The latest version of Pontes Media Downloader is less accessible but it has an
advantage if you convert files to the MP3 format. It allows you to set the
parameters of the MP3 file, such as the bit rate. Older versions of the
program didn't allow this. But older versions let you see the percent of the
download and conversion, two separate processes that occur one after the other,
by reading the title bar.
I have the old 2.x version on one of my machines and the newest 3.x version on
another.
With the 2x version, I convert content to wave. Then I use Switch to convert
the wave file to an MP3 file. It takes a little longer but not too much, since
the conversion to wave is much faster.
I shall discuss the 3.x version here and if you want, you can try the other
one. Ask if you have questions about the other one.
You can download the program from
http://pontes.ro/ro/utile/instrumente/pmd/Pmd_install_v3.exe
That is a direct download link.
Once you install the program and open it, you can tab through a lot of items.
If it isn't self-explanatory enough, aside from what I say, ask.
Listen to all text unless you are sure you aren't interested in something as
you tab around. You might hear useful shortcuts or hear something that helps
you understand what a field does.
When you have a Youtube link on the clipboard, the program automatically pastes
it from the clipboard. You will see the link as you tab around.
To convert a file, copy the link for the youtube page you go to to listen to
the file,. Then open the Pontes program. The address will automatically be in
the program. I don't know if it changes automatically if you paste another
address or if you have to issue a command or close and reopen the program.
Then tab around to the convert button, or whatever it is called and press the
space bar. I don't use this version to any extent so I don't remember if your
screen-reader can read the progress bars the program displays nor if anything
is announced when the conversion ends.
I shall now discuss how to set things like the kind of file you want to convert
it to.
I know you can for MP3 files.
After you open the program, to open the menus, you must not be where you are
when the program opens. Tab once before pressing alt. Press alt to open the
menus. The menus are not completely accessible because the names of the menus,
file, tools, etc. don't read. I don't know what the names are, I'm just giving
usual names of menus.
After you press alt, right arrow four times. You will not hear any speech, at
least not with NVDA. You are now on what may be the tools menu. The menus
read the menu items if you up or down arrow through them. Down arrow to
program options and press enter.
The first time you down arrow, you will hear nothing but you will if you
continue.
After you open program options, control tab once to conversion settings.
Then tab around the dialog. If you have trouble understanding what settings
are and how to work with them, let us know. Be sure to check the use custom
settings check box for the format you are working with.
Also, to expand a format, route the simulated mouse to it and left click it.
Then tab to see the settings.
Gene
----- Original Message -----
From: Micallef Michael at FITA
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2019 2:57 AM
To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: [EXTERNAL] - Re: recording a You tube class
Goodmorning, could you please send me the notes related to the pontes media
downloader and the site from where I can download it safely.
Thank you,
Michael
Malta Europe.
From: audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Behalf Of Gene
Sent: Monday, 16 September 2019 9:55
To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - [audacity4blind] Re: recording a You tube class
Judy and all
Another reason to use a video converter program is that Youtube has commercials
at the beginnings of a lot of streams. Some of these can be skipped, some not.
And at times, content is presented as a playlist, in which case, a commercial
may be streamed before every new item or every other item in the playlist is
played.
Capable Youtube conversion programs can convert and send, automatically, all
the items in a playlist as individual files.
If you are going to use Pontes (spelling) Media Converter, let us know. I have
further comments on how to use the program and about important differences
between older and the newest version. Also let us know what encoding format
you intend to use. If you are going to use MP3, that requires further comment
when working with that specific format in that program.
Gene
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Hänggi
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2019 3:13 PM
To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: recording a You tube class
Still, you can use Audacity to record.
- Choose as host (Shift+H) Windows WASAPI
- As input device (Shift+I) "Speakers xxx (loopback)"
- record
The quality is the same as you will hear on YouTube since the
recording is actually sample-accurate.
Nevertheless, I use the before mentioned program for most cases and
Audacity only for short passages within long videos (a question of
storage).
Robert
On 15/09/2019, Angel Adorno <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yes this works I did that one day for a class I had to take they wanted me
to watch the video and it worked out for me, because of this program.
Good luck.
From: audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx On Behalf Of Angelo T Sonnesso
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2019 7:09 AM
To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: recording a You tube class
Get a copy of Pontes Media Downloader you just copy the URL to Pontes Media
Downloader and from the list you get when you press tab you can select me
audio.
There are many formats that you can save to.
It saves the file to a sub folder in your documents folder called Pontes
Media Downloader.
73 N2DYN Angelo
From: audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Andrew Downie
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2019 3:27 AM
To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: recording a You tube class
Hi Judith
I have not used a YouTube converted, but Ella's suggestion seems like a
very
neat option. If you want to record from YouTube, or anything else from the
internet for that matter with Audacity, it is certainly possible. How easy
and/or effective will depend on your computer setup. If you only have an
onboard soundcard, you will have to go into your soundcard settings and
select an option like "What you hear" or "Stereo mix". If you do not want
the screen reader to interject on the recording, you will need to silence
it.
If you have an external soundcard, the task is potentially much easier.
That device would need to be set as the default soundcard. Specifics will
vary depending on the particular device. Potentially though, you can
record
what is coming in from the internet without the screen reader getting
involved.
Picking up on Ella's point, recording from YouTube with Audacity (or any
other DAW) may result in loss of quality. That is especially the case with
many onboard soundcards, including the one on this machine, which I do not
use.
Andrew
.
From: audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of Judith D.
Potter
Sent: Sunday, 15 September 2019 12:01 PM
To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [audacity4blind] recording a You tube class
Hello,
Can I somehow record a guitar class on You tube? Just the audio part, can I
do that with Audacity, and what are the steps?
Thank you,
Judy
