Can't record Hulu videos with Replay Media Catcher

[Vergess]

I've been using Media Catcher to collect episodes of Naruto from Hulu, and until recently, it has worked just fine. However, for the last two days, whenever I try to record from Hulu, it fails at 0 bytes, and I get the following:

Internal error while trying to download RTMP stream
Exception:
m_nErrType = 11
m_strDesc = "code: NetConnection.Connect.Rejected
description: [ AccessManager.Reject ] : Must use RTMPE or RTMPTE on this connection"
m_strFile = F:\proj32\TestRTMPClient\RTMPStreamRip.cpp
m_nLineNumber = 969

I have literally no idea what any of that means, and if anyone here could explain it to me, and perhaps tell me if there is something I need to change in my settings or on my computer, please do.

Other media sources, such as youtube, are continuing to download just fine, as far as I can tell.

[seventree]

RTMP is the protocol Hulu uses to stream video to the Flash player hosted by your web browser, when you are watching a program on the Hulu website. It stands for Real Time Messaging Protocol but who cares about that.

RTMPE is the same thing where the E stands for encrypted. Hulu uses it to stream the two hi-def formats they currently support, 360P and 480P, which refers to the video resolution in terms of lines (P is for Progressive, as opposed to the inferior Interlaced method). It is technically possible for a stream-capture program to defeat the encryption problem, and according to some, it would be legal to do so. However Hulu SMTPE downloads a Flash program (.SWF file) that employs a copy-protection method to display the stream. While it is also technically possible to defeat this protection, according to Adobe it would not be legal. The result is that no stream capture program which does so can be sold by anyone without legal risk.

The 360P and 480P formats are fairly new on Hulu. They are sent to your Flash player as .FLV (Flash Video) streams, however the content is actually an industry-standard format called H.264 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264). Previously they used the old, Adobe proprietary Flash Video format which was inferior to H.264 in video quality. Hulu provided two versions of this format (480K and 700K, which I believe refers to bit rates) depending on the user's Internet connection speed.

Up until a few weeks ago I was able to select the old 700K format (which RMC could record) instead of the newer H.264 SMPTE stream, just by clicking Off the Hulu Hi-Res option. However now that button just switches between 360P and 480P, neither of which seem to be compatible with RMC. As far as I know Hulu is still able to send the old FLV stream formats, however I don't know how to get it to play these so RMC can capture them.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on the above subjects, this is just information I have collected in the process of trying to download my favorite tv shows. If I have made mistakes I welcome any (civil) corrections from more knowledgable members.

P.S. I have been able to download some Hulu content by going through www.fancast.com. They apparently stream everything in the old 480K FLV format which RMC will capture. However this is the lowest quality FLV format and you may find the video experience disappointing. If so that's not the fault of RMC, but of fancast's streaming format.

[keith2002]

I was having the same trouble with Hulu no longer working. By accessing through Fancast, I can now download.
YEAH!

[flvrec0r3r]

As far as I know Hulu is still able to send the old FLV stream formats, however I don't know how to get it to play these so RMC can capture them. Good synopsis.

Forcing/selecting the 700k stream would be a real breakthrough. On occasion I try, but have nothing to offer for success.

[jhb50]

To get RMC to record the old format files they need to be played by the flash player. There is another program that does try and record(ie: play) ALL the hulu streams and if you start it first , then start RMC and then start IE and HULU, it will start those recordings which RMC will detect and start recording them too. This is somewhat complicated but it usually works fine, but since hulu no longer uses these streams I suspect their life is limited.

[yevgyeni]

To get RMC to record the old format files they need to be played by the flash player. There is another program that does try and record(ie: play) ALL the hulu streams and if you start it first , then start RMC and then start IE and HULU, it will start those recordings which RMC will detect and start recording them too. This is somewhat complicated but it usually works fine, but since hulu no longer uses these streams I suspect their life is limited.

What is this other program you're referring to?

[zanefan]

Just a headsup, there ARE other stream-capture programs that are working just fine with Hulu, capturing both the standard streams and the Hi-Res 480p streams. I'm not going to say which program, because I don't want Adobe to go after them too. Just saying, look around, try out some trial software... they exist.

[jhb50]

Zanefan, I dispute your contention.

The 480P stream is RTMPE, and I can only find one other streaming capture program that tries to grab RTMP streams and it can only capture the 700K (640x360) and Titled (480K)(512x288) RTMP versions of these files, but not the Standard (360P) or HiDef(480P) files which are RTMPE encrypted.

We would much appreciate if you would check again. If you really have captured RTMPE then you are the only one so far and we would all like to PM you for more info.

Thanks.

[seventree]

I believe that jhb50's statement is correct.

Nobody is going to distribute an RTMPE (and copy protected SWF) stream grabber and stay under Adobe's radar. Those guys know how to use Google too.

As for Hulu's old-format (non-H264) streams, they still exist for some program material but could be removed at any time. For that matter I don't know any technical reason why the protections now applied to H264 streams couldn't be applied to the 480K and 700K formats if they do stay. If and when that happens, auto-capture Hulu downloads will be a thing of the past.

Applian says their Video Capture is the answer. I have not been able to test the trial version yet, but maybe my 1GHz laptop is not up to the task.

[jhb50]

I think the problem with video capture lies with your Internet bandwidth which must be adequate to stream without interruption. I only have 750K bandwidth which results in frequent pauses durig playback all of which are captured.

I understand however that HULU will buffer 5 minutes of video and so if you pause the playback at the start before recording and wait until 5 minutes of video have been received, (which could take many more minutes) then you should be able to record 5 minute chunks without pauses.

This is not too practical but if the video is important and only available in this way it might be worth the effort to grab RTMPE.

[Bloemer]

Based on the information presented above, RMC is currently (Apr 09) NOT capable of recording Hulu video streams, and appears unlikely to be able to record them in the future. Recording those streams is, of course, the primary reason why I purchased the program. Boo hiss! :mad:

I won't ever sell any media content I download; I merely want to convert and time-shift them to use when and where I choose (primarily on my treo while working out). This is a use that is well within the fair-use aspects of the U.S copyright laws. I'd even be fine with recordings that included the level of ads that are currently shown on Hulu. Arrgghhh!

[Yep11111]

Hulu is working for me right now.

[jhb50]

"Hulu is working for me right now."

No one said Hulu doesn't work...you simply cannot record the latest encoded shows which are all RTMPE. Perhaps you are recording some old stuff but regardless, post the details about what is working for you rather than the meaningless/no information post that you have.

[zanefan]

Dude... respectfully? Stop being a douche.

[Yep11111]

"Hulu is working for me right now."

No one said Hulu doesn't work...you simply cannot record the latest encoded shows which are all RTMPE. Perhaps you are recording some old stuff but regardless, post the details about what is working for you rather than the meaningless/no information post that you have.

The White Shadow & Adam 12! Kiss my ass!

[Jennifer]

I've been using Media Catcher to collect episodes of Naruto from Hulu, and until recently, it has worked just fine. However, for the last two days, whenever I try to record from Hulu, it fails at 0 bytes, and I get the following:

Internal error while trying to download RTMP stream
Exception:
m_nErrType = 11
m_strDesc = "code: NetConnection.Connect.Rejected
description: [ AccessManager.Reject ] : Must use RTMPE or RTMPTE on this connection"
m_strFile = F:\proj32\TestRTMPClient\RTMPStreamRip.cpp
m_nLineNumber = 969

I have literally no idea what any of that means, and if anyone here could explain it to me, and perhaps tell me if there is something I need to change in my settings or on my computer, please do.

Other media sources, such as youtube, are continuing to download just fine, as far as I can tell.



Based on the information presented above, RMC is currently (Apr 09) NOT capable of recording Hulu video streams, and appears unlikely to be able to record them in the future. Recording those streams is, of course, the primary reason why I purchased the program. Boo hiss!

I won't ever sell any media content I download; I merely want to convert and time-shift them to use when and where I choose (primarily on my treo while working out). This is a use that is well within the fair-use aspects of the U.S copyright laws. I'd even be fine with recordings that included the level of ads that are currently shown on Hulu. Arrgghhh!




Dude... respectfully? Stop being a douche.


Gentleman....I am sorry to report that Applian's Replay Media Catcher is not capturing videos...(only 0 Bytes RTMPE...protected streaming protocol)...
I would highly recommend giving (Applian's Replay Video Capture a try which is a screen recorder based video capture software.)


Best Regards.

Jeniffer.

[jhb50]

The White Shadow & Adam 12! Kiss my ass!

As I said both The White Shadow & Adam 12! are now encrypted and cannot be recorded

[Tasha Heinlein]

OK, let's keep it civil! :)

[cantaffordit]

...

Applian says their Video Capture is the answer. I have not been able to test the trial version yet, but maybe my 1GHz laptop is not up to the task.

They are correct. I bought the Media Suite and it allowed me to capture. Unfortunately it wasn't the greatest quality and I was limited to the video sizes that each of my PCs is capable of deisplaying. I have a Fast PC that could run full screen. my Slower laptop could only handle about 1/2 the screen.

The good thing is that I bought the $99 Media Suite and it came with the Applian Video Capture. Applian needs to remove their pages claiming that Media Catcher works with Hulu content because it clearly doesn't - and probably wont now that Adobe has changed their encryption technology. I would have been really peeved if I had bought Media Catcher only to find out that it doesn't work with ulu any more. But, since I bought the entire Suite I am ok because it came with the Capture program that works.

But, since it is a capture program, you have to actually watch the program and you can't do anything else with the PC while it's capturing. Good for grabbing clips, but painful for full length programs...

In terms of quality, the recordings aren't very good, but I just squeeze them down to play on my phone or mp3 player and at that size it looks just fine...

The thing that drives me crazy is how long it takes to convert it to an ipod size format, and how often the aspect ratio is screwed up. It takes as long as if I just watched it on-line in the first place.

So, I just wanted to confirm that the video capture program from Applian works, but it's pretty ecpensive and time consuming...

[Tasha Heinlein]

I am not aware of any pages left on our site that recommend Media Catcher for Hulu. If you have a link to one of these pages that you are speaking of please send it to me. Thanks!

Best Regards,

Tasha Heinlein
Applian Technologies, Inc.

[cantaffordit]

I am not aware of any pages left on our site that recommend Media Catcher for Hulu. If you have a link to one of these pages that you are speaking of please send it to me. Thanks!

Best Regards,

Tasha Heinlein
Applian Technologies, Inc.

Here is one... Google will show you any more:
http://www.applian.com/replay-media-catcher/record.php?name=Hulu

[Tasha Heinlein]

Thank you!

[Toochbag]

Are there plans to revise, or update, RMC to (once again) work with Hulu? Or must one switch to RVC for all future Hulu "time shifting" needs?

[Bloemer]

Are there plans to revise, or update, RMC to (once again) work with Hulu? Or must one switch to RVC for all future Hulu "time shifting" needs?

With no answer from Applian in over a month, I guess we can assume that the answer to that question is NO! Not that it's Applian's fault that Hulu decided to encrypt all of their content, significantly degrading their viewers' ability to time-shift and media-shift Hulu content. Actually, I if the encryption is any good, Applian has no choice in the matter; screen capture is the only way their software would be able to get at the Hulu content. Grrrr! :mad:

[FairUse]

With no answer from Applian in over a month, I guess we can assume that the answer to that question is NO! Not that it's Applian's fault that Hulu decided to encrypt all of their content, significantly degrading their viewers' ability to time-shift and media-shift Hulu content. Actually, I if the encryption is any good, Applian has no choice in the matter; screen capture is the only way their software would be able to get at the Hulu content. Grrrr! :mad:

They are able to allow saving the video despite the encryption. It was actually working for a while if I understand correctly. The reason it no longer works is because Adobe legally threatened Applian, and rather than get sued and lose due to the American Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Applian complied and purposely crippled Replay Media Catcher so that it will no longer save any video if it streams from the RMTPE protocol.

Until some person or entity outside of Adobe's legal reach (i.e., a country that is not located in America) comes up with a competing product that handles RMTPE, the only way to save these videos is via screen capture.

Applian should sell Replay Media Catcher to such a person or entity before such a competing product becomes available.

[John73]

I used Replay Media Catcher until the formatting changed on Hulu and Fancast.

As I understand it part of the writer's strike last fall was due to online broadcasting and them getting more money. Ironic that the strike was settled, they are getting their money, and all I have is a useless piece of software. I guess Applain got their money as well....

The new capture product is a major league piece of junk. 3.2G P4, 2G Ram, and ATI all in wonder video card that ran fancast ,youtube, and every other stream just fine. When I tried the demo of the new capture, it wasn't worth the time and effort. It also fails to find my audio source, and the forced setup didn't work either.

Its just a computer and software but I am about as pissed off as I can be about not being able to record shows and watch them later. I have built a PC with a video capture card that I use, but it makes huge Mpgs, and Flv files are much smaller and manageable for storage.

Applian, its not your fault Adobe suffers from cranial, rectal insertion, but on the other hand, don't go about saying you have a product that captures anything on the screen if there is no audio, and all one gets is a capture about every three seconds, rather than a streaming video.

My cable internet is 6 mbits, which is way beyond the needs of a streaming video, even when its slowed to 2 or 3 mbits.

Its on my monitor why can't you capture it properly? Sure glad I didn't waste my money on an upgrade. I have removed Replay Media Capture, and you can all go back to the drawing board and try to get it right.

[Spelchk]

Ok so Hulu is not letting you record media correct ?

Some one ! any one provide me with a the link (VIDEO LINK) that is RTMPE secure

kinda working on a (NEW PROJECT ) that defeats this problem =)

K

[Karas]

I found a new way to get movies from hulu and other streaming online sites, Replay Video Capture, also it can record rtmpe files, with screen capturing. Very useful, in this way we can have all the movies we want :d. Of course I can convert the files into the formats I need with Replay Converter so that I can watch them on every device I want.

[neo888]

why is it that it records the commercial in the begining and then you get the green check mark which says finished downloading? Does this have to do with this issue? Or is there a way for it to continue the recording?

[Tasha Heinlein]

The commercial isn't streamed with an encrypted protocol and the main video is. The problem is not that we can't figure out how to stream capture from this site, it is that it is not legal to circumvent these secure streams. Once again, there is no fix coming out for this. Use Replay Video Capture (http://www.applian.com/replay-video-capture/index.php).

[bruceb]

The commercial isn't streamed with an encrypted protocol and the main video is. The problem is not that we can't figure out how to stream capture from this site, it is that it is not legal to circumvent these secure streams. Once again, there is no fix coming out for this. Use Replay Video Capture (http://www.applian.com/replay-video-capture/index.php).

While I can get Video Capture to work for this purpose, it has no scheduling function. Thus I must set it up, then wake up at midnight to start the Firefox. Do you have some other solution for scheduling?