diff --git a/unshackle/core/downloaders/n_m3u8dl_re.py b/unshackle/core/downloaders/n_m3u8dl_re.py
index 110a977..52ea3be 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/downloaders/n_m3u8dl_re.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/downloaders/n_m3u8dl_re.py
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
-import logging
 import os
 import re
 import subprocess
 import warnings
 from http.cookiejar import CookieJar
-from itertools import chain
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any, Generator, MutableMapping, Optional, Union
+from typing import Any, Generator, MutableMapping
 
 import requests
 from requests.cookies import cookiejar_from_dict, get_cookie_header
@@ -16,255 +14,325 @@ from unshackle.core.config import config
 from unshackle.core.console import console
 from unshackle.core.constants import DOWNLOAD_CANCELLED
 
+PERCENT_RE = re.compile(r"(\d+\.\d+%)")
+SPEED_RE = re.compile(r"(\d+\.\d+(?:MB|KB)ps)")
+SIZE_RE = re.compile(r"(\d+\.\d+(?:MB|GB|KB)/\d+\.\d+(?:MB|GB|KB))")
+WARN_RE = re.compile(r"(WARN : Response.*|WARN : One or more errors occurred.*)")
+ERROR_RE = re.compile(r"(ERROR.*)")
+
+DECRYPTION_ENGINE = {
+    "shaka": "SHAKA_PACKAGER",
+    "mp4decrypt": "MP4DECRYPT",
+}
+
 # Ignore FutureWarnings
 warnings.simplefilter(action="ignore", category=FutureWarning)
 
-AUDIO_CODEC_MAP = {"AAC": "mp4a", "AC3": "ac-3", "EC3": "ec-3"}
-VIDEO_CODEC_MAP = {"AVC": "avc", "HEVC": "hvc", "DV": "dvh", "HLG": "hev"}
+
+def get_track_selection_args(track: Any) -> list[str]:
+    """
+    Generates track selection arguments for N_m3u8dl_RE.
+
+    Args:
+        track: A track object with attributes like descriptor, data, and class name.
+
+    Returns:
+        A list of strings for track selection.
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: If the manifest type is unsupported or track selection fails.
+    """
+    descriptor = track.descriptor.name
+    track_type = track.__class__.__name__
+
+    def _create_args(flag: str, parts: list[str], type_str: str, extra_args: list[str] | None = None) -> list[str]:
+        if not parts:
+            raise ValueError(f"[N_m3u8DL-RE]: Unable to select {type_str} track from {descriptor} manifest")
+
+        final_args = [flag, ":".join(parts)]
+        if extra_args:
+            final_args.extend(extra_args)
+
+        return final_args
+
+    match descriptor:
+        case "HLS":
+            # HLS playlists are direct inputs; no selection arguments needed.
+            return []
+
+        case "DASH":
+            representation = track.data.get("dash", {}).get("representation", {})
+            adaptation_set = track.data.get("dash", {}).get("adaptation_set", {})
+            parts = []
+
+            if track_type == "Audio":
+                if track_id := representation.get("id") or adaptation_set.get("audioTrackId"):
+                    parts.append(rf'"id=\b{track_id}\b"')
+                else:
+                    if codecs := representation.get("codecs"):
+                        parts.append(f"codecs={codecs}")
+                    if lang := representation.get("lang") or adaptation_set.get("lang"):
+                        parts.append(f"lang={lang}")
+                    if bw := representation.get("bandwidth"):
+                        bitrate = int(bw) // 1000
+                        parts.append(f"bwMin={bitrate}:bwMax={bitrate + 5}")
+                    if roles := representation.findall("Role") + adaptation_set.findall("Role"):
+                        if role := next((r.get("value") for r in roles if r.get("value", "").lower() == "main"), None):
+                            parts.append(f"role={role}")
+                return _create_args("-sa", parts, "audio")
+
+            if track_type == "Video":
+                if track_id := representation.get("id"):
+                    parts.append(rf'"id=\b{track_id}\b"')
+                else:
+                    if width := representation.get("width"):
+                        parts.append(f"res={width}*")
+                    if codecs := representation.get("codecs"):
+                        parts.append(f"codecs={codecs}")
+                    if bw := representation.get("bandwidth"):
+                        bitrate = int(bw) // 1000
+                        parts.append(f"bwMin={bitrate}:bwMax={bitrate + 5}")
+                return _create_args("-sv", parts, "video")
+
+            if track_type == "Subtitle":
+                if track_id := representation.get("id"):
+                    parts.append(rf'"id=\b{track_id}\b"')
+                else:
+                    if lang := representation.get("lang"):
+                        parts.append(f"lang={lang}")
+                return _create_args("-ss", parts, "subtitle", extra_args=["--auto-subtitle-fix", "false"])
+
+        case "ISM":
+            quality_level = track.data.get("ism", {}).get("quality_level", {})
+            stream_index = track.data.get("ism", {}).get("stream_index", {})
+            parts = []
+
+            if track_type == "Audio":
+                if name := stream_index.get("Name") or quality_level.get("Index"):
+                    parts.append(rf'"id=\b{name}\b"')
+                else:
+                    if codecs := quality_level.get("FourCC"):
+                        parts.append(f"codecs={codecs}")
+                    if lang := stream_index.get("Language"):
+                        parts.append(f"lang={lang}")
+                    if br := quality_level.get("Bitrate"):
+                        bitrate = int(br) // 1000
+                        parts.append(f"bwMin={bitrate}:bwMax={bitrate + 5}")
+                return _create_args("-sa", parts, "audio")
+
+            if track_type == "Video":
+                if name := stream_index.get("Name") or quality_level.get("Index"):
+                    parts.append(rf'"id=\b{name}\b"')
+                else:
+                    if width := quality_level.get("MaxWidth"):
+                        parts.append(f"res={width}*")
+                    if codecs := quality_level.get("FourCC"):
+                        parts.append(f"codecs={codecs}")
+                    if br := quality_level.get("Bitrate"):
+                        bitrate = int(br) // 1000
+                        parts.append(f"bwMin={bitrate}:bwMax={bitrate + 5}")
+                return _create_args("-sv", parts, "video")
+
+            # I've yet to encounter a subtitle track in ISM manifests, so this is mostly theoretical.
+            if track_type == "Subtitle":
+                if name := stream_index.get("Name") or quality_level.get("Index"):
+                    parts.append(rf'"id=\b{name}\b"')
+                else:
+                    if lang := stream_index.get("Language"):
+                        parts.append(f"lang={lang}")
+                return _create_args("-ss", parts, "subtitle", extra_args=["--auto-subtitle-fix", "false"])
+
+    raise ValueError(f"[N_m3u8DL-RE]: Unsupported manifest type: {descriptor}")
 
 
-def track_selection(track: object) -> list[str]:
-    """Return the N_m3u8DL-RE stream selection arguments for a track."""
+def build_download_args(
+    track_url: str,
+    filename: str,
+    output_dir: Path,
+    thread_count: int,
+    retry_count: int,
+    track_from_file: Path | None,
+    custom_args: dict[str, Any] | None,
+    headers: dict[str, Any] | None,
+    cookies: CookieJar | None,
+    proxy: str | None,
+    content_keys: dict[str, str] | None,
+    ad_keyword: str | None,
+    skip_merge: bool | None = False,
+) -> list[str]:
+    """Constructs the CLI arguments for N_m3u8DL-RE."""
 
-    if "dash" in track.data:
-        adaptation_set = track.data["dash"]["adaptation_set"]
-        representation = track.data["dash"]["representation"]
+    # Default arguments
+    args = {
+        "--save-name": filename,
+        "--save-dir": output_dir,
+        "--tmp-dir": output_dir,
+        "--thread-count": thread_count,
+        "--download-retry-count": retry_count,
+        "--write-meta-json": False,
+        "--no-log": True,
+    }
+    if proxy:
+        args["--custom-proxy"] = proxy
+    if skip_merge:
+        args["--skip-merge"] = skip_merge
+    if ad_keyword:
+        args["--ad-keyword"] = ad_keyword
+    if content_keys:
+        args["--key"] = next((f"{kid.hex}:{key.lower()}" for kid, key in content_keys.items()), None)
+        args["--decryption-engine"] = DECRYPTION_ENGINE.get(config.decryption.lower()) or "SHAKA_PACKAGER"
+    if custom_args:
+        args.update(custom_args)
 
-        track_type = track.__class__.__name__
-        codec = track.codec.name
-        bitrate = track.bitrate // 1000
-        language = track.language
-        width = track.width if track_type == "Video" else None
-        height = track.height if track_type == "Video" else None
-        range = track.range.name if track_type == "Video" else None
+    command = [track_from_file or track_url]
+    for flag, value in args.items():
+        if value is True:
+            command.append(flag)
+        elif value is False:
+            command.extend([flag, "false"])
+        elif value is not False and value is not None:
+            command.extend([flag, str(value)])
 
-    elif "ism" in track.data:
-        stream_index = track.data["ism"]["stream_index"]
-        quality_level = track.data["ism"]["quality_level"]
+    if headers:
+        for key, value in headers.items():
+            if key.lower() not in ("accept-encoding", "cookie"):
+                command.extend(["--header", f"{key}: {value}"])
 
-        track_type = track.__class__.__name__
-        codec = track.codec.name
-        bitrate = track.bitrate // 1000
-        language = track.language
-        width = track.width if track_type == "Video" else None
-        height = track.height if track_type == "Video" else None
-        range = track.range.name if track_type == "Video" else None
-        adaptation_set = stream_index
-        representation = quality_level
+    if cookies:
+        req = requests.Request(method="GET", url=track_url)
+        cookie_header = get_cookie_header(cookies, req)
+        command.extend(["--header", f"Cookie: {cookie_header}"])
 
-    else:
-        return []
-
-    if track_type == "Audio":
-        codecs = AUDIO_CODEC_MAP.get(codec)
-        langs = []
-        if adaptation_set.get("lang"):
-            langs.append(adaptation_set.get("lang"))
-        if representation is not None and representation.get("lang"):
-            langs.append(representation.get("lang"))
-        track_ids = list(
-            set(
-                v
-                for x in chain(adaptation_set, representation)
-                for v in (x.get("audioTrackId"), x.get("id"))
-                if v is not None
-            )
-        )
-        roles = adaptation_set.findall("Role") + representation.findall("Role")
-        role = ":role=main" if next((i for i in roles if i.get("value").lower() == "main"), None) else ""
-        bandwidth = f"bwMin={bitrate}:bwMax={bitrate + 5}"
-
-        if langs:
-            track_selection = ["-sa", f"lang={language}:codecs={codecs}:{bandwidth}{role}"]
-        elif len(track_ids) == 1:
-            track_selection = ["-sa", f"id={track_ids[0]}"]
-        else:
-            track_selection = ["-sa", f"for=best{role}"]
-        return track_selection
-
-    if track_type == "Video":
-        # adjust codec based on range
-        codec_adjustments = {("HEVC", "DV"): "DV", ("HEVC", "HLG"): "HLG"}
-        codec = codec_adjustments.get((codec, range), codec)
-        codecs = VIDEO_CODEC_MAP.get(codec)
-
-        bandwidth = f"bwMin={bitrate}:bwMax={bitrate + 5}"
-        if width and height:
-            resolution = f"{width}x{height}"
-        elif width:
-            resolution = f"{width}*"
-        else:
-            resolution = "for=best"
-        if resolution.startswith("for="):
-            track_selection = ["-sv", resolution]
-            track_selection.append(f"codecs={codecs}:{bandwidth}")
-        else:
-            track_selection = ["-sv", f"res={resolution}:codecs={codecs}:{bandwidth}"]
-        return track_selection
+    return command
 
 
 def download(
-    urls: Union[str, dict[str, Any], list[str], list[dict[str, Any]]],
-    track: object,
+    urls: str | dict[str, Any] | list[str | dict[str, Any]],
+    track: Any,
     output_dir: Path,
     filename: str,
-    headers: Optional[MutableMapping[str, Union[str, bytes]]] = None,
-    cookies: Optional[Union[MutableMapping[str, str], CookieJar]] = None,
-    proxy: Optional[str] = None,
-    max_workers: Optional[int] = None,
-    content_keys: Optional[dict[str, Any]] = None,
+    headers: MutableMapping[str, str | bytes] | None,
+    cookies: MutableMapping[str, str] | CookieJar | None,
+    proxy: str | None,
+    max_workers: int | None,
+    content_keys: dict[str, Any] | None,
+    skip_merge: bool | None = False,
 ) -> Generator[dict[str, Any], None, None]:
     if not urls:
         raise ValueError("urls must be provided and not empty")
-    elif not isinstance(urls, (str, dict, list)):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected urls to be {str} or {dict} or a list of one of them, not {type(urls)}")
-
-    if not output_dir:
-        raise ValueError("output_dir must be provided")
-    elif not isinstance(output_dir, Path):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected output_dir to be {Path}, not {type(output_dir)}")
-
-    if not filename:
-        raise ValueError("filename must be provided")
-    elif not isinstance(filename, str):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected filename to be {str}, not {type(filename)}")
-
+    if not isinstance(urls, (str, dict, list)):
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected urls to be str, dict, or list, not {type(urls)}")
+    if not isinstance(output_dir, Path):
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected output_dir to be Path, not {type(output_dir)}")
+    if not isinstance(filename, str) or not filename:
+        raise ValueError("filename must be a non-empty string")
     if not isinstance(headers, (MutableMapping, type(None))):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected headers to be {MutableMapping}, not {type(headers)}")
-
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected headers to be a mapping or None, not {type(headers)}")
     if not isinstance(cookies, (MutableMapping, CookieJar, type(None))):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected cookies to be {MutableMapping} or {CookieJar}, not {type(cookies)}")
-
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected cookies to be a mapping, CookieJar, or None, not {type(cookies)}")
     if not isinstance(proxy, (str, type(None))):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected proxy to be {str}, not {type(proxy)}")
-
-    if not max_workers:
-        max_workers = min(32, (os.cpu_count() or 1) + 4)
-    elif not isinstance(max_workers, int):
-        raise TypeError(f"Expected max_workers to be {int}, not {type(max_workers)}")
-
-    if not isinstance(urls, list):
-        urls = [urls]
-
-    if not binaries.N_m3u8DL_RE:
-        raise EnvironmentError("N_m3u8DL-RE executable not found...")
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected proxy to be a str or None, not {type(proxy)}")
+    if not isinstance(max_workers, (int, type(None))):
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected max_workers to be an int or None, not {type(max_workers)}")
+    if not isinstance(content_keys, (dict, type(None))):
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected content_keys to be a dict or None, not {type(content_keys)}")
+    if not isinstance(skip_merge, (bool, type(None))):
+        raise TypeError(f"Expected skip_merge to be a bool or None, not {type(skip_merge)}")
 
     if cookies and not isinstance(cookies, CookieJar):
         cookies = cookiejar_from_dict(cookies)
 
-    track_type = track.__class__.__name__
-    thread_count = str(config.n_m3u8dl_re.get("thread_count", max_workers))
-    retry_count = str(config.n_m3u8dl_re.get("retry_count", max_workers))
+    if not binaries.N_m3u8DL_RE:
+        raise EnvironmentError("N_m3u8DL-RE executable not found...")
+
+    effective_max_workers = max_workers or min(32, (os.cpu_count() or 1) + 4)
+
+    if proxy and not config.n_m3u8dl_re.get("use_proxy", True):
+        proxy = None
+
+    thread_count = config.n_m3u8dl_re.get("thread_count", effective_max_workers)
+    retry_count = config.n_m3u8dl_re.get("retry_count", 10)
     ad_keyword = config.n_m3u8dl_re.get("ad_keyword")
 
-    arguments = [
-        track.url,
-        "--save-dir",
-        output_dir,
-        "--tmp-dir",
-        output_dir,
-        "--thread-count",
-        thread_count,
-        "--download-retry-count",
-        retry_count,
-        "--no-log",
-        "--write-meta-json",
-        "false",
-    ]
+    arguments = build_download_args(
+        track_url=track.url,
+        track_from_file=track.from_file,
+        filename=filename,
+        output_dir=output_dir,
+        thread_count=thread_count,
+        retry_count=retry_count,
+        custom_args=track.downloader_args,
+        headers=headers,
+        cookies=cookies,
+        proxy=proxy,
+        content_keys=content_keys,
+        skip_merge=skip_merge,
+        ad_keyword=ad_keyword,
+    )
+    arguments.extend(get_track_selection_args(track))
 
-    for header, value in (headers or {}).items():
-        if header.lower() in ("accept-encoding", "cookie"):
-            continue
-        arguments.extend(["--header", f"{header}: {value}"])
-
-    if cookies:
-        cookie_header = get_cookie_header(cookies, requests.Request(url=track.url))
-        if cookie_header:
-            arguments.extend(["--header", f"Cookie: {cookie_header}"])
-
-    if proxy:
-        arguments.extend(["--custom-proxy", proxy])
-
-    if content_keys:
-        for kid, key in content_keys.items():
-            keys = f"{kid.hex}:{key.lower()}"
-        arguments.extend(["--key", keys])
-        arguments.extend(["--use-shaka-packager"])
-
-    if ad_keyword:
-        arguments.extend(["--ad-keyword", ad_keyword])
-
-    if track.descriptor.name == "URL":
-        error = f"[N_m3u8DL-RE]: {track.descriptor} is currently not supported"
-        raise ValueError(error)
-    elif track.descriptor.name == "DASH":
-        arguments.extend(track_selection(track))
-
-    # TODO: improve this nonsense
-    percent_re = re.compile(r"(\d+\.\d+%)")
-    speed_re = re.compile(r"(?<!/)(\d+\.\d+MB)(?!.*\/)")
-    warn = re.compile(r"(WARN : Response.*)")
-    error = re.compile(r"(ERROR.*)")
-    size_patterns = [
-        re.compile(r"(\d+\.\d+MB/\d+\.\d+GB)"),
-        re.compile(r"(\d+\.\d+GB/\d+\.\d+GB)"),
-        re.compile(r"(\d+\.\d+MB/\d+\.\d+MB)"),
-    ]
-
-    yield dict(total=100)
+    yield {"total": 100}
+    yield {"downloaded": "Parsing streams..."}
 
     try:
         with subprocess.Popen(
-            [binaries.N_m3u8DL_RE, *arguments], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, text=True
-        ) as p:
-            for line in p.stdout:
+            [binaries.N_m3u8DL_RE, *arguments],
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
+            text=True,
+            encoding="utf-8",
+        ) as process:
+            last_line = ""
+            track_type = track.__class__.__name__
+
+            for line in process.stdout:
                 output = line.strip()
-                if output:
-                    percent = percent_re.search(output)
-                    speed = speed_re.search(output)
-                    size = next(
-                        (pattern.search(output).group(1) for pattern in size_patterns if pattern.search(output)), ""
-                    )
+                if not output:
+                    continue
+                last_line = output
 
-                    if speed:
-                        yield dict(downloaded=f"{speed.group(1)}ps {size}")
-                    if percent:
-                        progress = int(percent.group(1).split(".")[0])
-                        yield dict(completed=progress) if progress < 100 else dict(downloaded="Merging")
+                if warn_match := WARN_RE.search(output):
+                    console.log(f"{track_type} {warn_match.group(1)}")
+                    continue
 
-                    if warn.search(output):
-                        console.log(f"{track_type} " + warn.search(output).group(1))
+                if speed_match := SPEED_RE.search(output):
+                    size = size_match.group(1) if (size_match := SIZE_RE.search(output)) else ""
+                    yield {"downloaded": f"{speed_match.group(1)} {size}"}
 
-            p.wait()
+                if percent_match := PERCENT_RE.search(output):
+                    progress = int(percent_match.group(1).split(".", 1)[0])
+                    yield {"completed": progress} if progress < 100 else {"downloaded": "Merging"}
 
-        if p.returncode != 0:
-            if error.search(output):
-                raise ValueError(f"[N_m3u8DL-RE]: {error.search(output).group(1)}")
-            raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(p.returncode, arguments)
+            process.wait()
+        if process.returncode != 0:
+            if error_match := ERROR_RE.search(last_line):
+                raise ValueError(f"[N_m3u8DL-RE]: {error_match.group(1)}")
+            raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(process.returncode, arguments)
 
     except ConnectionResetError:
         # interrupted while passing URI to download
         raise KeyboardInterrupt()
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         DOWNLOAD_CANCELLED.set()  # skip pending track downloads
-        yield dict(downloaded="[yellow]CANCELLED")
+        yield {"downloaded": "[yellow]CANCELLED"}
         raise
     except Exception:
         DOWNLOAD_CANCELLED.set()  # skip pending track downloads
-        yield dict(downloaded="[red]FAILED")
+        yield {"downloaded": "[red]FAILED"}
         raise
 
 
 def n_m3u8dl_re(
-    urls: Union[str, list[str], dict[str, Any], list[dict[str, Any]]],
-    track: object,
+    urls: str | list[str] | dict[str, Any] | list[dict[str, Any]],
+    track: Any,
     output_dir: Path,
     filename: str,
-    headers: Optional[MutableMapping[str, Union[str, bytes]]] = None,
-    cookies: Optional[Union[MutableMapping[str, str], CookieJar]] = None,
-    proxy: Optional[str] = None,
-    max_workers: Optional[int] = None,
-    content_keys: Optional[dict[str, Any]] = None,
+    headers: MutableMapping[str, str | bytes] | None = None,
+    cookies: MutableMapping[str, str] | CookieJar | None = None,
+    proxy: str | None = None,
+    max_workers: int | None = None,
+    content_keys: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+    skip_merge: bool | None = False,
 ) -> Generator[dict[str, Any], None, None]:
     """
     Download files using N_m3u8DL-RE.
@@ -279,28 +347,33 @@ def n_m3u8dl_re(
     The data is in the same format accepted by rich's progress.update() function.
 
     Parameters:
-        urls: Web URL(s) to file(s) to download. You can use a dictionary with the key
-            "url" for the URI, and other keys for extra arguments to use per-URL.
+        urls: Web URL(s) to file(s) to download. NOTE: This parameter is ignored for now.
         track: The track to download. Used to get track attributes for the selection
             process. Note that Track.Descriptor.URL is not supported by N_m3u8DL-RE.
         output_dir: The folder to save the file into. If the save path's directory does
             not exist then it will be made automatically.
-        filename: The filename or filename template to use for each file. The variables
-            you can use are `i` for the URL index and `ext` for the URL extension.
-        headers: A mapping of HTTP Header Key/Values to use for the download.
-        cookies: A mapping of Cookie Key/Values or a Cookie Jar to use for the download.
+        filename: The filename or filename template to use for each file.
+        headers: A mapping of HTTP Header Key/Values to use for all downloads.
+        cookies: A mapping of Cookie Key/Values or a Cookie Jar to use for all downloads.
+        proxy: A proxy to use for all downloads.
         max_workers: The maximum amount of threads to use for downloads. Defaults to
             min(32,(cpu_count+4)). Can be set in config with --thread-count option.
         content_keys: The content keys to use for decryption.
+        skip_merge: Whether to skip merging the downloaded chunks.
     """
-    track_type = track.__class__.__name__
 
-    log = logging.getLogger("N_m3u8DL-RE")
-    if proxy and not config.n_m3u8dl_re.get("use_proxy", True):
-        log.warning(f"{track_type}: Ignoring proxy as N_m3u8DL-RE is set to use_proxy=False")
-        proxy = None
-
-    yield from download(urls, track, output_dir, filename, headers, cookies, proxy, max_workers, content_keys)
+    yield from download(
+        urls=urls,
+        track=track,
+        output_dir=output_dir,
+        filename=filename,
+        headers=headers,
+        cookies=cookies,
+        proxy=proxy,
+        max_workers=max_workers,
+        content_keys=content_keys,
+        skip_merge=skip_merge,
+    )
 
 
 __all__ = ("n_m3u8dl_re",)
diff --git a/unshackle/core/manifests/hls.py b/unshackle/core/manifests/hls.py
index 0bb1c9b..46ceaa4 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/manifests/hls.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/manifests/hls.py
@@ -249,17 +249,20 @@ class HLS:
 
         log = logging.getLogger("HLS")
 
-        # Get the playlist text and handle both session types
-        response = session.get(track.url)
-        if isinstance(response, requests.Response):
-            if not response.ok:
-                log.error(f"Failed to request the invariant M3U8 playlist: {response.status_code}")
-                sys.exit(1)
-            playlist_text = response.text
+        if track.from_file:
+            master = m3u8.load(str(track.from_file))
         else:
-            raise TypeError(f"Expected response to be a requests.Response or curl_cffi.Response, not {type(response)}")
+            # Get the playlist text and handle both session types
+            response = session.get(track.url)
+            if isinstance(response, requests.Response):
+                if not response.ok:
+                    log.error(f"Failed to request the invariant M3U8 playlist: {response.status_code}")
+                    sys.exit(1)
+                playlist_text = response.text
+            else:
+                raise TypeError(f"Expected response to be a requests.Response or curl_cffi.Response, not {type(response)}")
 
-        master = m3u8.loads(playlist_text, uri=track.url)
+            master = m3u8.loads(playlist_text, uri=track.url)
 
         if not master.segments:
             log.error("Track's HLS playlist has no segments, expecting an invariant M3U8 playlist.")
diff --git a/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py b/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py
index 12c7af0..72b8e60 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/tracks/track.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from unshackle.core.constants import DOWNLOAD_CANCELLED, DOWNLOAD_LICENCE_ONLY
 from unshackle.core.downloaders import aria2c, curl_impersonate, n_m3u8dl_re, requests
 from unshackle.core.drm import DRM_T, PlayReady, Widevine
 from unshackle.core.events import events
-from unshackle.core.utilities import get_boxes, try_ensure_utf8
+from unshackle.core.utilities import get_boxes, try_ensure_utf8, get_extension
 from unshackle.core.utils.subprocess import ffprobe
 
 
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ class Track:
         drm: Optional[Iterable[DRM_T]] = None,
         edition: Optional[str] = None,
         downloader: Optional[Callable] = None,
+        downloader_args: Optional[dict] = None,
+        from_file: Optional[Path] = None,
         data: Optional[Union[dict, defaultdict]] = None,
         id_: Optional[str] = None,
         extra: Optional[Any] = None,
@@ -69,6 +71,10 @@ class Track:
             raise TypeError(f"Expected edition to be a {str}, not {type(edition)}")
         if not isinstance(downloader, (Callable, type(None))):
             raise TypeError(f"Expected downloader to be a {Callable}, not {type(downloader)}")
+        if not isinstance(downloader_args, (dict, type(None))):
+            raise TypeError(f"Expected downloader_args to be a {dict}, not {type(downloader_args)}")
+        if not isinstance(from_file, (Path, type(None))):
+            raise TypeError(f"Expected from_file to be a {Path}, not {type(from_file)}")
         if not isinstance(data, (dict, defaultdict, type(None))):
             raise TypeError(f"Expected data to be a {dict} or {defaultdict}, not {type(data)}")
 
@@ -100,6 +106,8 @@ class Track:
         self.drm = drm
         self.edition: str = edition
         self.downloader = downloader
+        self.downloader_args = downloader_args
+        self.from_file = from_file
         self._data: defaultdict[Any, Any] = defaultdict(dict)
         self.data = data or {}
         self.extra: Any = extra or {}  # allow anything for extra, but default to a dict
@@ -203,7 +211,17 @@ class Track:
         save_path = config.directories.temp / f"{track_type}_{self.id}.mp4"
         if track_type == "Subtitle":
             save_path = save_path.with_suffix(f".{self.codec.extension}")
-            if self.downloader.__name__ == "n_m3u8dl_re":
+            # n_m3u8dl_re doesn't support directly downloading subtitles
+            if self.downloader.__name__ == "n_m3u8dl_re" and get_extension(self.url) in {
+                ".srt",
+                ".vtt",
+                ".ttml",
+                ".ssa",
+                ".ass",
+                ".stpp",
+                ".wvtt",
+                ".xml",
+            }:
                 self.downloader = requests
 
         if self.descriptor != self.Descriptor.URL: