Feature request: Select format based on resolution (mainly CBS)

[spookyahell]

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The following sections concretize particular purposed issues, you can erase any section (the contents between triple ---) not applicable to your issue

Example formats from a CBS clip:

[info] Available formats for 6681E9BA-2685-F7FE-7103-EA222276F6A4:
format code extension resolution note
hls-47-0 mp4 audio only 47k , mp4a.40.2
hls-47-1 mp4 audio only 47k , mp4a.40.2
hls-47-2 mp4 audio only 47k , mp4a.40.2
hls-47-3 mp4 audio only 47k , mp4a.40.2
hls-meta-0 mp4 multiple Quality selection URL
hls-meta-1 mp4 multiple Quality selection URL
hls-meta-2 mp4 multiple Quality selection URL
hls-meta-3 mp4 multiple Quality selection URL
hls-1 mp4 400x224 1k
hls-110 mp4 400x224 110k
http-150-0 mp4 400x224 150k
http-150-1 mp4 400x224 150k
hls-156-0 mp4 400x224 156k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-156-1 mp4 400x224 156k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-156-2 mp4 400x224 156k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-156-3 mp4 400x224 156k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
http-240-0 mp4 400x224 240k
http-240-1 mp4 400x224 240k
hls-250 mp4 400x224 250k
hls-309-0 mp4 400x224 309k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-309-1 mp4 400x224 309k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-309-2 mp4 400x224 309k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-309-3 mp4 400x224 309k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
rtmp-364-0 flv 384x216 364k
rtmp-364-1 flv 384x216 364k
http-440 mp4 400x224 440k
rtmp-496-0 flv 640x360 496k
rtmp-496-1 flv 640x360 496k
hls-500 mp4 512x288 500k
hls-568-0 mp4 512x288 568k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-568-1 mp4 512x288 568k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-568-2 mp4 512x288 568k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-568-3 mp4 512x288 568k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
http-740 mp4 640x360 740k
rtmp-796-0 flv 640x360 796k
rtmp-796-1 flv 640x360 796k
hls-800 mp4 640x360 800k
hls-845-0 mp4 640x360 845k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-845-1 mp4 640x360 845k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-845-2 mp4 640x360 845k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-845-3 mp4 640x360 845k , avc1.66.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1200 mp4 768x432 1200k
rtmp-1296-0 flv 640x360 1296k
rtmp-1296-1 flv 640x360 1296k
hls-1307-0 mp4 768x432 1307k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1307-1 mp4 768x432 1307k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1307-2 mp4 768x432 1307k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1307-3 mp4 768x432 1307k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1800 mp4 960x540 1800k
hls-1931-0 mp4 960x540 1931k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1931-1 mp4 960x540 1931k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1931-2 mp4 960x540 1931k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-1931-3 mp4 960x540 1931k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-2683-0 mp4 1024x576 2683k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-2683-1 mp4 1024x576 2683k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-2683-2 mp4 1024x576 2683k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-2683-3 mp4 1024x576 2683k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-3719-0 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-3719-1 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-3719-2 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-3719-3 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2 (best)

Description of your issue, suggested solution and other information

A lot of videos come in different resolution with often individual format codes for each clip.
I thought it would be neat, to be able to tell Youtube-DL:
"I want the download to go via HLS/RTMP/HTTP protocol."
"I want the best resolution possible within that protocol (often, but not always 1280x720)"
And: "Pick the first/second/third etc. available format within the HLS-best you have in that section."

In the example output it would be "hls-3719-0".
That would save a lot of time, since I wouldn't have to to youtube-dl -F on every clip you want to download and then wait for the format processing twice.

Additional information: There are also some clips that have another twist. Instead of one group of formats (group: "hls-3719-0" to "hls-3719-3") there might be two groups on one resolution.

Maybe something like "--prefer-protocol" for the protocol selection "--prefer-resolution" for the resolution" and "--prefer-edition" for the group number (use 0 as default). Maybe replace "prefer" by "use", I don't know. Just my ideas.

[dstftw]

You can already do that.

[spookyahell]

From
hls-3719-0 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-3719-1 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-3719-2 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2
hls-3719-3 mp4 1280x720 3719k , avc1.77.30, mp4a.40.2 (best)

is hls-3719-0 the worst?

[dstftw]

They all the same.

[Hrxn]

Well, it appears to be, yes. But 4 different hls streams all with the same properties? Why?
To be sure, maybe download all four and then compare checksums ;-)