YouTube Multi-Threaded Downloader (yt-mtdl)

A modern, feature-rich desktop application for downloading pretty much any video stream, with multi-threading support and a user-friendly dark-themed interface.

Features

• Multi-threaded Downloads: Optimize download speeds with configurable thread count

• Batch Processing: Import multiple URLs from a text file for bulk downloads

• Format Selection: Choose between automatically scanned quality options and formats

• Quality Options: Select from multiple standard resolution options

  • Best
  • High
  • Medium
  • Low

• Additional Options:

  • Subtitle downloads
  • Playlist support
  • Custom output directory
  • Download speed limiting
  • Proxy support

Requirements

• Python 3.6+
• PyQt6
• yt-dlp
• Concurrent Futures (included in Python standard library)

Installation

1. Ensure Python 3.6 or higher is installed on your system
2. Install required dependencies:

pip install PyQt6 yt-dlp

Usage

Please keep in mind that some m3u8 downloads will download seperate audio and video channels. It will merge them at the end of the download.

See Usage Examples

Test Downloading Capabilities

Basic Download

1. Launch the application
2. Enter a YouTube or other video URL in the input field
3. Select desired format and quality options
4. Choose output directory (defaults to Downloads folder)
5. Click "Download" to start

Batch Downloads

1. Create a text file with stream URLs (one per line)
2. Optional: Add episode identifiers before URLs (e.g., "EP01 https://youtube.com/...")
3. Click "Import URLs" and select your text file
4. Configure download options
5. Click "Download" to process all URLs sequentially

Settings Configuration

1. Navigate to the "Settings" tab
2. Adjust download threads (1-32)
3. Set speed limits if needed
4. Configure proxy settings if required
5. Click "Save Settings" to persist your preferences

Advanced Features

Download Settings

• Thread Count: Higher values may improve download speed (default: 16)
• Speed Limit: Optional bandwidth throttling in KB/s
• Proxy Support: Configure proxy settings for network requirements

Error Handling

• Built-in error logging system
• View logs through Tools > View Error Log
• Save logs for troubleshooting

File Management

• Custom naming templates
• Automatic file organization
• Support for playlist downloads

Interface Features

• Modern dark theme interface
• Progress tracking with detailed status updates
• Download speed and ETA display
• Resizable window with responsive design
• Persistent settings across sessions

Technical Details

The application is built using:

• PyQt6 for the graphical interface
• yt-dlp for video downloading capabilities
• Python's concurrent.futures for multi-threading
• JSON for settings persistence
• Custom dark theme styling with QSS

Notes

• Download speeds may vary based on:
  • YouTube's server response
  • Your internet connection
  • Selected thread count
  • System resources
• Some videos may have restrictions that prevent downloading
• Respect YouTube's terms of service and content creators' rights

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Verify the YouTube URL is accessible
3. Review the error log (Tools > View Error Log)
4. Ensure you have adequate disk space
5. Try reducing thread count if downloads are unstable

Settings Storage

The application stores settings in:

• .ytdl_settings.json for application preferences
• .ytdl_errors.log for error logging

Both files are stored in the user's home directory.

License

This software is provided as-is, check the source code for licensing information.