HiDownload (Phoenix) is a Windows stream downloader that saves online video and audio locally. It combines a media URL sniffer, download queue, player and converter. It handles segmented HLS and DASH streams, plus detected MP4 links.
Finding and downloading streams
A webpage address often leads to a player rather than a video file. HiDownload's built-in browser opens the page, and its sniffer lists media requested during playback. Entries include M3U8 playlists, MPD manifests and MP4 files hidden from the address bar.
Advertising clips can appear alongside the main recording. Continuing transfer activity helps distinguish the content playlist from a short preview or advertisement; other entries may represent different qualities. A poster alone may not trigger the requests needed for detection.
An HLS master playlist points to quality variants, each identifying the video segments to retrieve. HiDownload downloads the selected playlist's segments and combines them into a local media file. The choice of playlist determines the source quality being saved.
Saving the M3U8 text alone would retain segment addresses rather than the recording. When a source separates audio and video, both tracks must be downloaded and merged to produce a file with sound.
DASH uses an MPD manifest to describe available video and audio streams. HiDownload presents them for selection, letting the user choose among the source's qualities and formats. It cannot unlock DRM-protected streams.
Several playlists or episodes can be placed in the download queue. Media addresses may contain short-lived tokens that expire during a job. A freshly detected link may then be needed before downloading can continue.
Live recording and resumed downloads
A live playlist changes as new segments arrive. HiDownload collects them while the recording job runs, so its length grows with the broadcast. The user can end capture when the desired part of the event is complete.
HiDownload retains progress in interrupted HLS or DASH jobs. It resumes without fetching every completed segment again. A fixed on-demand playlist lets it continue retrieving unfinished material, while a live recording depends on the server's remaining segments.
Once the server removes older live segments, resuming cannot retrieve them. A long interruption can therefore leave material unavailable even though the job retains its progress. Starting a new capture may be necessary.
Playing and converting saved media
The built-in player opens completed downloads for video and audio playback inside HiDownload. Its converter changes saved media into formats for other players or editors. It produces MP4 or MKV video and MP3, AAC or WAV audio, including extracted video soundtracks.
HiDownload is offered as a time-limited trial with one-year and lifetime licence choices. Registration removes the trial's usage limit and enables simultaneous file downloads and access to the built-in URL Sniffer module.
