Hi Members: Found a great program for recording radio through a friend called Radiotime. You can download here . Records the program in mp3 or other formats and saves to iTunes or Windows Media Player. Unfortunately, I'm having problems recording and scheduling recordings. The program seems to freeze on both my browsers (IE and Firefox) with the error message "mrt.exe" and "hungapp". It could be the Microsoft Malicious Software Tool that is causing this problem. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem. I welcome any other suggestions as to programs to record radio shows. Thanks,
Hi Forum Members: Follow-up to my problems with RadioTime. I believe it was my disabled sound card from Sigmatel (basic sound card) on my Dell 5150 XP Media Center 2005. Also, in order for RadioTime to work properly you new to install the realplayer (why I don't know but I guess you do). Too complicated so I'm now trying Radio Downloader and a couple of other programs. I have a new sound card for Christmas. A Creative Audigy 24-bit and lets hope for the New Year I'll be able to record radio. Happy New Year,
I do not think you have gotten any nearer your goal. It seems to me your problem was the recording software. I am sure RadioTime will disable your new sound card just as easily as the old one. I would take Teddy's advise. Yes I do. You are using junk software that saves in a propratary format. Most likely you will find out why it does this with your wallet. The player may die and you will be told where to send your money to make the software useable again. You may discover you have to pay $25/yr to listen to your radio show. Pay the $17 you do not want the better package since your sound card comes with great editing software. You can try the trial version before you buy. It makes no sense to post questions then ignore the solutions unless you think the advice came from an uninformed source. I took Teddy's advice and total record did not kill my sound card. It also saves in commonly used formats. I see that as a GREAT improvement over RadioTime.
Hi Mez: I'm a complete beginner at recording radio and do not have the technical savy that you or other senior members have through years of experience. This is why it is a forum for open discussion, help, questions and advice. I'm quite surprised that being a senior member you would critise a beginner or any forum member for asking questions. I do not believe that my question was a waste of time. It is through questions that we learn. Also, any advice is given freely and one can except it or not. Other circumstances may also apply. You will note that I had already purchased RadioTime and was trying to make lemonade out of a lemon. Again, experience helps. Also, I have two other programs existing on my system: Sony Sound Forge (Home version) and Audacity that I could not use either (I'm learning how to use those as well). There begins the mystery as why none of these programs would work. Again, I do not possess your technical knowledge about computers. However, I do learn quickly. It has taken some time but through research I've been able to confirm that my sound card from Sigmatel (Dell 5150) will not record what you hear (disabled). Therefore, Sound Forge, Audacity or similar programs will not work at all unless you have a sound card that will record. They do not come with audio drivers and rely on your sound card "stereo mix" which I do not have! I also tried to find alternative audio drivers to replace the ones I have but nothing compatible. Time constraints as well -- didn't realize that it was going to be a major project. All I want to do is record radio and it should not be that difficult to do. My next computer will not be purchased by a major manufacturer -- it will be custom-built by someone with your technical knowledge and expertise. Then I will know exactly what is in it and not get the "royal run around" trying to figure out what is wrong and how to fix, e.g. Dell. Before I purchase another program, I'd like to be able to use the ones I have currently on my system ($$$). Audacity and Sony Sound Forge are great programs and with a new sound card I'm hoping that they will work fine. If they don't I have olyteddy's excellent and expert opinion on TotalRecorder. I totally agree with you about RadioTime. It didn't disable my sound card, the sound card was already disabled. There were additional problems with requiring Realplayer, lack of scheduling, etc. Didn't like it at all. Mez, have a Happy New Year, katy
Oh don't get too upset. I do get cranky when people do not pay attention. I was in a quandry as to why you were not following the advice given. You did note you were trying the offered solution but you really were not clear about all your problems. Thanks for clairifying. I understand now. I will do my best to help you. Building your own will be more expensive than a middle of the road computer but it will be worth while. The build your own PC forum will be of great help. I just build one with their help last summer. I will toot their horn. At least half the parts in my PC won awards from the customers that bought the parts. Those awards really mean something. Lets do baby steps - Creative Audigy 24-bit is a nice card. Can you get it to play music?
Happy New Year Mez: I like baby steps. Haven't had a chance to install the new sound card. The holidays were crazy with everyone coming and going. I hoping that this will be quiet and I'll have time to install. I have my fingers and toes crossed that I will have sound ... any sound! I'm even doing it myself. Have to learn at some point. So glad that you have referred me to the How to Build a PC Forum. At least I will know what I have in my computer. I find a lot of manufacturers are providing poor quality hardware. I have an extended warranty (thank goodness) on my machine because in less than two years I've had to replace: my hard drive, ram cards x 2, power supply, motherboard, tv tuner, bluetooth keyboard, and so on. The operating system software is another story. I have Windows XP Media Center 2005. The Media Center was missing its sonicencoders and the OEM had installed the incorrect "decoders" that are preferred by Microsoft for Media Center. Several clean installs later and purchasing the NVIDIA decoders it is up and running. Unfortunately, it is really sensitive. The OP disk will not let me just replace the "sonicencoders" (could be zipped?). If it goes on the fritz, I have no other choice but to do a complete re-install of the entire OP. Getting back to our discuss about recording radio. I've just recently tried a new program called "Radio Downloader" by Nerd of the Herd. Excellent program. Here is the link: http://www.nerdoftheherd.com/tools/radiodld/ It is one of those "idiot proof" programs which is what I like. Will be in touch as soon as I install my shiny new sound card. Thanks,
By all means do it yourself. All you need is a philps screwdriver. I usually built my own, actually I would upgrade upgrade motherboard, CPU and RAM every other year. I would always buy too cheap. The last one I kept for 5 yrs so I could afford to build a good one using that forum. There was quite a discussion before the final list was compiled. The whole computer is highend. I never worked on a computer this nice. Instead of having to force fit things everything slides into place. I wisely paid $50 to let someone else install the motherboard (MOBO). I have used those techs for 20 yrs. There are too many wires and my eyes are too old for all that fine stuff. M$ does not have a good name in the media business. A media center is really too technical for the buffoons left at M$. The cream left 20-25 years ago. What do you use it for? Unless you have a specific need I would drop M$ media Center. There are top of the line replacements out there. In the audio world replacements can be had for little or no money. I worry about the "sonicencoders". I only use top of the line encoders. They can be had for free so why use crap? M$ has a worst reputation for video but most good video replacemnts are not cheap. I might keep it if I was using the video part. Otherwise, get rid of it. That could easily be part of your problem. M$ and Apple have bad aditudes and their software reflects those aditudes. Their apps tend to not care about any software not writtem by them. They figure screwing up other software is smart because you might go to pure M$ or Apple software. The other option is to avoid their software where ever possible. You may have had a bad power supply that could have ruined everything. I purchased a seperate top of the line PS. It pays to have a top of the line since they are cheap and can ruin everything. You never have a good one if you buy the computer as a unit. That is one area they save money because no one cares about a power supply. My last computer lasted 5 years and some parts were much older than that and I bought cheap parts. You must have bought garbage but paid for good. "Radio Downloader" looks good to me I will have to check it out. A one man show with open source code often produces the best apps. The programmer has no idiot boss to tell him to do stupid things.
Hi Mez: Snow Day today, lots of it! Installed my shiny new sound card and the drivers (I think I may have installed everything on the disk -- oooops!). I have sound!!!!! I also have within my menu "record what u hear". Haven't tried it out yet but that is my next step. The sound coming from my two speakers is quite nice. May be for my Birthday I might get some 5.1 speakers? I believe you will really like Radio Downloader and I have to agree with the one man show is always the best for software. Very simplistic and easy to use. Great job! I'm very happy with it. I've also installed the program Super (new version January 2009 - freeware) for conversion purposes. It will also play real audio stream as well. I do not like the real audio player -- too much stuff attached to it! I'm saving up for the new custom-built computer and I am so glad that the Forum will help with what are the best parts to use and software. After using what I have, I would never recommend Media Center to anyone. Will keep you posted on my progress, katy
I would not get into a habbit of using Super for doing all your conversions. It is OK but low end. Check the rescent thread Converting Flac to mp3 using Foobar. Radio Downloader uses LAME, the highest quality mp3 encoder. I would suggest checking out Media Monkey and WinAmp to play your audio. They have great free versions. They are very different and you will probably like one way better than the other. It is a good idea to get into good not bad habbits by using a junk audio player. Foobar is a distant third. I do not like it because the learning curve to too steep to do much with it. You have a real nice card.
Hi Mez: I'm so glad you mentioned a converter for Flac to mp3. I have encoders that I've inserted into my Nero 6 software that will convert and burn to disk but I do not have a separate one. Oh,dear! Super was free, it played the stream files, and it was all inclusive. I need your help on this one then. What would you recommend as far as software/programmes for converting Audio and Video. They can be separate programs and I don't mind paying if I get a good quality end product. As you know, I have Audacity & Sony for audio (more sound studio rather than actual converters) and Convert X to DVD for video. However, the ConvertXtoDVD will not convert x to x. Thanks for mentioned WinAmp or Media Monkey to play the audio. Will these work on the FLAC files as well? You mentioned Foobar earlier but you say it is a distant third and difficult to use. Many thanks again for all the recommendations, katy
I don't do vidio to audio. Maybe super is OK for that. Since you prefer paying up front insted of paying behind due to problems, try PowerAmp Converter. It is the most expensive but I can afford 30 USD/year for the reference version of PA converter. You pay $5 extra for a burner app instead of $25. I actualy have never used it. This is the first year I upgraded to the referance version. I use Media Monkey (MM)to burn my disks. I have not found a fault with it yet. I may pay $25 not $30 next year. Foobar is easy enough to build a library and play music. It was not apparent how to call anything more that the base functions. I have all 3 of the top 3 audio managers. I know Foobar has some good functions that MM lacks. It uses the comment tag to normalize an mp3 instead of changing the mp3 its self. I really like that concept since my ipod sould be able to use that same tag. Unfortunatly, the interface of the default skin is terrible. I do not wish to spen years figuring out how to make a skin a usable as the other two apps default skins. I have used MM for 3 years so I am biased. I find Winamp less intuitive but I bet I would think differently if I had used it for 3 years. Both MM & WA play about 25 file types. WA plays a few more than MM. I only care about mp3s, m4a and Flac. With PA I convert everything to VBR mp3s including Flacs except for CBR mp3s & m4as. I can play them on my computer and ipod so why risk quality loss with a conversion? VBR mp3s use the most compression techniques to provide the tiniest file that is 'transparent' to live. Very thing plays VBR mp3s so that is what I use. I will be screwed if they become out dated but I suspect they will be good for many years to come. I need to voice my opinion on Flacs. A Flac and an excellent mp3 sound the same and a flac is huge file size difference and flacs ARE problematic. Not everything that 'handles them' handles them well. I will admit to maintaining flacs for my vinyl audio captures. They are backed off to DVDs I keep them for referance not to use. I beleive it is a terrible crime to convert anything to flac that isn't at least 1200 BR source. These would be live with great recording equipment, vinyl and CDs. Flac are 1200-1300 BR. I bet a pocket recorded records less than 50 BR. Some bands like the Grateful Dead made arrangements that live and unautherised recording of their live performances are public domain. These recording can be legaly traded. Most of these files are losless. Much sounds worse than 50 CBR. This is a travisty. HD radio is less than 100 CBR. You are creating files at least 50 times bigger than they should be... for what to confuse persons including your self? A setting that will approminate 50 BR will capture HD radio using a VBR is over kill. Even I go for overkill but I overkill by 20-30% not 5000%. I deeply resent persons that pollute the audio world with audio files bloated thousands of % bigger than their proper size and are proud to do so. They believe they are super human and are proud of it. Not a single one has a lick of sense! Audacity is the preferred sound editor. Audacity edits wave files. If you had captured HiFi audio you should capture as a wave of an other lossless format. You are dealing with radio, about a 250 times less quality. You pretty much can't degrade the audio much below that no matter what you do, so don't get anal trying to preserve quality you never had.
Hi Mez: Just so I can clarify the tools I need and which programs are the best to use. Not converting video to audio? CONVERTERS I need a real audio converter to convert ra, rm to mp3. So far we are looking at Jodix rm to mp3; Switch (free & paid); Super (no LAME - poor quality). I couldn't find the appropriate information for Switch. I gather it does not come with the real audio encoders/codecs (need to download the RealPlayer or Real Alternative to get the codecs). Also I couldn't find out if it uses LAME for its mp3 conversions? No info on the paid version and the support is terrible. MEDIA PLAYERS for read audio and other formats Media Classic Player doesn't have the real audio encoders/codecs so I'd have to download the Real Alternative Player to get them. It may also need an AC-3 Decoder Filter??? VIDEO CONVERTERS This is a hard one because of all the darn formats. I'm o.k. for ripping and burning (Nero 6, DVD Fab). Also have the software Convert X to DVD. However, I do not have a general all-purpose converter that would help with avi, DivX, Xvid (smaller formats). Therefore, converting X to X. AUDIO MANAGERS You mentioned top three (3): Media Monkey (MM), PowerAmp Converter and WM (not too sure what this one is?). I'm trying to incorporate where possible because it is easier to keep track of for updating purposes. Thanks a bunch, katy
Radio Downloader can save the audio as an mp3. Why do you need to do any conversions? I avoid Real Media anything. They get you to install problematic software that can not be unistalled. I had to reformat my harddisk to rid myself of the parasites. In case you are forces to save in a real media format, MM or WA (WinAmp) may play these without conversions. Just because Media Classic Player can't play something does not mean better audio managers can't. Audio managers maintain a database (library) while a player just plays. Poweramp music converter converts and rips. The refrence version burns as well. I suggest you try the 30 day free trial. It is the best or one of the best for converting and ripping audio. It converts a wide range of formats very well. They sell a player but MM and WA are cheap or for free and have more features. I have the same video software that you do. I do have a freebee avi to DVD converter that I have not used yet. I may invest in a paid for utility. Until just rescently, I did not need the video converter. I am not a good one to ask and this is not a good place to ask fo video converters.
Hi Mez: I know, real media player and a few other programmes are awful for invading your system. For example, FlashGet. Nasty little sucker. Thank goodness I have it on a USB Flash Drive. It even tries to take over from there. Unfortunately, I can't always rely on Radio Downloader and I'd like to be able to download the radio programmes the old way using the .ram/.ra files. Therefore the need in order to convert .ra or rm to mp3. Thanks, katy
Power Amp Converter will do the job. It is smart to have fall-backs and flexability. PA is an invaluable tool. I especially like the ablity to read the tag info from File Explorer.
