vlc

I am using both VLC and POTPLAYER for their recording abilities. for both the process is the same. select ANY video souce, website, a saved file, ect. next open source, copy URL, play the video, open either player, select "open url", paste into the field, then play. the video opens in the selected player which can then be recorded using that player. unfortunately it does NOT work in either player. error, "cannot open video" appears. both players CAN record CD/DVD from th tray or external player via a capture device. ONLY OCAM, which is a screen recorder works. the software can be minimized once the video is playing. the video must be displayed on screen for it to be recorded. ANYTHING on screen is recorded in record screen mode. if video is minimized the software will record the desktop or another window that was behind the first.

any solutions? is there a FREE player/recorder that WILL record streaming video from ANY source? YT, website, saved file?