Add video codec selector and codec/quality columns in done list

Allow users to prefer a specific video codec (H.264, H.265, AV1, VP9)
when adding downloads. The selector filters available formats via
yt-dlp format strings, falling back to best available if the preferred
codec is not found. The completed downloads table now shows Quality
and Codec columns.

app/dl_formats.py

@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@ import copy
 AUDIO_FORMATS = ("m4a", "mp3", "opus", "wav", "flac")
 CAPTION_MODES = ("auto_only", "manual_only", "prefer_manual", "prefer_auto")
 
+CODEC_FILTER_MAP = {
+    'h264': "[vcodec~='^(h264|avc)']",
+    'h265': "[vcodec~='^(h265|hevc)']",
+    'av1':  "[vcodec~='^av0?1']",
+    'vp9':  "[vcodec~='^vp0?9']",
+}
+
 
 def _normalize_caption_mode(mode: str) -> str:
     mode = (mode or "").strip()
@@ -14,13 +21,14 @@ def _normalize_subtitle_language(language: str) -> str:
     return language or "en"
 
 
-def get_format(format: str, quality: str) -> str:
+def get_format(format: str, quality: str, video_codec: str = "auto") -> str:
     """
     Returns format for download
 
     Args:
       format (str): format selected
       quality (str): quality selected
+      video_codec (str): video codec filter (auto, h264, h265, av1, vp9)
 
     Raises:
       Exception: unknown quality, unknown format
@@ -52,6 +60,7 @@ def get_format(format: str, quality: str) -> str:
         vfmt, afmt = ("[ext=mp4]", "[ext=m4a]") if format == "mp4" else ("", "")
         vres = f"[height<={quality}]" if quality not in ("best", "best_ios", "worst") else ""
         vcombo = vres + vfmt
+        codec_filter = CODEC_FILTER_MAP.get(video_codec, "")
 
         if quality == "best_ios":
             # iOS has strict requirements for video files, requiring h264 or h265
@@ -61,6 +70,10 @@ def get_format(format: str, quality: str) -> str:
             # convert if needed), and falls back to getting the best available MP4
             # file.
             return f"bestvideo[vcodec~='^((he|a)vc|h26[45])']{vres}+bestaudio[acodec=aac]/bestvideo[vcodec~='^((he|a)vc|h26[45])']{vres}+bestaudio{afmt}/bestvideo{vcombo}+bestaudio{afmt}/best{vcombo}"
+
+        if codec_filter:
+            # Try codec-filtered first, fall back to unfiltered
+            return f"bestvideo{codec_filter}{vcombo}+bestaudio{afmt}/bestvideo{vcombo}+bestaudio{afmt}/best{vcombo}"
         return f"bestvideo{vcombo}+bestaudio{afmt}/best{vcombo}"
 
     raise Exception(f"Unkown format {format}")
@@ -73,6 +86,7 @@ def get_opts(
     subtitle_format: str = "srt",
     subtitle_language: str = "en",
     subtitle_mode: str = "prefer_manual",
+    video_codec: str = "auto",
 ) -> dict:
     """
     Returns extra download options

app/main.py

@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ async def add(request):
     subtitle_format = post.get('subtitle_format')
     subtitle_language = post.get('subtitle_language')
     subtitle_mode = post.get('subtitle_mode')
+    video_codec = post.get('video_codec')
 
     if custom_name_prefix is None:
         custom_name_prefix = ''
@@ -319,6 +320,12 @@ async def add(request):
     if subtitle_mode not in VALID_SUBTITLE_MODES:
         raise web.HTTPBadRequest(reason=f'subtitle_mode must be one of {sorted(VALID_SUBTITLE_MODES)}')
 
+    if video_codec is None:
+        video_codec = 'auto'
+    video_codec = str(video_codec).strip().lower()
+    if video_codec not in ('auto', 'h264', 'h265', 'av1', 'vp9'):
+        raise web.HTTPBadRequest(reason="video_codec must be one of ['auto', 'h264', 'h265', 'av1', 'vp9']")
+
     playlist_item_limit = int(playlist_item_limit)
 
     status = await dqueue.add(
@@ -334,6 +341,7 @@ async def add(request):
         subtitle_format,
         subtitle_language,
         subtitle_mode,
+        video_codec=video_codec,
     )
     return web.Response(text=serializer.encode(status))
 

app/ytdl.py

@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ class DownloadInfo:
         subtitle_format="srt",
         subtitle_language="en",
         subtitle_mode="prefer_manual",
+        video_codec="auto",
     ):
         self.id = id if len(custom_name_prefix) == 0 else f'{custom_name_prefix}.{id}'
         self.title = title if len(custom_name_prefix) == 0 else f'{custom_name_prefix}.{title}'
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ class DownloadInfo:
         self.subtitle_language = subtitle_language
         self.subtitle_mode = subtitle_mode
         self.subtitle_files = []
+        self.video_codec = video_codec
 
 class Download:
     manager = None
@@ -194,7 +196,7 @@ class Download:
         self.output_template = output_template
         self.output_template_chapter = output_template_chapter
         self.info = info
-        self.format = get_format(format, quality)
+        self.format = get_format(format, quality, video_codec=getattr(info, 'video_codec', 'auto'))
         self.ytdl_opts = get_opts(
             format,
             quality,
@@ -202,6 +204,7 @@ class Download:
             subtitle_format=getattr(info, 'subtitle_format', 'srt'),
             subtitle_language=getattr(info, 'subtitle_language', 'en'),
             subtitle_mode=getattr(info, 'subtitle_mode', 'prefer_manual'),
+            video_codec=getattr(info, 'video_codec', 'auto'),
         )
         if "impersonate" in self.ytdl_opts:
             self.ytdl_opts["impersonate"] = yt_dlp.networking.impersonate.ImpersonateTarget.from_str(self.ytdl_opts["impersonate"])
@@ -687,6 +690,7 @@ class DownloadQueue:
         subtitle_mode,
         already,
         _add_gen=None,
+        video_codec="auto",
     ):
         if not entry:
             return {'status': 'error', 'msg': "Invalid/empty data was given."}
@@ -718,6 +722,7 @@ class DownloadQueue:
                 subtitle_mode,
                 already,
                 _add_gen,
+                video_codec,
             )
         elif etype == 'playlist' or etype == 'channel':
             log.debug(f'Processing as a {etype}')
@@ -757,6 +762,7 @@ class DownloadQueue:
                         subtitle_mode,
                         already,
                         _add_gen,
+                        video_codec,
                     )
                 )
             if any(res['status'] == 'error' for res in results):
@@ -785,6 +791,7 @@ class DownloadQueue:
                     subtitle_format,
                     subtitle_language,
                     subtitle_mode,
+                    video_codec,
                 )
                 await self.__add_download(dl, auto_start)
             return {'status': 'ok'}
@@ -806,11 +813,13 @@ class DownloadQueue:
         subtitle_mode="prefer_manual",
         already=None,
         _add_gen=None,
+        video_codec="auto",
     ):
         log.info(
             f'adding {url}: {quality=} {format=} {already=} {folder=} {custom_name_prefix=} '
             f'{playlist_item_limit=} {auto_start=} {split_by_chapters=} {chapter_template=} '
-            f'{subtitle_format=} {subtitle_language=} {subtitle_mode=}'
+            f'{subtitle_format=} {subtitle_language=} {subtitle_mode=} '
+            f'{video_codec=}'
         )
         if already is None:
             _add_gen = self._add_generation
@@ -840,6 +849,7 @@ class DownloadQueue:
             subtitle_mode,
             already,
             _add_gen,
+            video_codec,
         )
 
     async def start_pending(self, ids):

ui/angular.json

@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@
               "buildTarget": "metube:build:production"
             },
              "development": {
-              "buildTarget": "metube:build:development"
+              "buildTarget": "metube:build:development",
+              "proxyConfig": "proxy.conf.json"
             }
           },
            "defaultConfiguration": "development"

ui/src/app/app.html

@@ -279,6 +279,23 @@
                     </div>
                   </div>
                 }
+                @if (isVideoType()) {
+                  <div class="col-md-4">
+                    <div class="input-group">
+                      <span class="input-group-text">Video Codec</span>
+                      <select class="form-select"
+                        name="videoCodec"
+                        [(ngModel)]="videoCodec"
+                        (change)="videoCodecChanged()"
+                        [disabled]="addInProgress || downloads.loading"
+                        ngbTooltip="Prefer a specific video codec. Falls back to best available if not found.">
+                        @for (vc of videoCodecs; track vc.id) {
+                          <option [ngValue]="vc.id">{{ vc.text }}</option>
+                        }
+                      </select>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                }
                 <div class="col-12">
                   <div class="row g-2 align-items-center">
                     <div class="col-auto">
@@ -489,6 +506,8 @@
             <app-master-checkbox #doneMasterCheckboxRef [id]="'done'" [list]="downloads.done" (changed)="doneSelectionChanged($event)" />
           </th>
           <th scope="col">Video</th>
+          <th scope="col">Quality</th>
+          <th scope="col">Codec</th>
           <th scope="col">File Size</th>
           <th scope="col">Downloaded</th>
           <th scope="col" style="width: 8rem;"></th>
@@ -552,6 +571,12 @@
                 </div>
               }
             </td>
+            <td class="text-nowrap">
+              {{ formatQualityLabel(entry[1]) }}
+            </td>
+            <td class="text-nowrap">
+              {{ formatCodecLabel(entry[1]) }}
+            </td>
             <td>
               @if (entry[1].size) {
                 <span>{{ entry[1].size | fileSize }}</span>
@@ -586,6 +611,8 @@
                 getChapterFileName(chapterFile.filename) }}</a>
             </div>
           </td>
+          <td></td>
+          <td></td>
           <td>
             @if (chapterFile.size) {
             <span>{{ chapterFile.size | fileSize }}</span>

ui/src/app/app.ts

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
   subtitleFormat: string;
   subtitleLanguage: string;
   subtitleMode: string;
+  videoCodec: string;
   addInProgress = false;
   cancelRequested = false;
   hasCookies = false;
@@ -169,6 +170,13 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
     { id: 'manual_only', text: 'Manual Only' },
     { id: 'auto_only', text: 'Auto Only' },
   ];
+  videoCodecs = [
+    { id: 'auto', text: 'Auto' },
+    { id: 'h264', text: 'H.264' },
+    { id: 'h265', text: 'H.265 (HEVC)' },
+    { id: 'av1', text: 'AV1' },
+    { id: 'vp9', text: 'VP9' },
+  ];
 
   constructor() {
     this.format = this.cookieService.get('metube_format') || 'any';
@@ -182,6 +190,11 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
     this.subtitleFormat = this.cookieService.get('metube_subtitle_format') || 'srt';
     this.subtitleLanguage = this.cookieService.get('metube_subtitle_language') || 'en';
     this.subtitleMode = this.cookieService.get('metube_subtitle_mode') || 'prefer_manual';
+    this.videoCodec = this.cookieService.get('metube_video_codec') || 'auto';
+    const allowedVideoCodecs = new Set(this.videoCodecs.map(c => c.id));
+    if (!allowedVideoCodecs.has(this.videoCodec)) {
+      this.videoCodec = 'auto';
+    }
     const allowedSubtitleFormats = new Set(this.subtitleFormats.map(fmt => fmt.id));
     const allowedSubtitleModes = new Set(this.subtitleModes.map(mode => mode.id));
     if (!allowedSubtitleFormats.has(this.subtitleFormat)) {
@@ -379,6 +392,28 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
     this.cookieService.set('metube_subtitle_mode', this.subtitleMode, { expires: 3650 });
   }
 
+  videoCodecChanged() {
+    this.cookieService.set('metube_video_codec', this.videoCodec, { expires: 3650 });
+  }
+
+  isVideoType() {
+    return (this.format === 'any' || this.format === 'mp4') && this.quality !== 'audio';
+  }
+
+  formatQualityLabel(download: Download): string {
+    const q = download.quality;
+    if (!q) return '';
+    if (/^\d+$/.test(q)) return `${q}p`;
+    if (q === 'best_ios') return 'Best (iOS)';
+    return q.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + q.slice(1);
+  }
+
+  formatCodecLabel(download: Download): string {
+    const codec = download.video_codec;
+    if (!codec || codec === 'auto') return 'Auto';
+    return this.videoCodecs.find(c => c.id === codec)?.text ?? codec;
+  }
+
   queueSelectionChanged(checked: number) {
     this.queueDelSelected().nativeElement.disabled = checked == 0;
     this.queueDownloadSelected().nativeElement.disabled = checked == 0;
@@ -412,6 +447,7 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
     subtitleFormat?: string,
     subtitleLanguage?: string,
     subtitleMode?: string,
+    videoCodec?: string,
   ) {
     url = url ?? this.addUrl
     quality = quality ?? this.quality
@@ -425,6 +461,7 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
     subtitleFormat = subtitleFormat ?? this.subtitleFormat
     subtitleLanguage = subtitleLanguage ?? this.subtitleLanguage
     subtitleMode = subtitleMode ?? this.subtitleMode
+    videoCodec = videoCodec ?? this.videoCodec
 
     // Validate chapter template if chapter splitting is enabled
     if (splitByChapters && !chapterTemplate.includes('%(section_number)')) {
@@ -432,10 +469,10 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
       return;
     }
 
-    console.debug('Downloading: url=' + url + ' quality=' + quality + ' format=' + format + ' folder=' + folder + ' customNamePrefix=' + customNamePrefix + ' playlistItemLimit=' + playlistItemLimit + ' autoStart=' + autoStart + ' splitByChapters=' + splitByChapters + ' chapterTemplate=' + chapterTemplate + ' subtitleFormat=' + subtitleFormat + ' subtitleLanguage=' + subtitleLanguage + ' subtitleMode=' + subtitleMode);
+    console.debug('Downloading: url=' + url + ' quality=' + quality + ' format=' + format + ' folder=' + folder + ' customNamePrefix=' + customNamePrefix + ' playlistItemLimit=' + playlistItemLimit + ' autoStart=' + autoStart + ' splitByChapters=' + splitByChapters + ' chapterTemplate=' + chapterTemplate + ' subtitleFormat=' + subtitleFormat + ' subtitleLanguage=' + subtitleLanguage + ' subtitleMode=' + subtitleMode + ' videoCodec=' + videoCodec);
     this.addInProgress = true;
     this.cancelRequested = false;
-    this.downloads.add(url, quality, format, folder, customNamePrefix, playlistItemLimit, autoStart, splitByChapters, chapterTemplate, subtitleFormat, subtitleLanguage, subtitleMode).subscribe((status: Status) => {
+    this.downloads.add(url, quality, format, folder, customNamePrefix, playlistItemLimit, autoStart, splitByChapters, chapterTemplate, subtitleFormat, subtitleLanguage, subtitleMode, videoCodec).subscribe((status: Status) => {
       if (status.status === 'error' && !this.cancelRequested) {
         alert(`Error adding URL: ${status.msg}`);
       } else if (status.status !== 'error') {
@@ -473,6 +510,7 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
       download.subtitle_format,
       download.subtitle_language,
       download.subtitle_mode,
+      download.video_codec,
     );
     this.downloads.delById('done', [key]).subscribe();
   }
@@ -620,7 +658,7 @@ export class App implements AfterViewInit, OnInit {
       // Now pass the selected quality, format, folder, etc. to the add() method
       this.downloads.add(url, this.quality, this.format, this.folder, this.customNamePrefix,
         this.playlistItemLimit, this.autoStart, this.splitByChapters, this.chapterTemplate,
-        this.subtitleFormat, this.subtitleLanguage, this.subtitleMode)
+        this.subtitleFormat, this.subtitleLanguage, this.subtitleMode, this.videoCodec)
         .subscribe({
           next: (status: Status) => {
             if (status.status === 'error') {

ui/src/app/interfaces/download.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export interface Download {
   subtitle_format?: string;
   subtitle_language?: string;
   subtitle_mode?: string;
+  video_codec?: string;
   status: string;
   msg: string;
   percent: number;

ui/src/app/services/downloads.service.ts

@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ export class DownloadsService {
     subtitleFormat: string,
     subtitleLanguage: string,
     subtitleMode: string,
+    videoCodec: string,
   ) {
     return this.http.post<Status>('add', {
       url: url,
@@ -133,7 +134,8 @@ export class DownloadsService {
       chapter_template: chapterTemplate,
       subtitle_format: subtitleFormat,
       subtitle_language: subtitleLanguage,
-      subtitle_mode: subtitleMode
+      subtitle_mode: subtitleMode,
+      video_codec: videoCodec,
     }).pipe(
       catchError(this.handleHTTPError)
     );
@@ -183,6 +185,7 @@ export class DownloadsService {
     const defaultSubtitleFormat = 'srt';
     const defaultSubtitleLanguage = 'en';
     const defaultSubtitleMode = 'prefer_manual';
+    const defaultVideoCodec = 'auto';
 
     return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
       this.add(
@@ -198,6 +201,7 @@ export class DownloadsService {
         defaultSubtitleFormat,
         defaultSubtitleLanguage,
         defaultSubtitleMode,
+        defaultVideoCodec,
       )
         .subscribe({
           next: (response) => resolve(response),