# Saving Audiofiles From YouTube **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581 "2016-05-11T23:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/1 "2016-05-11T23:04:20Z")
Years ago, I bought an album, on cassette. Due to personal differences, the artists will never release this again, in any format. And my cassette broke. But all the songs exist on YouTube. Can I, legally copy this songs? Also, where can I get a download of safe, free, software to do this with? Attention Mods– I bought a copy, so this would not be a copyright infringement. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/2 "2016-05-11T23:10:06Z")
Can’t speak to the legal issues but I use [www.youtube-mp3.org](http://www.youtube-mp3.org). Just copy the youtube link over to that site and it’ll turn it into a downloadable mp3. Works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/3 "2016-05-11T23:48:42Z")
From [Youtube Terms of Service](https://www.youtube.com/static?gl=GB&template=terms), 5 L > [@](#): > > 5 L you agree not to access Content for any reason other than your personal, non-commercial use solely as intended through and permitted by the normal functionality of the Service, and solely for Streaming. “Streaming” means a contemporaneous digital transmission of the material by YouTube via the Internet to a user operated Internet enabled device in such a manner that the data is intended for real-time viewing and not intended to be downloaded (either permanently or temporarily), copied, stored, or redistributed by the user. So according to this you can’t download anything from YT, all content must be streamed in real-time. But whether Terms of Service are legally binding that’s another question. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/4 "2016-05-12T00:07:19Z")
You know, cassettes can be repaired, either the cassette case or the tape itself. Google it. Then, save it digitally. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/5 "2016-05-12T00:25:24Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > From [Youtube Terms of Service](https://www.youtube.com/static?gl=GB&template=terms), 5 L > > > [@](#): > > > > 5 L you agree not to access Content for any reason other than your personal, non-commercial use solely as intended through and permitted by the normal functionality of the Service, and solely for Streaming. “Streaming” means a contemporaneous digital transmission of the material by YouTube via the Internet to a user operated Internet enabled device in such a manner that the data is intended for real-time viewing and not intended to be downloaded (either permanently or temporarily), copied, stored, or redistributed by the user. > > So according to this you can’t download anything from YT, all content must be streamed in real-time. But whether Terms of Service are legally binding that’s another question. A friend’s brother is an intellectual property attorney and this came up in conversation a few months ago. He said he reviewed the terms of service and because they say to those who upload content that their content might be downloaded by others that he thought it was OK to download YouTube content, or at least it was left ambiguous. (I may be oversimplifying his argument.) On the other hand, I don’t buy the argument in the OP that since the music was purchased on cassette, downloading the content isn’t violating copyright, since the stuff online is almost certainly a higher quality recording. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/6 "2016-05-12T18:37:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > You know, cassettes can be repaired, either the cassette case or the tape itself. Google it. > > Then, save it digitally. How would one save a cassette digitally, anyway? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/7 "2016-05-12T18:41:58Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > How would one save a cassette digitally, anyway? 😕 > **[Amazon.com: Neewer Portable USB 2.0/1.1 Handheld Tape to PC Recorder Super USB...](https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Portable-Cassette-Converter-Cassettes/dp/B0065DMVUI)** > > Amazon.com: Neewer Portable USB 2.0/1.1 Handheld Tape to PC Recorder Super USB Cassette-to-MP3 Converter Capture (Convert Cassettes into Digital MP3 Files) : Electronics He’s just talking about ripping an MP3 from your cassette, which should be OK legally if I understand the current laws. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/8 "2016-05-12T18:43:56Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > How would one save a cassette digitally, anyway? 😕 Run a cable from the headphone jack to a line/audio in jack on your sound card and find a program that can “rip” the cassette (or any program that record input from the audio card, if you don’t have one on your computer already, I’m sure there’s a ton of free ones). ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/9 "2016-05-12T19:28:30Z")
There’s a whole bunch of Firefox extensions that will let you download Youtube videos. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/10 "2016-05-13T00:28:38Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Run a cable from the headphone jack to a line/audio in jack on your sound card and find a program that can “rip” the cassette (or any program that record input from the audio card, if you don’t have one on your computer already, I’m sure there’s a ton of free ones). Nitpick: This isn’t ‘ripping’ this is just capturing analog audio into a digital audio file. And because there’s no encryption involved the DMCA doesn’t apply, only laws regarding making copies, i.e. once you digitize it you’re not supposed to give copies away (this was also always true of analog CD-to-cassette copies as well). Ripping means (for CDs) doing a direct bit-for-bit digital copy (at high speed) from the optical media (the CD) to your computer. Again, there is no violation of the DCMA because CDs are not encrypted (but are copyrighted, so you’re not supposed to churn out multiple copies). For DVDs it’s the same thing \*\*\*except \*\*\*it also includes decrypting them which is more complicated legally (I think you’re allowed to make one backup copy for yourself but you can’t give it away without including the original etc.) Anecdotally because sales of physical media, actual CD & DVD discs, are in such decline the laws regarding using ‘ripping’ software are very loosely enforced. Capturing analog audio from a cassette player to a computer via a cable and an audio recording program is not incredibly difficult but it is tedious and kind of an audiophile thing (back in the day I did it many times). You have to do test recordings to get the volume on the cassette player just right and you have to do it in real time. BTW you don’t need any kind of special USB cable to do this, just a regular ⅛" dual male stereo [cable like this.](http://www.amazon.com/iXCC-6-Feet-Universal-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B00KWR8Q9S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1463098666&sr=8-3&keywords=male+to+male+stereo+cord) Make sure you plug it into the LINE IN jack on your computer, _not_ the MIC jack. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/11 "2016-05-13T00:34:37Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Nitpick: This isn’t ‘ripping’ this is just capturing analog audio into a digital audio file. And because there’s no encryption involved the DMCA doesn’t apply, only laws regarding making copies, i.e. once you digitize it you’re not supposed to give copies away (this was also always true of analog CD-to-cassette copies as well). > > Ripping means (for CDs) doing a direct bit-for-bit digital copy (at high speed) from the optical media (the CD) to your computer. Again, there is no violation of the DCMA because CDs are not encrypted (but are copyrighted, so you’re not supposed to churn out multiple copies). For DVDs it’s the same thing \*\*\*except \*\*\*it also includes decrypting them which is more complicated legally (I think you’re allowed to make one backup copy for yourself but you can’t give it away without including the original etc.) Anecdotally because sales of physical media, actual CD & DVD discs, are in such decline the laws regarding using ‘ripping’ software are very loosely enforced. > > Capturing analog audio from a cassette player to a computer via a cable and an audio recording program is not incredibly difficult but it is tedious and kind of an audiophile thing (back in the day I did it many times). You have to do test recordings to get the volume on the cassette player just right and you have to do it in real time. BTW you don’t need any kind of special USB cable to do this, just a regular ⅛" dual male stereo [cable like this.](http://www.amazon.com/iXCC-6-Feet-Universal-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B00KWR8Q9S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1463098666&sr=8-3&keywords=male+to+male+stereo+cord) Make sure you plug it into the LINE IN jack on your computer, _not_ the MIC jack. Which is why I put rip in quotes. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/12 "2016-05-13T04:26:05Z")
I am not a lawyer–and man, I wish there were a shorter way to write that–but I’m not sure that having owned a cassette gives you the right to grab the audio off YouTube. In the days before YouTube, a broken LP or busted cassette didn’t give you the right to a new free album. Nor did a lost/stolen CD. As for download extensions, these are being disabled for YT. I don’t know about FF, but in Safari and Chrome my YT downloaders have been made inoperable recently. There are ways around this but they are inconvenient or cost money (and I’m cheap). This is relevant to me not for the audio but for the video–I make documentaries and use YT video for reference and temporary coverage. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/13 "2016-05-13T05:28:34Z")
> [@tsbg](#): > > i am not a lawyer–and man, i wish there were a shorter way to write that– IANAL. x ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/14 "2016-05-13T07:14:44Z")
Have you looked up the tape on Discogs? Perhaps you could buy another copy for cheap, and make a digital rip from that one. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/15 "2016-05-13T11:27:43Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > Have you looked up the tape on Discogs? > > Perhaps you could buy another copy for cheap, and make a digital rip from that one. There were 2500 copies made. in the 80s. So, no. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/16 "2016-05-13T14:15:29Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Attention Mods– > I bought a copy, so this would not be a copyright infringement. Unless you bought a copy of the You Tube video you wish to copy, I would rethink that position. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/17 "2016-05-13T14:22:06Z")
Does the music’s “abandoned” status change the legality at all? On the one hand, there is no prospect for this listener to shell out $150 for the upcoming boxed set. On the other hand, someone still owns the copyright (I assume), and they could someday want to re-release, maybe for our genetically enhanced ape rulers… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/18 "2016-05-13T14:23:24Z")
I don’t think that the “abandoned” status changes anything legally. It’s still under copyright. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/19 "2016-05-13T20:22:08Z")
If you want to download a YouTube video to your computer, just put an “ss” before the “[youtube.com](http://youtube.com)” in the URL. For example, http: [//www.ssyoutube.com/blahblahblah](https://www.ssyoutube.com/blahblahblah) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581/20 "2016-05-13T23:36:12Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > If you want to download a YouTube video to your computer, just put an “ss” before the “[youtube.com](http://youtube.com)” in the URL. > > For example, http: [//www.ssyoutube.com/blahblahblah](https://www.ssyoutube.com/blahblahblah) No, I just wanted the audio. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-audiofiles-from-youtube/754581.md?page=2)