Making recordings of radio programmes

mulldoonuk

Hi buglawton..Yes you need streambox VCR "v1.0 beta 3.1" important... D/L this from afterdawn.com as due to legal battles with Real Media, Streambox no longer support this software (it's not illegal to use in the UK btw) If i remember right it contains Streambox Ripper a handy bit of software which will enable you to convert real audio (the c**p the beeb use) to mp3 format (for you're player) BUT... if you have the latest version of Real Player (10?) on you're pc, get rid and install an older version Real Player 8.0 (i use this) as SB Ripper needs codes in the older versions of Real Player to do the conversion to mp3 format.The newer versions of RP don't have these codes. After i have had a few cups of coffee (bit of a hangover) i'll post instructions on how to use Streambox and NetTransport to D/L listen again shows in super quick time! Hope this helps.

buglawton

I looked at Streambox via Afterdawn's website and it seems you have to apply a complicated downloadable hack for satisfactory operation. Look forward to your update - I'd like to know if ONE of the programs you mentioned is enough to get BBC streaming onto MP3s.

Having to install older versions of several different programs to get the result looks like something for the committed enthusiast!

mulldoonuk

Regarding SB no complicated hack needed (not for bbc listen again progs) you may have to create user name and password thats all! If there is another way to D/L using one program then i don't know about it..and the only older version of software you will be using is Real Player.

intel

Radio2 clip I just did with audacity
if this is what is required I cant see any problems take a listen.

***link removed as sites had an upgrade***

Edit: I downloaded audacity then chose mono mix from the drop
down list then tapped the record button, what this does is record directly from the source so that there is no background noise.

Then export file as mp3 when asked to save you will be prompted
to fine the lame_enc.dll file (available from my link) now download the lame
encoder file and save to My Documents on your PC, now find the lame file
audacity is asking for, (you need only to do this once) now save the audio clip wherever you like.

mulldoonuk

This is the way i download (record) bbc(listen again)radio shows.. eg..a TWO HOUR radio show in aprox 5 to 10 minutes... you can use software like Total Recorder or Audacity to record a show but a 2 or 3 hour show will take you 2 or 3 hours to record!!! Open Streambox VCR then minimize to tray. Go to the bbc listen again page and click on the show you want to listen to. When the stream (show) starts to play MANUALLY disconnect you're internet connection (pull the plug on you're modem/router) this is the easiest way to bring up the web address of the stream. The web address will begin with rtsp:// and end with .ra. Highlight the web address (drag you're mouse across it till it is dark grey) then right click on it and select copy. Maximize Streambox VCR then quickly reconnect you're internet connection (just put the plug back in) In Streambox click on what looks like a little planet earth icon with a plus(+) sign on it. This will bring up a box entitled "new item"(in the location box will be the address of the show you want to record) Press OK a small hourglass should appear at the side of the address in streambox then two blue arrows(these mean its doing its job and recording) When recorded a box will appear with the message "file received" and a blue tick will appear by the the recorded address replacing the two blue arrows .... click OK. Now......................... its time for Net Transport to do its work. Open up NT (theres a nag screen just click enter) You will notice a little black box use your mouse to expand this box then minimize NT then drag and drop this box over the address you have just recorded in streambox(the one with the blue tick by it) Right click in the black box and select "paste url" This will bring up a box entitled "properties" click on OK in the corner (under other settings) In the black box you you will see the show downloading (5% 20% etc) wait till its complete. Close Streambox and maximize NT in one of the 3 windows you will see the show you have just received (it will have a green tick beside it) Right click on the show and select "Open Directory" there you will find the show. From here you can send it to anywhere on you pc (desktop.. documents.etc)for future listening at anytime. I have tried to make these instructions as simple as possible. you will be suprised how simple this is.. lets put it like this, if i can do it, anyone can .......BTW..i use Jet Audio (cracking little player avalible from Download.com) to play the shows i have recorded, WMP will not play these recorded shows.... Hope this helps.

buglawton

I have a wireless card built in to the PC so the method of getting the stream address may not work... maybe there's another way. Also when I was reading about Net Transport it seemed to claim it could do the download too (in a multi stream simultaneous way) hence I though that all one should need is Net Transport. To quote from their site: "How many times you like to locally save the streaming media, and you can’t find any appropriate tool to accomplish this simple task. Thanks to Net Transport (NetXfer), now it’s a piece of cake to do it with the help of this magic tool". Perhaps though one then needs the "Save as" lame_enc.dll thingy like above mentioned by "intel".

Anyway mulldoonuk, I will give the above a try on a rainy afternoon as the ability to quickly load Listen Agains onto one's mp3 player is a Holy Grail type result.

danielsanjnr

As I see it there are two options for recording streaming radio programs from the net.

First if you want to listen while you record, then use audacity or a simillar program.
On audicity you must choose either wave out or mono out from the tool bar before recording the stream.

Second if you want a quicker download without listening then use Net Transport.
To do this first of all start the stream then get the url. To get this in real player all you do is click file on the menu then view clip properties. A box will appear with info on the file. The file name given is the url, copy this to clip board or take a note of it.

Then in Net Transport right-click on the small black box on screen and select new download, in the box that appears paste in the url. You dont need
to fill any other fields(or at least I have not so far!). Click ok and the downoad should start. All you have to do apart from that is to choose a destination folder for the file, and of course to convert it to the format of your choice which i will leave to someone else to explain.

Hope this helps!!

buglawton

Flashget claims to do the same as Net Transport - maybe simpler.

http://www.amazesoft.com/index.htm The free version may do all that's needed including 5x speed download.

There's a nice blog on this topic at http://swen.antville.org/stories/735413/

I will try this but am still looking for the ideal RAM -> MP3 file converter, right click on the RAM file and convert to same name/location but MP3. Any suggestions?

mulldoonuk

This?? http://www.mini-stream.com/rm-to-mp3/

buglawton

Thanks.
Their website is very coy about the price - stange ethics. Apparently it's $25. Good if it could download the stream too plus there were any reviews (and a clear path to trial it first) Then I'd be keen.