YouTube as MP3 on the Mac – right inside the app.
Alongside the radio recorder, StreamWriter Studio (direct-download version) includes a built-in YouTube search: find tracks, select them, and save them as MP3s with clean tags and real album artwork straight into your library – no shady converter websites, no ads, no browser detours. The feature is meant for private use – music unavailable anywhere else, freely licensed content, or your own videos.
How it works
1. Search: Type an artist or title into the app's YouTube search – results appear as a list with previews.
2. Select: Tick one or more tracks (multi-select) and optionally pick a target playlist.
3. Download: The app saves the tracks as MP3, detects artist and title, cleans the name (no “(Official Video)” clutter) and adds the real album cover from the iTunes catalogue. After that: play, trim, sort into playlists, hand over to Apple Music or send to your iPhone – just like any radio recording.
Important: the legal side in brief
Two things belong on the table when talking YouTube downloads:
1. Private copying: For strictly private use, many countries have private-copy rules (in Germany § 53 UrhG) – permissible as long as no copy protection is circumvented and the source is not obviously unlawful. Sharing, uploading or commercial use are not covered.
2. YouTube's Terms of Service: YouTube contractually prohibits downloading content without permission. Breaching the terms is not a criminal offence, but can lead to consequences such as the suspension of your YouTube account.
In short: use the feature responsibly – privately, without sharing, preferably for your own, freely licensed, or otherwise unavailable content. DRM-protected offerings (e.g. YouTube Music Premium downloads) are not touched.
Note: not legal advice. StreamWriter Studio is not affiliated with YouTube/Google. Last updated: July 2026.
One-time purchase · License by e-mail · macOS 14.6 · Apple Silicon & Intel
Frequently asked questions
Is saving YouTube videos as MP3 legal?
For strictly private use, many countries have private-copy rules (in Germany § 53 UrhG), provided no copy protection is circumvented and the source is not obviously unlawful. At the same time, YouTube's Terms of Service prohibit downloading without permission. Use the feature responsibly: privately, no sharing – when in doubt, your own or freely licensed content.
Why isn't this feature in the App Store and Setapp versions?
Apple and Setapp don't allow such functionality in their stores. The YouTube feature is therefore only included in the direct-download version from our website.
Are title and artwork set automatically?
Yes. StreamWriter Studio detects artist and title, cleans up the name and finds the matching real album artwork – the MP3 lands fully tagged in your library.
Can I download several tracks at once?
Yes. Select multiple tracks in the search results and download them in one go – straight into a playlist if you like.
