When you want to watch a video but the internet is slow… When you’re on the go and want to catch up on a missed drama, but you only have 0.5 gigabytes left for the month… At times like these, you might wish you could record streaming videos. In this article, we explore questions such as whether recording streaming videos is illegal, and if you can get caught. The author personally tested and verified software for recording streaming videos on different devices like Windows and Mac.
Streaming recording won’t be detected
For those who are curious, let me share the conclusion upfront. Recording streaming videos won’t be detected by the platform administrators. They cannot monitor programs executed on users’ computers.
However, it is possible for platform administrators to detect and block user recordings. If the platform has implemented recording detection features, attempting to capture streaming videos using screen recording on Android or iPhone may result in a block, with the screen turning black. (Many of you may have experienced this, right?)
In other words, as long as you don’t get blocked, there won’t be any notifications sent to the other party even if you record.
How to Record Streaming Videos
Recording Streaming Videos on Windows:
Recommended for Windows users is a software called Audials. Audials is specialized in recording streaming videos from platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT, etc. The free version allows up to 10 recordings, each lasting a maximum of 10 minutes.
Audials also supports recording from music sites like Spotify and YouTube Music. It comes with editing and player functions, enabling a seamless process of recording, editing, and playback all within Audials.
Steps for Recording Streaming Videos with Audials:
- Open Audials.
- Choose “Music Streaming” or “Video Streaming.”
- Select the target site for download (click the icon).
- Choose a player and start recording.
You can choose between the desktop app or a web browser as the player. It’s also possible to accelerate the recording speed.
Recording Streaming Videos on Mac:
For Mac users, there isn’t a universal software that can record from all platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT, YouTube, Disney+, etc.
If you want to record YouTube videos, you can use the built-in QuickTime Player, but it requires installing an app called Soundflower for audio recording.
Steps for Recording YouTube Videos with QuickTime Player:
- Install Soundflower.
- Open YouTube and launch QuickTime Player (command+shift+F5).
- Specify the area and start recording.
- Stop recording and check the file.
Recorded files are saved in MOV format, and you can convert them to MP4 or MKV if needed.
Recording from protected sites like Netflix or Hulu on Mac using third-party software (OBS Studio, EaseUS RecExperts) resulted in a black screen. Recording DRM-protected videos on Mac is considered nearly impossible.
Recording Streaming Videos on iPhone/iPad:
In conclusion, major video streaming sites that can be recorded using iPhone screen recording are limited to YouTube. Other sites with copy protection, like Tver and ABEMA, detected and blocked recording attempts.
Recording streaming videos on iPhone is quite challenging.
Recording Streaming Videos on Android:
Android comes with a built-in screen recorder for recording apps, including YouTube. Testing on Tver and ABEMA showed that Tver resulted in a black screen, while ABEMA recording was successful.
Note: Recording from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, U-NEXT, Disney+ is not possible on both iPhone and Android.
How to Download Streaming Videos Without Blacking Out
So far, we’ve discussed that using recording software or apps can result in successful recording on YouTube but often fails on other video streaming sites (except for Audials). However, for those who want to download content from platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, U-NEXT, Disney+, etc., a recommended solution is StreamFab, which allows you to download over 1000 videos.
StreamFab boasts a 99% success rate in downloading movies and dramas from major streaming services in MP4 format, providing high-quality downloads at 1080p resolution.
Steps for Using StreamFab All-In-One:
- Launch the software and tap on the icon of the site you want to download from (e.g., u-next 画面録画).
- Play the content you want to download, and a download popup will appear. Choose options like episodes and quality.
- Click on “Start Download” to initiate the download.
Note:
StreamFab is powerful enough to download content from platforms like Rakuten TV and Lemino, where recording software might result in a black screen.
Additional Information:
For YouTube and Tver, downloading is possible without logging in.
Frequently Asked Questions about Streaming Recording
- Is streaming video recording illegal?
No, it is not illegal. Replicating private content is allowed under Article 30 of copyright law. However, selling or distributing recorded files without permission may lead to legal consequences.
- What are the benefits of recording streaming videos?
Recording videos allows for permanent storage, even if they are removed from the streaming site. Additionally, it enables enjoyment through various media like DVDs, Blu-rays, or USB drives.
Moreover, when the player functionality of the streaming service is inconvenient, recording and playing back with a different player software can enhance features such as fast-forwarding, rewinding, and picture-in-picture.
- What should be considered when choosing software to record streaming videos?
Firstly, it’s crucial to choose software that can bypass copy protection; otherwise, recording won’t be possible. Most streaming sites have programs detecting recording attempts, causing the screen to go black with regular recording software.
Some recording software may also have limitations, such as not allowing the specification of recording duration in free versions. It’s advisable to check these details before use.
- Are there any browser extensions for recording streaming videos?
Screen Recorder for Google Chrome is a browser extension that allows unlimited and free recording of streaming videos. It can record even from sites where the screen would typically go black with conventional software, such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
- Can YouTube live streaming be recorded?
Yes, if you have software that can record YouTube videos, it can also record live streaming.
Conclusion
This discussion provided insights into recording streaming videos. For Windows users, Audials is recommended, but note its relatively high cost at 8,030 yen. If you find it challenging to record streaming videos, consider trying StreamFab. The free version allows full downloads of up to three videos, and you can even write the downloaded files to DVDs using tools like Imgburn, DVDStyler, or the paid option dvdfab 無料.
