Portable StreamBuffRe 0.8.2.2
StreamBuffRe Portable – (Buffer and Redirect Streams) enables you to buffer (download into ram) and redirect media streams towards various destinations. Based on this core functionality, you can watch, save and manage many available media streams. Its plugin architecture provides a way to add even more functionality.
StreamBuffRe captures online streams and forwards them to local players, allowing you to enjoy watching videos without having to use a web browser. Its name stands for “Buffer and Redirect Streams”, although its functionality is not limited to that; it also comes with additional functions, such as downloading and converting online multimedia content.
A mandatory first-time setup wizard
When running StreamBuffRe for the first time, you must go through the configuration process to download and install prerequisites. While some can be skipped, others must be installed for StreamBuffRe to be able to work properly.
youtube-dl is the URL resolver StreamBuffRe uses to recognize the URL and extract information about the stream, while FFMPEG allows it to convert the videos. As for the compatible players, StreamBuffRe prompts you to choose between VLC and MPV, both free software. For your convenience, StreamBuffRe can download the installer packages without you having to look them up online yourself.
Buffer streams and download content to your PC
Working with StreamBuffRe is pretty intuitive, as you just have to type in or paste the correct stream URL in the dedicated field. As an extra benefit, the application features support for automatic recognition of links in the clipboard.
Right-clicking on an entry allows you to send the stream to the local player (VLC or MPV, whichever you installed). Additionally, downloading and recording the stream is possible, both as a merged audio-video file and as MP3 only. Customizable stream size and time limitations, as well as different playback qualities, are other options you can tamper with.
As secondary features, StreamBuffRe comes with favorites support, a player history, and stream feed monitoring. Furthermore, it features remote controlling.
A video streamer, downloader, and converter in a single package
StreamBuffRe is an interesting application for those who want to use a local player instead of their browser for playing online content. What’s more, it is not just a player, but it also conveys a video and audio downloader and converter that enables you to grab clips or music to a locally-stored collection. As a suggestion, it would be good to have the converter support for file formats.
Common use cases for StreamBuffRe are
- watching one or more streams comfortably via native players,
- download and/or convert videos and livestreams,
- organize your streams in favourites and get informed about new ones via feeds.
In the main window you can either add streams to the playlist via URL or start searching them.
Once in the playlist you can save or watch streams, add them to your favourites and much more. The bars beneath the stream names tell you the buffering progress. Once green the download is complete.
Beneath the playlist, you can select the quality of the selected stream and the player settings used to watch it.
You can minimize StreamBuffRe to your system tray and let it run in the background while buffering and watching streams. Hovering over StreamBuffRes sytem tray icon will open the preview window and inform you about your streams.
You can customize it to match your needs by adding different widgets. Among them are a timetable for events from google calendars or .ical and .ics files, an online checker for livestreams, a direct search for streams and a remote controller for running players. Many widgets let you start the configured streams with a single click.
One of StreamBuffRes main features is the tight integration of external players which lets you watch several streams in different players at once. You can also buffer other streams at the same time, as long as your internet connection can handle it. The different player profiles are the perfect way to start the players just like you need them. Perfect for multi monitor systems, especially when playing in full screen in one of them while watching streams on another one.
You can search for streams and playlists from several services. The picture shows the results, which may contain videos, livestreams and playlists. You can add them to StreamBuffRes playlist or favourites and directly watch them with a single click. The result window can be customized to search only with specific services, change the order of results or switch to the bright theme.
In order to keep control over StreamBuffRe and all running players, it comes with a HTTP based remote control that is used like a normal website. All modern browsers are supported, including browsers like the Steam game overlay or the Overwolf web browser rendering it perfect for gamers with two or more screens. The screenshot shows the remote control used in an android browser (default theme) and in the Steam game overlay browser (dark theme). You can also customize the interface by editing its HTML and JavaScript code to fit your requirements.
StreamBuffRe instances can be connected to each other via different types of connections. This works in your LAN or online without the need to create any user accounts or a central server. Once connected to others you can see what they watch right now and play it for yourself; even synced from the same stream position. Furthermore, you can exchange favourites and feeds as well as recommend streams to others.
The screenshot shows the Connections window with several active connections. Some contacts are online and watching streams, others are currently offline.
Tasks let you automate StreamBuffRe by executing predefined commands triggered by certain conditions. The taskmanager, shown in the screenshot, lists all available triggers and the attached tasks on the left, the settings of the tasks trigger in the middle and the corresponding command with its setting on the right. Recording livestreams as soon as they go online, downloading all new videos of feeds, playing videos synced with contacts or showing notifications at certain times are just some examples for tasks. StreamBuffRe offers menus in many different places to quickly create tasks for most frequent use cases.