How to use the command 'spotdl' (with examples)

SpotDL is a tool designed for downloading songs and playlists from Spotify. With SpotDL, users can easily download audio files along with their metadata, providing a seamless experience in accessing music offline. It’s a versatile command-line utility that caters to a variety of needs, from downloading individual tracks and playlists to storing metadata for organizational purposes.

Use case 1: Download songs from the provided URLs and embed metadata

Code:

spotdl open.spotify.com/playlist/playlistId open.spotify.com/track/trackId ...

Motivation:

Imagine having a carefully curated Spotify playlist that you want to enjoy offline, perhaps during a long flight where internet access is unavailable. SpotDL’s ability to download songs directly from Spotify URLs and embed metadata allows for an enriched listening experience even when you’re not connected to the web. It ensures that you have all your favorite tracks at hand, complete with artist information, album art, and other metadata.

Explanation:

• spotdl: This is the command to initiate SpotDL. It tells your command-line interface that you wish to use the Spotify downloader.
• open.spotify.com/playlist/playlistId: In this section, you specify the URL of the Spotify playlist you want to download. The playlistId is unique to the playlist and ensures SpotDL downloads the correct collection of tracks.
• open.spotify.com/track/trackId: This part is used when downloading individual tracks. The trackId uniquely identifies the song on Spotify, allowing SpotDL to retrieve the exact track you wish to download.

Example Output:

• A folder containing downloaded audio files with embedded metadata. Each track will have associated album art, artist name, release year, and other pertinent details included within the file.

Use case 2: Start a web interface to download individual songs

Code:

spotdl web

Motivation:

Starting a web interface simplifies the download process for users who prefer a graphical user experience over command-line operations. This is particularly useful for users who wish to interactively select tracks for download in an intuitive manner. Utilizing a web interface can make the process more accessible to users less familiar with command-line environments, enhancing convenience and user experience.

Explanation:

• spotdl: The command to utilize SpotDL, signaling the intent to use its features.
• web: This argument specifies that you want to run SpotDL’s web-based interface. This mode allows users to interact with a UI in their web browser to search for and download specific songs from Spotify.

Example Output:

• Launching this command would open a web page interface where you can easily search and download songs. The interface will display track information and allow for streamlined selection, giving a visual representation of search results and downloads.

Use case 3: Save only the metadata without downloading anything

Code:

spotdl save open.spotify.com/playlist/playlistId ... --save-file path/to/save_file.spotdl

Motivation:

There may be situations where you are interested in cataloging music metadata rather than downloading the music itself. For instance, if you’re managing a large music library and need comprehensive metadata for sorting and organizing your files, this use case is optimal. Storing metadata for playlists allows you to have all details required for future management tasks without having to store the music files themselves.

Explanation:

• spotdl: Indicates the command to use SpotDL’s functionalities.
• save: This keyword modifies the SpotDL function to save metadata instead of downloading full tracks.
• open.spotify.com/playlist/playlistId: Specifies the Spotify playlist from which you wish to extract metadata. The playlistId is essential for accurately identifying the playlist on Spotify’s servers.
• --save-file path/to/save_file.spotdl: This argument sets the filepath for saving the metadata. By determining the location and file name (path/to/save_file.spotdl), you ensure that your metadata is stored where you can easily find and access it later.

Example Output:

• A file .spotdl containing structured metadata of the playlist tracks, detailing information such as track titles, artist names, and album details without the audio files.

Conclusion:

SpotDL proves to be a multifaceted tool that can accommodate a variety of user needs, from downloading high-quality audio files complete with metadata to saving metadata for cataloging purposes. Each use case offers a distinct application, ensuring that whether you need offline music access, a user-friendly web interface, or detailed metadata, SpotDL is equipped to deliver. Understanding these use cases empowers users to leverage this tool for enhancing their digital music experience efficiently.