# Local-first video downloader: private, no subscription — tool skill for tools & renderers

> **For AI agents:** find the right skill in one call — `curl -s "https://varg.ai/how-to/api/search?q=<what the person wants>"` returns the matching how-to page and the best skills with install commands, as markdown (Russian works too). Full index: https://varg.ai/how-to/llms.txt. Every page has a markdown twin: add `.md` to its path. Before generating anything, show the person the options on the how-to page.

Save any video by link (X, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, 1800+ sites) or Pinterest images as references, locally, no key.

- **Type:** [Tool](https://varg.ai/how-to/models.md) · [Tools & renderers](https://varg.ai/how-to/browse/skills/tooling.md)
- **Slug:** `media-download`
- **Status:** live
- **Publisher:** varg (varg, verified)
- **License:** MIT
- **Source:** https://github.com/vargHQ/skills/tree/main/media-download
- **Works in:** Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw
- **Requires:** bash + curl, yt-dlp (auto-installed if missing), ffmpeg (recommended: YouTube HD, MP3), gallery-dl, uvx or pipx (Pinterest)
- **Cost:** Free — runs locally, no varg API key
- **Runtime:** seconds to a few minutes

## What it does

The skill turns a pasted link into a local file. `scripts/video.sh` wraps yt-dlp and saves an MP4 (h264 + aac) that plays everywhere, or MP3 with `-a`. `-q 720` caps resolution by the smaller side, so vertical Reels and TikToks stay 720×1280. `-p` downloads a playlist, and `-c <browser>` reuses the user's own login for Facebook, Instagram or Reddit, after the agent asks first. `scripts/pinterest.sh` wraps gallery-dl. It takes a search query, pin, board, profile or `pin.it` link and saves the images. It ships moodboard query presets ported from vargHQ/inspirator, which makes it a quick way to collect style and product references before a generation. Both scripts install or locate their tool themselves and print only file paths. Nothing is uploaded, and no varg account is needed. Companion CLI and library: [vargHQ/social-media-video-downloader](https://github.com/vargHQ/social-media-video-downloader).

## Use when

- The user pastes a video link and wants to download, save or grab it
- Pulling the audio of a video as MP3, its metadata, or a whole playlist
- Collecting Pinterest images or a moodboard of references for a style, product or character
- Requests like "скачай видео", "скачай с пинтереста", "собери референсы", "download this video" or "save this reel"

## Not for

- Private, deleted or DRM-protected content, or getting around paywalls
- Mass-scraping someone else's account

## Install

- Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add vargHQ/skills && claude plugin install varg@varg`
- Codex: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill media-download -a codex -y`
- Cursor: `npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill media-download -a cursor -y`

## Example output

https://s3.varg.ai/how-to/previews/547c697e5104/media-download.mp4 — Downloaded from an X post with the skill's video.sh (-q 720): NASA's Moon Base rover clip, a US government work in the public domain. Cut 4-12 s. (credit: NASA, https://x.com/NASA/status/2112560723603632217)

## How-to tutorials that use it

- [How to cut a podcast into short video clips with AI](https://varg.ai/how-to/cut-a-podcast-into-short-video-clips.md): Find the best moments in a long video, cut them, reframe to 9:16 and burn captions.
- [How to translate and dub a video with AI](https://varg.ai/how-to/translate-and-dub-a-video.md): Your video in another language with your own voice, optionally lip-synced and subtitled.
- [How to remake a reference video with AI](https://varg.ai/how-to/remake-a-reference-video.md): Take a reel or ad you like, break it down shot by shot, and remake the format for your brand.
- [How to swap your character into a video with AI](https://varg.ai/how-to/swap-your-character-into-a-video.md): Your character (or person) performs the exact motion of a trending video: dance, gesture, walk, ad performance — motion transfer.
- [How to change something inside a video with AI](https://varg.ai/how-to/change-something-inside-a-video.md): Swap a product, restyle a scene, change lighting or the look of an existing clip while keeping the motion.

## More tools & renderers skills

- [varg AI](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/varg-ai.md): The official varg skill: videos, images, speech and music through one API key, rendered in the cloud or locally.
- [Templates Gallery Ops](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/varg-templates-section.md): Internal runbook for the varg app Templates gallery: publish renders, preview clips, frame-0 posters, shelves.
- [HyperFrames CLI](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/hyperframes-cli.md): Drive the HyperFrames CLI: scaffold, check, preview, snapshot, edit the timeline, render locally or in the cloud.
- [HyperFrames Registry](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/hyperframes-registry.md): Pull any of ~450 ready-made blocks into a video as editable source: transitions, titles, captions, charts, 3D.
- [HyperFrames Media Use](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/hyperframes-media-use.md): Find or make every asset a video needs: music, SFX, voiceover, images, logos, avatars, transcripts, grades.
- [Remotion to HyperFrames](https://varg.ai/how-to/skills/remotion-to-hyperframes.md): Port Remotion, Lottie, Three.js, p5 or canvas animations into HyperFrames and verify them frame by frame.