **Tartube**, then close it by clicking **File > Quit**
- In the data directory is the broken **tartube.db** file. You should rename to something else, in case you want to examine it later
- In the same directory, you might be able to see a directory called **.backups**
- If **.backups** is not visible, then it is hidden. (On many Linux and BSD systems, pressing **CTRL + H** will reveal hidden folders)
- Inside the **.backups** directory, you'll find some backup copies of the database file
- Choose the most recent one, copy it into the directory above, and rename the copy as **tartube.db**, replacing the old broken file
- Restart **Tartube**
- Click the **Check All** button. **Tartube** will update its database with any videos you've downloaded that were not in the backup database file
**Tartube** can make more frequent backups of your database file, if you want. See the options in **Edit > System preferences... > Filesystem > Backups**.
Note that **Tartube** does not create backup copies of the videos you've downloaded. That is your responsibility!
7.7 Tartube database is broken
------------------------------
*Q: The Tartube database is totally broken! How do I rebuild it? I don't want to download everything again!*
A: There is a built-in database repair tool. Click **Edit > System preferences... > Filesystem > DB Errors** and then click the **Check DB** button
A: Try using one of the database backups - see `7.6 Videos are missing after a crash`_
A: Earlier versions of **Tartube** did in fact introduce occasional blips into the database. It's possible (though unlikely) that some blips still exist. If you really want to rebuild the database from scratch, this is how to do it.
Firstly, click **Media > Export from database**. In the dialogue window, it's not necessary to select the button **Include lists of videos**. Click the **OK** button. Let Tartube create the backup file. You now have a backup of the names and URLs for every channel/playlist you've added.
Tartube's data folder contains the database file, **tartube.db**. Rename it (don't delete it).
Now you can restart Tartube. Tartube will create a brand new database file.
Click **Media > Import into database > JSON export file**. Import the file you created moments ago.
All the channels/playlists should now be visible in the main window. Click the **Check All** button in the bottom-left corner and wait for it to finish.
Your new database now contains information about all the videos, but it doesn't know that most of those videos have been downloaded already. Click **Operations > Refresh database...** to take care of that.
7.8 'Check all' button takes too long
-------------------------------------
*Q: I clicked the 'Check all' button, but the operation takes so long! It only found two new videos!*
A: By default, the underlying **youtube-dl** software checks an entire channel, even if it contains hundreds of videos.
You can drastically reduce the time this takes by telling **Tartube** to stop checking/downloading videos, if it receives (for example) notifications for three videos it has already checked/downloaded.
This works well on sites like YouTube, which send information about videos in the order they were uploaded, newest first. We can't guarantee it will work on every site.
- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Performance**
- Select the checkbox **Stop checking/downloading a channel/playlist when it starts sending vidoes we already have**
- In the **Stop after this many videos (when checking)** box, enter the value 3
- In the **Stop after this many videos (when downloading)** box, enter the value 3
- Click **OK** to close the window
7.9 'Download all' button takes too long
----------------------------------------
*Q: I clicked the 'Download all' button, but the operation takes so long! It only downloaded two new videos!*
A: **youtube-dl** can create an archive file especially for the purpose of speeding up downloads, when some of your channels and playlists have no new videos to download, but when others do.
To enable this functionality, click **Edit > System preferences... > youtube-dl > Allow youtube-dl to create its own archive**. The functionality is enabled by default.
7.10 Videos downloaded to inconvenient location
-----------------------------------------------
*Q: Tartube always downloads its channels and playlists into ../tartube-data/downloads. Why doesn't it just download directly into ../tartube-data?*
A: This was implemented in v1.4.0. If you installed an earlier version of **Tartube**, you don't need to take any action; **Tartube** can cope with both the old and new file structures.
If you installed an earlier version of **Tartube**, and if you want to move your channels and playlists out of **../tartube-data/downloads**, this is how to do it:
- Open the data directory (folder). If you're not sure where to find **Tartube**'s data directory, you can click **Edit > System preferences... > Filesystem > Database**.
- Make sure **Tartube** is not running. The **Tartube** window is sometimes minimised, and sometimes only visible in the system tray. A good way to make sure is to run **Tartube**, then close it by clicking **File > Quit**
- Now open the **downloads** directory
- Move everything inside that directory into the directory above, e.g. move everything from **../tartube-data/downloads** into **../tartube-data**
- Delete the empty **downloads** directory
- You can now restart **Tartube**
7.11 Tartube database file is getting in the way
------------------------------------------------
*Q: Tartube stores its database file in the same place as its videos. Why can't I store them in different places?*
A: This question has been asked by several people who were storing their videos on some remote filesystem (perhaps in the so-called 'cloud'). They found that the videos could be downloaded to that remote location, but that Tartube couldn't save its database file there.
At the moment, the answer is "**Tartube** is working fine, fix your own computer". Perhaps in the future, someone will think of an urgent need for the database file and the data folder to be split up. Until then, there are a number of good reasons for keeping them together:
- If the database file exists in the folder, **Tartube** can be confident that it's downloading videos to the place you actually intended
- If **Tartube** can't read/write its own database file, that probably means that it won't be possible to store any videos, thumbnails, descriptions, and so on
- **Tartube** actually creates a number of temporary files at this location, most of which are invisible but need to be in the same place as the videos
- If you want to move your videos from one location to another, it's easy - just move a single directory (folder) and everything it contains. There is no need to reconfigure anything; just tell **Tartube** where to find the new directory (folder)
- Splitting up the data folder and the database file would require a lot of code to be rewritten, and this would probably introduce lots of new bugs
7.12 Duplicate video names
--------------------------
*Q: I downloaded a channel, but some of the videos in the channel have the same name. Tartube only downloads one of them!*
A: Tartube can save the video files using a multitude of different filename formats. Video names might be identical, but the video IDs are unique, so you can add the ID to the filename.
- Click **Edit > General download options... > Files > File names**
- In the box **Format for video file names**, select **Title + ID**
- Click **OK** to close the window
7.13 Convert video to audio
---------------------------
*Q: I want to convert the video files to audio files!*
A: See `6.20 Converting to audio`_
7.14 FFmpeg fails to merge video/audio into single file
-------------------------------------------------------
*Q: I downloaded a video and expected a single video file, instead Tartube downloaded several files, none of which are playable!*
*Q: I set the download option 'If a merge is required after post-processing, output to this format', but it doesn't work!*
A: The solution to both problems is to install FFmpeg, and to set the output format correctly.
Firstly, make sure FFmpeg is installed on your system - see `6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv`_.
Secondly, set your desired output format. Open the Download options window (for example, click **Edit > General download options... > Formats > Preferred**). Add a format like **mp4** to the **List of preferred formats**, then add the same format to **If a merge is required after post-processing, output to this format**.
For some reason, youtube-dl ignores the download option unless the format is specified in both places. (You will see a warning if you forget.)
.. image:: screenshots/example25.png
:alt: The Download options window
7.15 Too many folders in the main window
----------------------------------------
*Q: The main window is full of folders I never use! I can't see my own channels, playlists and folders!*
A: Right-click the folders you don't want to see, and select **Folder actions > Hide folder**. To reverse this step, in the main menu click **Media > Show hidden folders**
A: In the main menu, click **Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window > Show smaller icons in the Video Index** to select it
A: If you have many channels and playlists, create a folder, and then drag-and-drop the channels/playlists into it
7.16 Not enough videos in the main window
-----------------------------------------
*Q: I want to see all the videos on a single page, not spread over several pages!*
A: At the bottom of the **Tartube** window, set the page size to zero, and press **ENTER**.
7.17 Toolbar is too small
-------------------------
*Q: The toolbar is too small! There isn't enough room for all the buttons!*
A: Click **Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window > Don't show labels in the toolbar**.
MS Windows users can already see a toolbar without labels.
7.18 Toolbar is too big
-----------------------
*Q: The toolbar is too big! Make it go away!*
A: Click **Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window > Don't show the main window toolbar**. The setting is applied when you restart **Tartube**.
7.19 YouTube name/password not accepted
---------------------------------------
*Q: I added my YouTube username and password, but I am still seeing authentification errors!*
A: The questioner is talking about the settings in **Edit > General download options... > Advanced**.
This is a `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__ issue. A general solution is described in `this post <https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/21313#issuecomment-499496235>`__.
The solution describes how to create a cookies.txt file, which can be specified as a download option.
Having created the file, in the same edit window, click the **General** tab. In the box labelled **Extra youtube-dl command options**, you can add:
**--cookies=YT-cookies.txt**
See also the **Tartube** thread `here <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues/68>`__.
7.20 Georestriction workarounds don't work
------------------------------------------
*Q: I want to download a video, but it's blocked in my region. I set the geostriction workarounds, but I still can't download the video!*
A: **youtube-dl** provides some options for bypassing region-blocking. These options are visible by clicking **Edit > General download options...**, then click the **Show advanced download options** button if it's visible, then click the tabs **Advanced > Geo-restriction**.
Unfortunately, although these options exist, websites are not compelled to respect them. **YouTube**, in particular, will completely ignore them.
In many cases, the only remedy is to pay for a subscription to a `VPN <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network>`__.
7.21 MS Windows installer is too big
------------------------------------
*Q: Why is the Windows installer so big?*
A: **Tartube** is a Linux application. The installer for MS Windows contains not just **Tartube** itself, but a copy of Python and a whole bunch of essential graphics libraries, all of them ported to MS Windows.
If you're at all suspicious that such a small application uses such a large installer, you are invited to examine the installed files for yourself:
**C:\\Users\\YOURNAME\\AppData\\Local\\Tartube**
(You might need to enable hidden folders; this can be done from the Control Panel.)
Everything is copied into this single folder. The installer doesn't modify the Windows registry, nor does it copy files anywhere else (other than to the desktop and the Start Menu).
The NSIS scripts used to create the installers can be found here:
**C:\\Users\\YOURNAME\\AppData\\Local\\Tartube\\msys64\\home\\user\\tartube\\nsis**
The scripts contain full instructions, so you should be able to create your own installer, and compare it with the official one.
7.22 Tartube can't detect livestreams
-------------------------------------
*Q: Tartube can't detect upcoming livestreams at all!*
A: Livestream detection is experimental, has only been tested on **YouTube**, and may not be reliable. It does not work at all on 32-bit MS Windows. See `6.22 Livestreams`_.
A: Click **Edit > System preferences... General > Modules**.
If the `Python feedparser module <https://pypi.org/project/feedparser/>`__ is not available, you can install it via PyPI. On Linux/BSD, the command to use is something like:
**pip3 install feedparser**
The Tartube installer for 64-bit MS Windows already contains a copy of **feedparser**, so there is no need to install it again.
7.23 Livestream start time not visible
--------------------------------------
*Q: Why doesn't Tartube show the start time for livestreams?*
A: Popular video websites like **YouTube** do not provide that information.
7.24 Livestream is already finished
-----------------------------------
*Q: Tartube is showing a livestream that finished hours/days/centuries ago!*
A: Right-click the video and select **Livestream > Not a livestream**.
7.25 Can't hear livestream alarms
---------------------------------
*Q: I set an alarm for an upcoming livestream, but I didn't hear anything!*
A: Obviously you have already checked that your speakers are turned on, so now click **Edit > System preferences... General > Modules**.
If the `Python playsound module <https://pypi.org/project/playsound/>`__ is not available, you can install it via PyPI. On Linux/BSD, the command to use is something like:
**pip3 install playsound**
The Tartube installer for 64-bit MS Windows already contains a copy of **playsound**, so there is no need to install it again.
7.26 Some icons not visible
---------------------------
*Q: Icons in the Videos tab are broken! They all look the same!*
*Q: Icons in the Classic Mode tab are broken! They all look the same!*
A: **Tartube** uses a set of stock icons wherever possible. If those icons are not installed on your system, you should probably report the problem to the developers of that system (as many applications will be affected).
**Tartube** provides a set of custom icons to replace the stock ones. To enable them, click **Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window** and then click **Replace stock icons with custom icons (in case stock icons are not visible)** to select it. Click the **OK** button to close the window, then restart **Tartube**.
7.27 Video thumbnails not visible
---------------------------------
*Q: Tartube doesn't download video thumbnails any more! It used to work fine!*
A: In June 2020, **YouTube** changed its image format from **.jpg** to **.webp**. Unfortunately, most software (including the graphics libraries used by **Tartube**) don't support **.webp** images yet. Worse still, **YouTube** begain sending **.webp** thumbnails mislabelled as **.jpg**.
In September 2020, **Tartube** and **youtube-dl** added separate fixes for this problem. These fixes both depend on `FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, so they won't work if FFmpeg is not installed on your system - see `6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv`_.
If you have already downloaded a lot of **.webp** images, you can ask **Tartube** to convert them back to **.jpg**. Once converted, they will be visible in the main window.
* Click **Operations > Tidy up files...**
* In the dialogue window, click **Convert .webp files to .jpg using FFmpeg** to select it, then click the **OK** button
7.28 Tartube is not visible in the system tray
----------------------------------------------
*Q: Tartube is not visible in the system tray! There is just an empty space where the Tartube icon should be!*
A: This problem exists on certain Linux desktop environments (e.g. `Cinnamon <https://github.com/linuxmint/Cinnamon>`__) which have still not fixed an ancient bug. Other desktop environments (e.g. `MATE <https://mate-desktop.org/>`__) display the icon correctly.
7.29 Tartube is not portable
----------------------------
*Q: I want to install Tartube on a USB stick. How do I make Tartube portable?*
A: On MS Windows, download the portable edition rather than the usual installer - see `5.1 Installation - MS Windows`_.
On other operating systems, just download the source code and run it. Installation is not necessary (as long as you have installed the correct dependencies). See `5.3.10 Run without installing`_.
On other operating systems, **Tartube** will attempt to create a config file in the default location for your system. You should create an empty **settings.json** file in the source code directory (i.e. the one containing a **setup.py** file). This will force Tartube to save its config file there, rather tha in the system's default location.
7.30 Tartube hangs on videos with unicode characters
----------------------------------------------------
*Q: All the videos in my favourite channel have names that contain emojis! When I try to check the channel, Tartube hangs indefinitely!*
A: Apologies; the authors have not been able to reproduce this problem, and do not know how to fix it.
7.31 British spelling
---------------------
*Q: These British spellings are getting on my nerves!*
A: Click **Edit > System preferences...**. Click the drop-down box and select American English, and then restart **Tartube**
7.32 No puedo hablar inglés
---------------------------
*Q: ¡No puedo usar YouTube porque no hablo inglés!*
A: Necesitamos más traductores.
If you would like to contribute a translation of this project, please read `this document <docs/translate.rst>`__.
8 Contributing
==============
- Report a bug: Use the Github
`issues <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>`__ page
9 Authors
=========
See the `AUTHORS <AUTHORS>`__ file.
10 License
==========
**Tartube** is licensed under the `GNU General Public License v3.0 <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html>`__.
✨🍰✨