Saves · June 24, 2026

yt-dlp and ffmpeg, in the notch

By Ayaan @ Noggin

YouTube save and Spotify save are opt-in modules. Noggin does not download the file itself. It hands your link to two command-line tools on this MacOS: yt-dlp fetches the media, ffmpeg turns audio into an MP3. Install them once with Homebrew. After that, paste a link in the notch.

Night mountains wallpaper
zsh — brew

          


          

            

              
              
                
                
              
            

            

              

              

                

                  Thu 1:21 PM
                  
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YouTube

                  
Paste a YouTube link

                  

                    Save as MP4, MP3, or MOV. Needs yt-dlp.
                    
                  

                

                

                  
Spotify MP3

                  
Paste a Spotify or track link

                  

                    Saves an MP3 to Downloads. Needs yt-dlp and ffmpeg.
                    
                  

                

                
                
v0.1.2·BETA

              

            

          


          

            
 Downloads

            

              

                MP4
                lecture.mp4
              

              

                MP3
                track.mp3
              

            

          

        

        
Install yt-dlp and ffmpeg once with Homebrew.

        
      

    


    

      
What each tool does

      
yt-dlp is a downloader. You give it a URL. It finds the actual media and writes a file. YouTube save uses it for MP4, MP3, or MOV in Downloads. Pick the format from Save.

      
ffmpeg is a converter. Sites often send video and audio as separate streams, or in a format that is not MP3. Spotify save asks yt-dlp to extract audio, then ffmpeg writes the MP3. YouTube MP3 and MOV need ffmpeg too.

      
Noggin looks for both in the usual Homebrew folders. If a tool is missing, the tile tells you to install it. Nothing ships inside the app.


      
Install them once

      
    
        
  1. Install Homebrew if you do not have it yet, from brew.sh.
    2. 
        
  2. In Terminal: brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg
    3. 
        
  3. Wait until both finish. You should be able to run yt-dlp --version and ffmpeg -version.
    4. 
      

      
YouTube MP4 can run on yt-dlp alone. MP3, MOV, and Spotify save need ffmpeg. One Homebrew command covers both tools.


      
Turn the tiles on

      
    
        
  1. These modules start off. Open Settings → Library, then Install.
    2. 
        
  2. Turn on YouTube save, Spotify save, or both.
    3. 
        
  3. Paste a link in the tile. Open Save. YouTube offers MP4, MP3, and MOV. Spotify is MP3. How it works opens this guide.
    4. 
      


      
The honest Spotify bit

      
Spotify does not offer a public “download this track” API. yt-dlp reads the Spotify link for the song, then fetches audio from a source it can actually download, often YouTube. It is a convenience tile, not an official Spotify download.

      
YouTube save is the straightforward one. A YouTube link becomes MP4, MP3, or MOV from the Save menu. Both tiles only accept https YouTube or Spotify links. You are responsible for having the rights to save what you paste. See Terms.

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