Python script to download podcast from TED and convert videos to audio-only .ogg files

tedcast

#! /usr/bin/env python
#
# Copyright (c) 2009, Thomas Jost <thomas.jost@gmail.com>
#
# Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
# purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
# copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
#
# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
# WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
# MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
# ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
# WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
# ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
# OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

import feedparser
import os
import os.path
import subprocess
import sys

PODCAST_URL = "http://feeds.feedburner.com/tedtalks_video"
DUMP_FILE = 'audiodump.wav'
nb_to_fetch = 5

if len(sys.argv) == 2:
	nb_to_fetch = int(sys.argv[1])
print "Fetching %d items" % nb_to_fetch

d = feedparser.parse(PODCAST_URL)

fetched = 0
for e in d.entries:
	fetched += 1
	if fetched > nb_to_fetch: break

	title = e.subtitle
	author = e.author
	url = e.id
	dst_file = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(url))[0] + '.ogg'
	print '%s: "%s"' % (author, title)
	
	if os.path.exists(dst_file):
		print "\t* Already downloaded"
	else:
		print "\t* Downloading..."

		if not os.path.exists(DUMP_FILE):
			os.mkfifo(DUMP_FILE, 0600)
		dl_cmd = ['mplayer', '-nolirc', '-really-quiet', '-vo', 'null', '-ao', 'pcm:fast', url]
		conv_cmd = ['oggenc', '-Q', '-q3', '-l', 'TEDTalks', '-a', author, '-t', title, '-o', dst_file, DUMP_FILE]

		conv_p = subprocess.Popen(conv_cmd)
		dl_p = subprocess.Popen(dl_cmd)

		retcode = dl_p.wait()
		if retcode != 0:
			print "\t! Error: mplayer exited with code %d" % retcode
			break

		retcode = conv_p.wait()
		if retcode != 0:
			print "\t! Error: oggenc exited with code %d" % retcode
			break

		print "\t* File ready: %s" % dst_file

if os.path.exists(DUMP_FILE):
	os.remove(DUMP_FILE)