Q: "I'm looking for the best ripper to download my music collection from Tidal. Is there a way to keep the downloaded Tidal music as local files forever? I don't mind paying a small charge for it."
It is recognized that Tidal HiFi and HiFi Plus only work to download its music as temporary cache files. Thus, a majority of Tidal music listeners are seeking an all-in-one music tool to download Tidal music as local files.
In this post, we will facilitate you to figure out such a gadget called Tidal Media Downloader on GitHub, which covers two versions: Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui. Also, you can skip to Part 4 to look into the total chart and make a quick decision. Without further ado, let's get started!
Part 1. What Are Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui from GitHub
Tidal dl and Tidal gui, also called Tidal-Media-Downloader Pro, serve as two open-source projects available on GitHub that allow users to download music and videos from Tidal. Tidal-dl is a command-line interface (CLI) tool, while Tidal-gui is a graphical user interface (GUI) tool. Both tools are developed in Python independently by different contributors and are not affiliated with Tidal or its parent company.
On account that many users are new to Tidal Media Downloader, we will review it in multiple aspects. It is worth mentioning that Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui are both tools used for downloading music from Tidal, but they have different interfaces and features. Tidal-dl is a simple command-line tool for downloading music from Tidal, while Tidal-gui is a more user-friendly graphical interface tool with additional features. Here, we have presented their main features respectively. Please read on.
Tidal-dl
Main Features
💡Download tracks, albums, and playlists from Tidal by specifying their URL
💡Support high-quality up to 24-bit/192kHz FLAC format
💡Compatible with all Python-supported platforms (Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux)
💡Allow to customize the output format and directory
💡Retrieve metadata info such as ID3 tags including artist, album, and track
💡Batch downloads multiple tracks or albums at once
Benefits
✔️ Open-source tool and free to use
✔️ Lightweight and fast with a command-line interface
✔️ Support high-quality and lossless FLAC files
✔️ Download entire albums and playlists with just one command
✔️ Multi-platform support (Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux)
Downside
❌ Difficult to use with technical knowledge requires and needs a Python
❌ Less user-friendly without a graphical user interface
❌ May stop working if Tidal changes its API or updates its security measures.
Tidal-gui
Main Features
💡Enable to search and browse Tidal music within it
💡Download entire albums or playlists from Tidal with a click
💡High-quality audio and video downloads Automatic track metadata tagging
💡Personalize output format and quality
💡Multi-language support
💡Open-source and free to use
Benefits
✔️ Easier to use with a user-friendly graphical interface
✔️ Empower high-quality downloads for music and videos from Tidal
✔️ Supports multiple output formats (FLAC, MP3, and AAC)
✔️ Download entire albums or playlists at once
Downsides
❌ Only available for Windows
❌ Require users to enter their Tidal login credentials with the security concern
❌ Not receive regular updates or support
❌ Require a Python on the computer
Part 2. How to Download Music via Tidal Media Downloader
After going through the review of Tidal media Downloader on GitHub, now you come to the detailed user guide to get and use it.
How to Get Tidal-dl & Tidal-gui from GitHub
To download Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui from the GitHub repository, you can follow these steps:
Step 1. Navigate to the relevant web page for Tidal-dl and Tidal-gui.
Step 2. Tap 'Code' > 'Download ZIP' to get the source code or the .exe file icon directly.
Step 3. Extract the zip file to a local folder of your computer or open the downloaded .exe files to open the program directly.
Step 4. If you download the zip, open the 'TIDALDL-PY' > 'tidal-dl.exe' files from the extracted folder to launch the program.
How to Use GitHub Tidal Downloader
To download music from Tidal with the GitHub Tidal-dl or GitHub Tidal-gui downloader, you need a Tidal HiFi subscription. Then please refer to the detailed instruction below:
GitHub Tidal-dl Downloader
To download music from Tidal using tidal-dl, you can follow these steps:
Step 1. Open the 'tidal-dl.exe' file from the folder to launch Tidal-dl.
Step 2. Enter the specific number to set your settings according to its prompts on the command-line interface.
Step 3. On the Tidal dl command prompt, run the following command: 'tidal-dl [URL]', replacing [URL] with the URL you copied from Tidal.
GitHub Tidal-gui Downloader
Here are the steps to download Tidal music with Tidal-gui:
Step 1. Launch Tidal-gui by clicking the downloaded 'tidal-gui.exe' file and you will receive a Tidal-gui device code.
Step 2. Log in to your Tidal account and enter the displayed device code. Afterward, you can use the software just like using the Tidal app.
Step 3. Search for the music you want to download and select it.
Step 4. Click the download button to start the download process.
Step 5. Choose the download format and quality you want, and select the download location.
Step 6. Click the 'Download' button to start the download.
Note: GitHub Tidal-Media-Downloader is not officially supported by Tidal, and downloading music from Tidal may violate their terms of service. It's important to use a responsible and legal Tidal downloader.
Part 3. Best Alternative to Tidal Media Downloader
As we stated above, the GitHub Tidal-Media-Downloader may leave you get vulnerable to risk. And you are required a Tidal subscription to use it. Fortunately, there is a reliable and safe tool that allows you to download Tidal tracks without Tidal HiFi or HiFi Plus.
That is AudFree Tidal Music Converter, an all-in-one Tidal downloader designed for both free and premium Tidal users, which is legal to use for personal or educational use. This top-notch software enables you to download all content from Tidal with lossless audio quality and ID3 tags kept. Also, it is capable to convert Tidal music to multiple commonly-used formats.
Reason to Choose AudFree Tidal Music Converter
To help you make further knowledge of AudFree Tidal Music Converter, we have listed the main features of this sought-after program as follows:
✨ Download all content from Tidal as local files without premium
✨ Convert Tidal music to FLAC/AAC/MP3/WAV/M4A/M4B
✨ Available for both Windows and Mac
✨ Work with Tidal Free, Tidal HiFi, and HiFi Plus plans
✨ Preserve 100% original streaming quality and all metadata information like ID3 tags
✨ Support batch download at a fast 5X speed
✨ Enable to customize output formats and audio quality
✨ Stable to use with the Tidal app
✨ Two simple ways to add Tidal music audio files: Drag & Drop/Copy & Paste
Download Tidal Music with AudFree Tidal Music Converter
Here is a how-to guide to download your favorites from Tidal with AudFree Tidal Music Converter. Clicking the above green 'Download' button, you are able to install the converter on your PC or Mac. Then please look into the following instruction:
- Step 1Drag and Drop Tidal Audio to AudFree Tidable
- Once installed, please launch AudFree Tidal Music Converter on your computer while the Tidal app will open at the same time. Then drag the single track or the entire playlist or album from Tidal and drop them into the window of the AudFree software. Or, here is another way: copy and paste the URL links of Tidal music into the search box of the converter, and then click on the '+' tab on the right side.
- Step 2Set Output Formats and Other Parameters for Tidal Music
- Head over to the upper-right toolbar near the minimized window. Then from the draw-down menu, choose 'Preferences' > 'Convert' to open the setting window where you can select an output format for exporting your Tidal songs to MP3 or other format files. Beyond this, by changing the bit rate, audio channel, sample rate, or other output parameters, you can make lossless Tidal Master or HiFi quality. It supports audio quality up to 32-bit.
- Step 3Export Tidal Music Locally and Losslessly in Batch
- Hit the 'Convert' button in the lower right corner of the AudFree Amazon Music Downloader to kick off the process. After a while, this expert converter will export your added Tidal music to the targeted format you set before at 5X speed and save them to the computer's local drive. Please touch the bottom 'Converted' tab to locate your Tidal downloads.
Part 4. Comparison Between Tidal-dl/Tidal-gui and Alternative
Here is an overview chart to compare GitHub Tidal-Media-Downloader and its alternative, which can help you make a quick decision to choose a suitable one.
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Tidal-Media-Downloader | AudFree Tidal Music Downloader | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Online | Windows, Mac |
Download Content | Tidal songs, playlists and albums | Songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, audiobooks |
Supported Format | MP3/FLAC/AAC | MP3, FLAC, M4A, WAV, AAC, M4B |
Download Speed | 1X | 5X |
Output Quality | Lossy | Lossless |
Methods to Add Files | Copy-and-paste | Copy-and-paste Drag-and-drop |
Audio Channel | 1 | 2 (Mono/Stereo) |
Conversion Success Rate | Low | 100% Working |
ID3 Tags Retained | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Personalized Settings | ✔ | ✔️ |
Without Tidal Subscriptions | ❌ | ✔️ |
Secure | ❌ | ✔️ |
Ratings | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
The table shows that AudFree Tidal Music Converter stands out in most aspects compared with Tidal-dl and GitHub Tidal-gui Downloaders for its more output options and real lossless audio quality after conversion. Also, AudFree Tidal Music Converter is much easier and user-friendly to install and use, which is also quite secure than the GitHub software. Just give AudFree Tidal Downloader a shot to enjoy your music experience!
Aug 4, 2023 6:52 PM
Posted by Miley Swift to Tidal Tips