Cepther / Guide

How to use Cepther

First launch

1
Open Cepther

Launch the app on Windows.

2
Follow the introduction

A short tour explains the basics and ends by downloading the required tools. Open it again any time from the About page in Settings.

3
Choose a folder, if needed

The default is Downloads/Cepther. Change it in Settings → Downloads → Download Path if you prefer.

Your first download

1
Copy the media link

Copy the address of the video, audio or gallery page.

2
Paste into the search box

Choose the available quality and format, or select Best Output.

3
Download

Start the download. Open the saved file or its folder when it finishes.

Choosing quality

1
Best Output

Select the best quality the source provides. Your saved container preference still applies.

2
Choose a specific format

Every format is listed, grouped by resolution. Filter by format, resolution, frame rate, codec or bitrate, or turn on MP4 only.

3
Read the details

Open a format’s details to see everything about its video and audio before you choose. Opening details does not select it.

4
Check compatibility

Choose a container and codec supported by the device or player you intend to use.

5
Rename before download

Edit the title to choose the saved filename.

Getting audio only

1
Choose Audio

Select MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG or OPUS and the available quality setting. Turn on MP3 only for an MP3 at 320, 256, 192 or 128 kbps.

2
Choose cover art and metadata

Set these options separately before downloading.

3
Use an appropriate format

A lossless format preserves the audio it receives; it cannot restore detail missing from the source.

Batches and playlists

1
Paste a list

Enter one link per line, or paste a playlist address and choose the items to download.

2
Import a text file

Use a .txt file with one address per line.

3
Set the batch options

Choose the quality and how many downloads run at once. Sleep Between Items sets a gap between download starts.

4
Skip what you already have

With Download Archive on, Cepther asks once whether to skip the items you downloaded before.

Following creators

1
Add a creator

Open Creator Watch in Settings and enter a channel or profile address.

2
Set account preferences

Choose the check interval, quality and filters. You can add several accounts for one creator.

3
Choose Auto or Notify

Download new uploads automatically or get a notification. You can also catch up on uploads later.

4
Keep Cepther running

Checks continue while the app is open or in the tray. They stop when you quit.

Using the dock

1
Enable the dock

Use it to read the active browser tab’s address. Copy the link if detection is unavailable.

2
Save a link

Save links with tags for later downloads.

3
Set site preferences

Choose a default format and quality for each site in Dock settings.

Cookies and logins

1
Check your access

Cookies can help with supported content that requires a login. Your account must already have access.

2
Sign in within Cepther

Use the built in browser to create a cookie file for the site.

3
Import or paste cookies

Alternatively, import a cookies.txt or JSON cookie export, paste cookies or a Cookie header, or choose a supported installed browser and profile. Cepther shows what it found before saving. A pasted Cookie header needs the site typed in. A browser source must pass its access check; close the browser and retry if its profile is locked.

4
Manage cookies

Cookies are stored locally and sent to the relevant site for authentication. Remove saved cookies in the Cookie Manager.

Speed and network

1
Enable parallel downloads

Turn on Multi Threaded downloads in Downloads settings.

2
Choose a thread count

Set up to 16 connections. More connections do not guarantee higher speed; the source and your connection determine the result.

3
Set simultaneous downloads

Choose how many items run at once, up to 16.

4
Limit bandwidth

Set a global speed limit in Network settings, or a limit for one download in the picker.

Keeping files tidy

1
Enable automatic folders

Use Advance Management in Downloads settings to sort by platform, creator or media type.

2
Choose duplicate handling

Use Keep Duplicate to save another copy rather than skip an existing file.

3
Search History

Search by title, URL or error. Filter by type or date, view failure details, copy logs, play a file, fetch its link again or send it to the Recycle Bin.

4
Turn on Download Archive

Enable it in Downloads settings to be asked before downloading something you already have. Download Again still works whenever you want another copy.

5
Export or import History

Use the More menu beside Clear History to export JSON or CSV, copy JSON, or import a JSON export. Imported entries merge with the ones already there.

When something fails

1
Read the error

Check the failed download’s details for the reason.

2
Check engine updates

Open Settings → Maintenance and check for newer download tools.

3
Adjust connections

Try fewer threads or turn Multi Threaded downloads off if the source refuses parallel connections.

4
Check login requirements

Confirm the link is accessible in your browser. Add cookies if the source requires your login.

5
Report the problem

Post the steps and error message in the bug report forum. Remove cookies and other private data from logs before sharing them.

Updating

1
App updates

Cepther’s planned app updater will notify you of new releases. You choose when to install them.

2
Update the engines

Open Settings → Maintenance to check and install individual or all tool updates. Revert is available when a previous engine archive has been kept.

3
Read the changelog

See the changelog for version details.

Subtitles, clips and chapters

1
Choose source subtitles

Select subtitle languages in the picker and choose whether to embed them. Choose audio tracks separately when the source offers several.

2
Pick a subtitle format

Set a default in Settings → Downloads → Subtitle Format, or change it in the picker’s Subtitles window for one download.

3
Add translations if you need them

For a YouTube video, press Load translations in the Subtitles window and tick the languages. They are saved as separate files after the video. Picking many raises the chance of a rate limit.

4
Set SponsorBlock

In Settings → Downloads, set each category to Off, Mark or Remove. In the picker, keep Global, turn it Off, or choose Custom for one download.

5
Choose chapters

Open Chapters in the picker’s Settings tab, pick the chapters you want and choose Chapters only or Chapters + original. The files go into a folder named after the video.

6
Know the limits

Chapters and Trim cannot be used together, and live recordings are excluded. A chapter that SponsorBlock removes completely is skipped. With a trim, SponsorBlock Remove applies only when the trim starts at 0:00.

7
Trim or save artwork

Set start and end times for a clip. Save Thumbnail writes a separate image; cover art controls embedding in the media file.

Thumbnails, info and comments

1
Open Extras

Press Extras in the search box to show the Thumbnails, Media info, Comments and Subtitles tools.

2
Fetch the link

Paste the link and press Fetch. A link already in the search box is filled in for you.

3
Choose what to save

Pick thumbnail sizes and a format, the info formats, how many comments and in what order, or the subtitle tracks and format.

4
Export

Choose a folder and press Export. Existing files are never overwritten; a new copy gets a number.

Scheduled videos and live streams

1
Wait for a scheduled video

Enable the optional wait for a scheduled video or premiere you submit manually. Keep Cepther running until it becomes available.

2
Use live recording separately

For an active live stream, choose recording from now or from the beginning when earlier footage is available. Stop recording to save the captured file.

3
Know the limit

Waiting for a scheduled live stream to become a recording is not supported. Creator Watch has its own checking settings.

Using the media player

1
Open a file

Use Play in History, open a local file in the player or drop files onto it. Add files to the playlist and drag them by their handle to change the order.

2
Control playback

Use Space to play or pause, Left/Right to seek, Up/Down for volume, M to mute and F for full screen. Choose a speed between 0.25× and 4×.

3
Choose tracks and sound

Select an available audio or subtitle track, load external subtitles, adjust subtitle timing or choose an audio output device.

4
Find a moment

Jump to a time or chapter. Set A and B to repeat a section, or use picture in picture to keep the video visible.

5
Save a frame or inspect the file

Use the screenshot action for a PNG at the source resolution. Choose whether subtitles appear in screenshots in Player settings. Open the metadata viewer for stream details.

6
Set player defaults

Configure seek steps, volume steps, default speed, whether the next file plays by itself, subtitle styles and the screenshot folder in Player settings.

Trying AI subtitles

1
Install optional components

Open Settings → Maintenance to install Whisper and a model. You can also choose a model during first setup; it is optional.

2
Enable for a download

Open AI Subtitles in the picker’s Settings tab. Enable it, choose Auto or a spoken language, select an installed model and choose original language or English translation.

3
Choose caption output

Enable Export Captions to keep an SRT file. Supported video outputs can contain an AI subtitle track. Transcription runs locally after the media download; live recordings are excluded.

4
Treat this as experimental

The supplied history still leaves transcription with a real model unverified. Review generated captions and report failures with the error details. Downloads of engines and models require internet access.

Notifications

1
Open the bell

The bell beside History lists recent downloads, new uploads, dock and player events, engine updates and errors. Filter by category and mark items read.

2
Act on an item

Open a file or folder, download a new upload or go to the related settings straight from the feed.

3
Choose what is recorded

Settings → Notifications → Notification Panel turns recording on or off for each category and clears the feed. Nothing is recorded in Incognito.

4
Pick sounds

Under Notification Sounds, choose a sound for each kind of notification or keep the Windows sound. A failed download is silent unless you pick one.

Cleanup and preferences

1
Review local caches

Settings → Maintenance separates temporary download files from engine archives. Check each size before clearing. Active and paused download files are protected.

2
Schedule cleanup if wanted

Automatic cleanup starts off. Enable it and choose an interval and time. Removing engine archives also removes the rollback versions they contain.

3
Choose a look

Settings → Privacy and Looks contains the app themes and privacy options. The website’s three themes are independent of the seven app themes.

4
Configure commands

Use Commands for supported arguments and saved presets; this area is marked Beta.