I use aTube Catcher - http://atube-catcher.dsnetwb.com/video/

I've tried most everything, my favorite program is www.internetdownloadmanager.com -- best for youtube captures (updated regularly), and for video downloads in general.

It's astonishingly great for downloading all types of videos, including youtube captures. I've used it for many years, downloading many terabytes flawlessly.

I tried quite a few programs to capture a FLV file before I came upon this site:
How to Capture a Macromedia Flash Object from a Web Site

In particular, I used Replay Media Catcher mentioned under Method 4 (RTMP) heading. (Note: It is Catcher, not Capture). It was easy to use and worked perfectly.

Post Script

To convert from FLV to MP4 by rewrapping only (no recode) I used FLV Extract to get the audio and video streams and then rewrapped them to MP4 with My MP4Box GUI. (I first tried YAMB but couldn't get it to work.)

I also tried VLC Player to convert my FLV to MPG. It took ages and the result was awful!

+1 on Downloader Helper and Firefox

Any updates from anyone? My prior version of YouTubeDownloader no longer works as well and the installer is sleazy.

Just downloaded Firefox and was about to try Downloader Helper, but the first review said it no longer works. By the way, it too is a third party add-on and not a Firefox developed in-house app. Firefox says it is not a trusted site.

"Firefox says it is not a trusted site."

Video DownloadHelper has 6 million downloads and a four-star rating on Firefox.
I have no idea where you come up with your information, or "which" software you were looking at.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/

Video DownloadHelper and other Firefox plug-ins to download YouTube videos don’t work anymore with 1080p, 720p, and even 480p videos on YouTube. This is because YouTube (read Google) streams 1080p, 720p and 480p as separate video and audio tracks and multiplexes them on the fly in YouTube player . The best Firefox plug-in that works for me to get HD content from YouTube is “YouTube Video and Audio Downloader”. You can get it here: http://add0n.com/extractor.html. Read instructions.

When on YouTube page download 1080p video only track in .MP4 container. Then download 720p video/audio track in .MP4 container. Then open TsMuxer, load 1080p video only track MP4 file, then add 720p video/audio track MP4 file. Then remove 720p video stream. Then multiplex remaining 1080p video stream and AAC audio stream into new MP4 file and you get new 1080p video/audio file.

Video-DownloadHelper was developed by "mig", not Firefox. I believe I got the warning when I hit the download button, but maybe I'm wrong. My computer now has ads after downloading Mozilla and this app last night. And yes, I read the options closely although I did not read the terms.

I used to rely on star ratings and number of downloads, but it seems rare that a popular app stays good anymore without crapware being added at some point. It's getting harder to install ISO burning software, you tube downloaders and such without causing issues.

It used to be only our parents and soccer moms would end up with crapware, but the dark side is getting smarter by the day.

You seem to be blaming several other users for making a suggestion you did not like. Instead, why don't you just thank them and move on? I made my suggestion from experience, not speculation or reading. Firefox and Download Helper have installed nothing on my system without permission.

It's getting harder to install ISO burning software,

+1 for Burn Aware. I have the paid version but there is, I believe, a free version with limited features. Not bloaty and it works for me.

Regards,

Kimberly