To link to a specific part of a YouTube video, so that upon visiting the URL, you are taken directly to that time, simply add #t=01m10s to the end of the YouTube URL. Replace 01m with the number of minutes into the video, and 10s with the number of seconds.

Example:

You can also use it with the HD link code, like so:


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Whenever possible, I always link to and embed HD versions of YouTube videos. I do this primarily for the better 152kbps audio quality. YouTube has made some changes recently that have made it more difficult to link to and embed HD videos, but it's still doable.

Link to HD YouTube Videos

Linking directly to a high definition (HD) version of a YouTube video used to be done by adding "&fmt=" and 35, 22, or 37 at the end of the link. This no longer works, but you can still use "&hd=1", which will link to the 720p version of a video, if available. Here is an example of a link with "&hd=1" added to the end of it:


The following will also work:

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This is a follow-up to my post on linking to and embedding HD YouTube videos. It goes more into depth on how video resolution affects the default playback quality, as well as the differences between the two new embedded players.

You may have noticed that YouTube has two embed players for the new embed code (version 3 of the player). There is a player with controls that fade away, leaving only a 3-pixel tall track position bar along the bottom, and a player with fixed, 30-pixel tall controls that do not fade away.

Here's how you can affect which player loads: If the width and height in your embed code are even multiples of either 16 x 9 or 4 x 3, the player with fade-away controls will load; otherwise, the player with the fixed controls will load. Apparently YouTube has no love for us 16 x 10 users. :(

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When a video is uploaded to YouTube, several versions of the video and audio data are saved at different quality levels. As you know, the video resolutions are 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, and 1080p, and the video gets sharper and better as you go higher. What isn't immediately apparent is that YouTube also streams higher quality audio as you increase the video resolution.

The bit rate and quality level of the audio that YouTube streams by default has changed and gotten better over the years. Here is a compilation of the current and past audio qualities that correspond to each video resolution:

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