Equivalent software to Captvty on Mac

briceb89 Posted messages 24 Status Membre -  
 briceb89 -
Hello everyone,

I just switched from Windows to Mac OS High Sierra (v10.13), and I’m looking for an equivalent of a very handy little software.

It’s called Captvty, a program that allows you to download (in Avi, mp4, etc...) shows available on TV replay sites. Very easy to use and quite useful on Windows but a pain to install on Mac.

Is there an equivalent of this type of program on Mac?
If there is no equivalent, are any of you able to successfully use Captvty on Mac OS High Sierra?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

10 réponses

perlin
 
Hi,

I don't have a Mac, but you can install Kodi by adding the Catchuptvandmore addon; you'll get replay, downloads, and more if you have a VPN.

https://kodi.tv/download

For Catchuptvandmore, there are several ways to install it, either through Kodi's official store by downloading the zip, from the Kodi software repo in the video section, or by downloading this "latest" zip: https://repo.cecchettosylvain.fr/zip/

If you want to install it via zip, you need to check the anonymous source box in your settings.
6
briceb89 Posted messages 24 Status Membre
 
Hi,

but if you don't have a Mac, which OS do you use?
Because Mac uses "Safari" as a web browser.
What about you?
Can we integrate Catchuptvandmore into Safari????
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perlin
 
"but if you don't have a Mac, what OS do you use?"
It doesn't matter what OS I have, Kodi is cross-platform so it can be installed on any OS. You just have to choose the version based on your OS. To choose the right version, click on the icon that represents your OS.

"Can you integrate Catchuptvandmore into Safari????"
No, it is not an addon that you can install on a browser.

You explain that you are looking for software comparable to Captvty for Mac. I don't have a Mac and I don't know if it exists, maybe it does or maybe it doesn't, but with Kodi, you can do more or less the same thing as with Captvty.
1
briceb89 Posted messages 24 Status Membre
 
Hello,

I installed Kodi v17.6 Krypton on my Mac. I was too quick with my question. I actually thought it was an "AddOn" that you install on the web browser.

Indeed, it can be installed on any platform, whether it's Mac OS or Windows, and that's pretty good.

I also managed to install the "Catchtvandmore" extension.
The viewing of live or replay videos works great.
However, I can't seem to record the replays.
Kodi tells me that I don't have a recording player and suggests a whole list.
Which one should I choose and how do I set it up?
Is there a tutorial for that?
Thanks in advance.
0
perlin
 
Hi,

"On the other hand, I can't seem to save the replays."

I feel like you're in the Kodi settings and not in the Catchtvandmore settings. For that, you just need to choose the final destination path where your replay videos will be downloaded. I don't know Mac, but you probably have a "Downloads" folder.

1-When you see Catchtvandmore, long-click or right-click on it, and a small window will appear.
2-Choose "settings," then the "downloads" section, and there you select your destination directory, and then confirm with an "OK."

Afterwards, I forgot there's another cross-platform app called Molotov TV; it's easier to manage, but you need to create an account with an email address to use it. You'll be able to record and watch TNT channels.

Ultimately, it's best to have both apps; they will complement each other.

https://www.molotov.tv/tv-ordinateur
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briceb89
 
Hello,

I'm getting back to you regarding the Kodi software with Catch tvandmore.
When I right-click on it, I indeed get a window that offers the "download" option, and when I click on it, it asks me for a destination path for my file (which is normal), I start the download and then the following error message appears: [ERROR m3u8 download detected but ffmpeg or avconv could not be found. Please install one]
I understand that a software is missing for my download to work, but I haven't found any tutorial explaining how to do this?

I've also looked into the "Molotov.tv" solution that I installed, but the recording mode doesn't work unless you take a subscription. I had a 7-day trial period that has just ended. Is there a way to bypass this?

Thanks in advance.
0
Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
You need to install ffmpeg (or avconv) on your machine. I found this page where there is a tutorial that explains how to do it pretty simply. One point to note: it doesn't specify that it should be done in a session with administrator rights.
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
Once ffmpeg is installed, it still doesn't change anything, I'm still getting the same error message [ERROR m3u8 download detected but ffmpeg or avconv could not be found. Please install one]...
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
So, I finally succeeded. The "trick" is to manage to install ffmpeg in /usr/bin. This is not possible even through the Terminal (see the instructions provided by NapoleonWilson) on High Sierra.

To achieve this ffmpeg installation, the easiest way is to restart the Mac from another disk. Once this step is completed, it works much better... :D
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briceb89
 
I understood that I need to install ffmpeg in /usr/bin, and indeed via the terminal, it creates an independent ffmpeg directory. I copied this file into /usr/bin, but it didn't work.

However, do I need to follow Napoleon's instructions to install ffmpeg in /usr/bin?

I don't understand the point of starting the Mac from another disk. What does that ultimately bring me?

Can't we specify where to install our ffmpeg software via the terminal?? That would be much simpler.

How did you manage to install it in the right place??

Thanks for your research.
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
briceb89 :
I don't understand the point of starting the Mac from another disk. What does it ultimately bring me?
How did you manage to install it in the right place??


To install it "in the right place" (in /usr/bin), I had to start from an external disk: whether through the Terminal or "manually," the copy of ffmpeg (once unpacked) was refused by the system. However, it did not create a directory in /usr/bin:
I'm quite surprised that it was possible for you and remain intrigued by your story of an "independent ffmpeg directory"...


briceb89 :
Do I need to follow Napoleon's instructions to install ffmpeg in /usr/bin?


Not to install ffmpeg in /usr/bin (see above). But for the rest, I followed his instructions since it's precisely the method he describes to make Kodi functional.

I'm not sure in the end that it was essential to do everything (especially the installation of ffplay and ffprobe) since I started by following the tutorial (and noticed that the installation of ffmpeg etc. didn’t happen). The installation (after restarting from an external disk) of ffmpeg was the last action, after various attempts and uncertainties... ;-)
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Jojolaguitare Posted messages 12012 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   2 781
 
Hello.

I thought I had seen this somewhere >>>

https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37636548-installer-captvty-sur-mac-sous-os-x

However, I won’t be able to give any advice since I don’t know anything about Mac systems.

Good luck... See you later

--
"Patience leads to good, haste leads to nothing."
0
briceb89
 
Good evening, I've already tried and it doesn't work on my Mac High Sierra.

I'm looking for an alternative solution to Captvty.

Thank you
0
Anonymous user
 
Hello,

I had written a guide explaining how to install Captvty on Mac, and I've always been able to do it by following the indicated procedure. (without FFmpeg).

So give it a try:

https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37636548-installer-captvty-sur-mac-sous-os-x

Sincerely.

--
Always provide your complete system configuration - exact model of computer, exact OS version.
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
Jojolaguitare has already provided this link to your help page yesterday. But does it offer any advantage in terms of ergonomics, primarily? Are Windows software run through Wine more ergonomic than "linux style" software installed natively, in a way?

Because Kodi, once the installation steps are completed, works relatively well (even though it remains confusing for someone used to an Apple environment, where things work as one would like, are located where it makes sense, etc.)
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Anonymous user
 
Jojolaguitare already provided this link to your help page yesterday. But does it bring an ergonomic advantage, mainly? Are Windows software run through Wine more ergonomic than "linux style" software installed natively, in a way?

Because Kodi, once the installation steps are completed, works relatively well (even if it remains confusing for someone who is used to an Apple environment, where things work as you would wish, are located where it's logical, etc.)


I don't know Kodi. But once Captvty is installed according to my page, and launched under Wine, the ergonomics are without any issues. You don't really realize that you're no longer in the Mac OS environment. Just remember to quit Wine when Captvty has exited.
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
Mmmhh... I tested it, in order to compare. The installation is roughly as tedious as for Kodi, with no particular advantages. The interface, frankly, feels like facing a PC with Windows 95 (advantage: it makes me feel younger), whereas Kodi leans more towards a gaming console. Both are annoying for a Mac user, who generally appreciates simplicity and clarity. Being prompted to save to C:\xxxx always has its little effect.

On the functionality side, Captvty is very slow to load the list of available programs. But it provides more complete information (date and time of broadcast) than what Kodi offers. This makes it easier to retrieve when you know exactly what you're looking for, a bit less so when you have to explore. And it gives the impression of being more complete, offering more things (curiously). The files are downloaded by Captvty in .ts format (with the program name) while Kodi grabs them in .mp4 (more convenient, but the name isn't retained): That said, I haven't necessarily found all the possible settings in these two applications yet..

In short, both are more complementary than truly competitive... ;-)
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briceb89
 
Hello,
when I tried to install Captvty on my Mac using the same procedure described in the link above, I was able to get to the installation of Wines Tricks and when I launched the Captvty application, an error message appeared: "Error is font Arial does not support style regular."

I understood that there was an error with the font, but I couldn't find how to solve this problem, which is why I turned to an alternative solution like Kodi.

However, now I'm still stuck trying to record my "replays" because an error message says that FFmpeg or AVconv is missing and I need to install one of them.

Once again, the installation of FFmpeg isn't as straightforward as I had thought. Being a brand new Mac user (since the beginning of this year), I am not as comfortable as I was with Windows, which I had been using until now.
That's why I'm reaching out to people like you who are more accustomed than I am to working with Mac OS X.
And I thank you for all your responses.
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989 > briceb89
 
The risk of inadvertently interrupting the installation of the various "Wine Tricks" components is high. For my part, I had to start over a second time, making sure to take my time this time... That's why I mentioned that the installation seemed just as tedious as for Kodi.

To install ffmpeg, as previously described, I had to boot from another disk to be able to copy the modules into /usr/bin without difficulty. That was the only real challenge I had. But as long as that wasn't done (blocked by High Sierra), I obviously received the same error message as you.
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Anonymous user
 
Hello,

My TV or my Mac has no trouble reading .ts files downloaded with Captvty.
I just started a download with Captvty to see exactly what this type of file is. It is actually simple MPEG 2 files, .ts for Transport Stream.

The download is quite fast in my case. For example, for a 15-minute file:

start of download at 09:46:36



end of download at 09:47:37



The .ts file plays fine with QuickTime


That said, I haven't tested Kodi (which I don't know).

As for ffmpeg, I haven't installed it for quite some time (a few years), but I remember that when I used this app, the installation was almost as simple as for a regular application, except that there were just 4 modules to install separately due to rights issues if I remember correctly. I will try to find more info...

Regarding this issue of an error caused by a font, I can't say where it comes from; I've never encountered that obstacle...

Talk to you later

--
Always provide your system configuration in full - exact computer model, exact OS version.
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briceb89
 
Hello,

I know Captvty because I used it on Windows 10 before my Mac, and it worked very well. That's why I wanted to install it on my Mac as well, but I was unsuccessful due to the error I wrote to you above. Since then, I haven't tried to install it again.
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
*_Francis_* :
The loading is quite fast in my case.


It's not for downloading videos that I find Captvty slow (on the contrary), it’s for downloading the list of available programs. Maybe because it loads everything at once, whereas Kodi initially only loads the category names, etc. as you scroll down the hierarchy. And by the way, I live in the countryside, with a connection... anything but great... ;-)
0
Anonymous user
 
I just found the place where I used to get ffmpeg:

http://www.ffmpegx.com

the download page with explanations of the 3 (not 4 as I thought I remembered) modules to add and where to get them:

http://www.ffmpegx.com/download.html

by following this method, I always managed to install and use ffmpeg.

Best regards.

--
Always indicate your system configuration completely - exact model of computer, exact OS version.
0
briceb89
 
Thank you Francis, I will try to do that tonight and I will get back to you to let you know.

However, a quick question: what is the difference between ffmpegX 0.0.9y & ffmpegX 0.0.9y-"Lion" r2 from your second link "download.html"?

Which one should I install? the first or the second?

Thank you in advance.
0
Anonymous user
 
On the other hand, a quick question: what is the difference between ffmpegX 0.0.9y & ffmpegX 0.0.9y-"Lion" r2

It's the same thing - simply put, version 0.0.9 was announced as compatible with Lion, aka Mac OS X 10.7, and therefore one might think that there hasn't been a new version since 0.0.9; otherwise, the publisher would likely have specified higher compatibilities. That doesn't mean that version 0.0.9 is not compatible with versions higher than Lion, but that is no longer specified. It seems that the last update dates back to 2011.
0
briceb89
 
Hello Francis,

I installed FFmpeg 0.0.9 last night but it doesn't solve my problem.
After installation, it opens a video conversion window.
Additionally, I can't, like Aliboron Martin, place my ffmpeg in the /usr/bin path. I can't copy it there.

Can you help me, please?

Thanks in advance.
0
Anonymous user
 
Hello,

I would have liked to test the Kodi procedure from A to Z, but I don't want to install unnecessary stuff for me, so I won't be doing the installation process for Kodi and the ffmpeg components in a bin folder.

However, I quickly read the instructions provided by the pages mentioned above:

https://emirchouchane.com/tutoriel-ffmpeg/
and
https://github.com/NapoleonWils0n/kodi-playercorefactory/tree/master/macosx

that you and Aliboron mentioned above.

And I feel that there is a confusion being made between different bin folders.

Initially, there is this path:

/usr/local/bin/

and also this path:

/bin

and finally, the path concerning a folder that needs to be created. (according to what I read)

~/bin/


To note: the symbol ~ represents this path:

hard_drive_name / Users / username/

see the differences:





Now, the page https://github.com/NapoleonWils0n/kodi-playercorefactory/tree/master/macosx

says this:

You need to install ffmpeg, ffplay, ffprobe, wget, and rtmpdump to the following locations

$HOME/bin/ffmpeg

$HOME/bin/ffplay

$HOME/bin/ffprobe

/usr/local/bin/wget

/usr/local/bin/rtmpdump

If they are installed in a different location create a symbolic link to the location specified above

symbolic link syntax


So, you should not put, for example, ffmpeg in /usr/local/bin, but in ~/bin/ and create a symbolic link in /usr/local/bin that will point to ~/bin/

knowing that the bin folder included in ~ needs to be created beforehand by yourself according to the provided instructions ...

this might be the reason for the issues encountered by Aliboron in putting something in the bin folder ...?
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Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
briceb89 :
I can't put my ffmpeg in the /usr/bin path. I can't copy it there.


As already mentioned, that's normal; this operation is not allowed by High Sierra. You need to boot from an external drive to modify the contents of that folder. Or maybe use Command-R to start from the recovery partition (but I'm not too keen on messing with that).
0
ziggourat Posted messages 24653 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   5 340
 
Hello,

Replays are usually available directly on the channels' websites.

I’m on Windows first of all, where there are other methods to download replays (not all programs can be recorded, however), but I’m not sure if this works with all channels. Maybe it could also work on Mac:
- use Video Downloadhelper in your browser, such as Firefox, for example.
It works for France TV, Arte, but I’m not sure if it’s valid for the TF1 group or M6 or Canal (the site is inaccessible to me so I cannot test it) for which it seems you need to register.
- use the Jdownloader 2 application by copying the URL link of the relevant page to retrieve the video afterwards.
I’m also not sure if this works for all channels.
Example for programs from the channels France 3, TF1, and Arte:

For Arte, you need to choose which video file you want to keep and especially the language as all options are presented like Captvty does, so delete the others.

These are just two alternatives among other possible ones.
Good luck with *_Francis_* for Mac in any case ;-)

Best regards
0
briceb89
 
Good evening,

I finally managed to copy the files ffmpeg, ffplay, ffprobe, and ff server to the path /usr/bin.
A new window "Download" opens with the title:
--------------------------------
- Starting download -
---------------------------------

But nothing is happening. The progress bar remains empty?
Any ideas?
Could it be due to the destination file that I set under /user/monnom/series/download???

Thank you for all your advice, I'm making progress with my issue :)
0
Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3655 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   989
 
No, the progress bar stays at 0% (the exchanges between the application and ffmpeg must not be working properly) but the download is indeed happening.

When you are in "Catchup TV & more", in the "Options" (at the bottom left of the screen), you can choose in the "Downloads" section to have downloads happen in the background. This allows you to request multiple ones in parallel. So you also see a kind of "wheel" spinning while it downloads, which is always better than the bar that stays at 0%... ;-)
0
briceb89
 
Yes, yes, I know, I first changed my path so that my video saves under "Downloads" without the progress bar showing!
And you answered my question by telling me where to modify the settings in "Catchup TV & More" to no longer have that bar...
Thank you for your help.

PS I will try reinstalling Captvty on my Mac.
I will start a new topic if needed.

Have a great weekend!!
0