If you are searching for TiDown on GitHub, you are likely hitting a frustrating wall of 404 errors and archived pages. There is a specific reason for this: the original software you are looking for no longer exists. This leaves users looking for reliable TiDown alternatives to download Tidal tracks for offline, device-independent listening, ideally without sacrificing the platform's high-fidelity audio quality.
This article provides a definitive review of what happened to the original TiDown project and introduces the top three excellent alternatives to TiDown Tidal downloader on GitHub, ranging from professional converters designed for lossless output to free, open-source tools.
Part 1. What Happened to TiDown Tidal Downloader on GitHub?
For audio enthusiasts and developers, "TiDown" was once the gold standard for archiving Tidal libraries. However, the landscape of open-source audio tools shifts rapidly. Understanding the history is crucial before you attempt to download random scripts found on forums.
The original TiDown was a command-line application developed around 2016 by a user known as Lordmau5. It gained massive popularity because it allowed users to download encrypted tracks directly from Tidal's servers.
However, its popularity was its downfall. The project was hit with a DMCA takedown notice by Tidal's legal team and was subsequently removed from GitHub. While forks (copies) of the code exist, they are largely broken because Tidal has significantly updated its API and encryption methods (moving from simple tokens to complex OAuth protocols) since 2016.
Part 2. Best Premium TiDown Alternative: DRmare Streaming Audio Recorder
Based on its professional features, high speed, and lossless output quality, the DRmare Streaming Audio Recorder is the top-recommended paid replacement for TiDown. It offers a stable, all-in-one solution for downloading Tidal music at up to 37X faster conversion speed.
By adopting advanced technology without re-recording, it can preserve the original HiFi and even Hi-Res FLAC quality tracks. To make Tidal music playable with any portable device or player, it can convert Tidal's encrypted files into common formats, like MP3, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC. What's better, it allows you to fine-tune the output settings of Tidal songs to balance quality and file size according to your specific needs.
How to Use DRmare Alternative to TiDown
Follow these steps to download your Tidal music quickly and reliably using the DRmare Streaming Audio Recorder.
Step 1. Click the above "Download" button to download and install the correct version of TiDown alternative for your Windows or Mac computer. Launch it and tap the "Menu" button or "DRmare Streaming Audio Recorder" button and select "Preferences". Under the "Conversion" tab, you can select your preferred format (e.g., MP3 for maximum compatibility or FLAC for lossless high-fidelity audio) and other audio parameters.
Step 2. On the main interface of DRmare Streaming Audio Recorder, click the "Tidal" icon to open the Tidal music downloader. Log in to your Tidal account within the built-in Tidal web player. Now, you can find your favorite Tidal songs and tap the "Add" > "Add to List" button to load them into the conversion list.
Step 3. Click the main "Convert" button, and DRmare Streaming Audio Recorder will immediately begin downloading and converting the Tidal music at its high processing speed. After conversion, you can click the "Converted" tab to find your files and move them to any other device for unlimited offline playback.
Part 3. Top 2 Best Free TiDown Tidal Downloader Alternatives
If budget is your primary concern and you don't mind a few technical hurdles, the open-source community offers powerful, free replacements for TiDown. These tools, Athame Tidal Downloader and Tidal-Media-Downloader, are maintained by volunteer developers, making them excellent choices for users who are comfortable with less polished interfaces but demand high-quality, free access to their Tidal library. Let's dive into how these community-driven downloaders work and what they can offer.
Athame Tidal Downloader
Athame was one of the original community-driven Tidal downloaders found on GitHub. While it is an older tool and support can be limited, it still offers functionality for Windows users. It is important to note that Athame is generally outdated compared to newer GitHub projects, but it provides a simple interface for downloading tracks from both Tidal and Google Play Music.
How to Use the Athame Tidal Downloader:
Step 1. Obtain the Athame downloader executable from its specific GitHub repository or an archived source and install it on your Windows OS computer.
Step 2. Launch the application. Navigate to the 'Menu' and select 'Settings' to input and log in to your Tidal account credentials.
Step 3. Browse the Tidal web player or app and locate the specific track, album, or playlist you wish to download. Copy its URL link address.
Step 4. Paste the copied URL into the designated URL box within the Athame interface. Click 'Add' to move the item into your download processing list.
Step 5. Hit the 'Start' button to begin processing and downloading the Tidal music files to your computer.
Tidal-Media-Downloader (tidal-dl)
Tidal-Media-Downloader, often referred to as tidal-dl or tidal-gui, represents the current industry standard on GitHub. It is actively updated to bypass modern encryption methods that legacy tools like Athame cannot handle.
Unlike basic recorders, Tidal-Media-Downloader attempts to decrypt the actual file stream, supporting the full range of audio quality, including Normal (AAC), High (FLAC), and Master (MQA/Hi-Res FLAC) resolutions. It boasts superior technical capabilities, including excellent metadata retention (Artist, Title, Album, etc.), support for downloading Tidal video content, and true cross-platform availability for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.
How to Use the Tidal-Media-Downloader CLI
Step 1. Ensure you have Python installed on your system (Python 3.6 or newer is recommended). You can verify this by typing python --version in your terminal or command prompt.
Step 2. Install the downloader directly via pip (Python's package installer). Open your terminal and run the following command: pip3 install tidal-dl --upgrade
Step 3. Once installed, launch the tool by simply typing tidal-dl and hitting Enter. The interface will load within your terminal window.
Step 4. You will be prompted to configure your settings. You should set your "Audio Quality" preference to "Master" or "HiFi" depending on your subscription tier.
Step 5. Log in using your Tidal credentials and start downloading Tidal songs to your local computer directly.
Part 4. In Conclusion
While the free, open-source tools like the Tidal-Media-Downloader and Athame Tidal Downloader can technically get the job done, they often require technical knowledge and lack the speed of dedicated software.
For most users who prioritize lossless audio quality, blazing-fast conversion speeds, and a simple, reliable experience, the DRmare Streaming Audio Recorder is the best modern alternative to the discontinued TiDown downloader.
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