How to: Tweak YouTube embeds for HD playback

Several readers have e-mailed me and asked for instructions on how to take their HD YouTube videos and embed them elsewhere. As I mentioned before, this isn't an officially sanctioned feature, and as such, the embed code you get on these video pages will still yield the lower-quality, non-widescreen clip.

Needless to say, this is completely unacceptable.

The good news is that you only need to make a few changes to the stock embed code get the job done. Here's what to do:

Step 1: Copy this code and paste it to wherever you intend to embed the video:

<object width="630" height="380"> <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YOURVIDEOCODEHERE&ap=%2526fmt%3D22" name="movie" /><param value="window" name="wmode" /> <param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /><embed width="630" height="380" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YOURVIDEOCODEHERE&ap=%2526fmt%3D22"></embed></object>

Step 2: Grab the direct link to your video. In case you've never done this before, it can be found to the right of the video player on YouTube or from your browser's address bar.

Step 3: Tweak the embed code. The finishing touch involves making a simple change to embed's URL source code to direct it to the HD version. To do this, you simply need to copy the alphanumeric gobbledygook at the end of the link you grabbed in step 2 and paste it into the part between /v/ and the & symbol in the embed code. For simplicity's sake I've labeled this "YOURVIDEOCODEHERE" in the embed code.

That's it--you're done, and all you had to do was use copy and paste twice! The end result is this:

[lxlelpatronlxl]

It works perfectly thanks for the trick!!!

[redondo5000]

Sorry, this video no longer available - is the error message I get when I embed and try to play. Darn - I'll keep trying.

[g_gak_h]

I get the same message. I've tried tweaking the settings on our corporate firewall (SonicWall 3060) and cannot for the life of me figure out why I keep getting the "video no longer available message." When I view the same video outside of our corporate firewall, i.e. on my home computer via LogMeIn, the video plays fine with no messages or problems. Can someone tell me how I need to tweak my SonicWall? SonicWall support has been no help, so I'm looking for someone who has personally fixed this issue.

[ahbonk]

That means that the video does not have a HD version, just a high quality version.

In that case, change fmt%3D22 to fmt%3D18 in two places of the code. And you get your wonderful high-res video back!

[predicaments]

This is fantastic. But how do I stop my embedded clip from showing related videos?

[ahbonk]

immediately after the fmt%3D22, add this: &rel=0
there are 2 parts of the code that reflects this change

[bikefilms]

Wow. What a hassle it is to create an account, CNET. No wonder there are only 3 comments.

So, what's with all the hubbub about HD Video? If you look closely in the embed code, the YouTube video dimensions are only 630 x 380. Since when is 630 x 380 HD Video? HD Video typically has dimensions of 1280 x 720, and 1920 x 1080. In fact, the YouTube HD Video has less pixels than even Standard Definiton Video at 640 x 480.

The video looks nice, but it's still not even Standard Def.

Best,
Andrew

[ElWray]

630 x 380 is the canvas size not the video resolution. The video is still 720p but will be upconverted or downconverted based on the canvas size.

[eheathmt]

Andrew,

I agree, making this stupid cnet account sucked.


now, the "HD"

I have found you must upload a 1280x720 video for the "view in HD" link to appear when you view a video. Sure, embedded its only 360p, but, you can biggy size it and it looks ok. Also, compare a video that has an HD option with the normal quality option, significant difference. Big step for youtube, i still like vimeo better.