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How do I capture an Internet audio stream?

I seem to recall that I've read about some applications for both Mac and Windows that let you capture a streaming audio source to a file so you can listen to it later, slice it up, mail an excerpt to your parents, whatever. Anyone have a clue what kind of software does this, and perhaps a few pointers to specific applications I could download?

Dave's Answer:

I polled a couple of colleagues for help with this question and here's what I found out...

Phil says that TotalRecorder will capture anything that plays to your speakers in Windows. There's also a utility floating around call ASFRecorder that will grab Microsoft audio streams straight off the net (violating the stream-only rule, I think). I think it violates (and predates) the DMCA, so it may be hard to find. (Hint: I've got it around here somewhere.) Comes with source code. I don't know about a util for RealAudio, though. TotalRecorder works for it, but it has to go through another level of compression.

Kirk says that for the Mac, there's a freeware program called StreamRipperX that's worth checking out. Ambrosia also released a nice utility called WireTap, which records any audio going out of your Mac.

Margy shares that she's been using the PolderbitS Sound Recorder -- It's a Windows program that can record anything that comes out of your speakers. Their web site doesn't really make this clear (maybe because it's translated from the Dutch), but it works fine and you get a 15-day free trial. Once you've captured the stream, the program also makes it easy to split the recording into tracks for recording as an audio CD. I usually use Windows Media Player to burn the CD.

Thanks to Kirk McElhearn, Phil Hord and Margy Levine Young for their contributions to this answer

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics , Windows Help (Article 3831)
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Comments

In relation to your column of 12/30 discussing utilities that will allow recording of streaming audio, I woudl recommend Voeytra. It ahs a componeent calle Disc Orchestrator that does a bank up job recording anything that can come off your Windows sound card. It is especially good if you have a lot of cassettes, vinyl, or 8 tracks you want to burn to CDs. There are other components to the software as well that the buyers will find useful. It costs around $40 though it is probalby cheaper now.

Posted by: Richard Coleman at December 30, 2004 10:34 AM

Heh. The absolute best program for saving any sort of streaming audio is Net Transport, at http://www.xi-soft.com . Net Transport is primarily a segmented download manager, but also has the ability to download all of the major streaming media formats (Real, Windows Media, and QuickTime) directly to your hard drive. The program doesn't have any spyware, and keeps a fairly small memory footprint. Technically, the program is shareware, but I have the last freeware version on my site, http://pad.olsonnetwork.com/downloads/ . Enjoy!

Clint Olson
http://www.olsonnetwork.com

Posted by: Clint Olson at December 31, 2004 1:46 AM

audiograbber-free
[ total recorder is not free and sound quality is poor imho]

Posted by: q y at January 7, 2005 2:18 AM

PolderbitS Sound Recorder captures streaming sound beautifully, I already tried it.

Although the website does not advertise it to be able to captures streaming sound but it does work. Just start the program, then listen to your streaming audio as usual, PolderbitS Sound Recorder will record the sound as you listen.

5 star!

Posted by: Rosdi at February 23, 2007 12:28 AM

i-Sound WMA MP3 Recorder http://www.abyssmedia.com/capture-streaming-audio.shtml work perfectly for me.

Posted by: Michael at May 15, 2007 9:50 AM

Try http://streamripper.sourceforge.net/
It's free, and I'm using it as I type this :)

Posted by: Ivan C. at May 23, 2007 11:30 AM

I always see notes, comments, suggestions about software... what does one use for software? His audio card with one in?

Posted by: Paul at May 26, 2007 8:02 AM

Here is a lot of streaming audio recorders(shareware and freeware) http://www.topmediatools.com/Streaming_Audio_23/

Posted by: Dixis at June 1, 2007 3:00 AM

totalrecorder is a very good program, ive used it quite often. however it takes over your audio settings, and i started to get audio problems on games, so i had to uninstall totalrecorder on my main computer. i still use it, but just on a computer i record my own music on. and dont use that computer for anything else.

Posted by: dean n at August 10, 2007 4:13 AM

Ripcast http://www.xoteck.com/ripcast/ is the best program to record streams.

Posted by: steve at August 13, 2007 5:39 AM

I use FlashGet software: right click on player -> Properties -> Location -> find the location of file then I can capture it with FlashGet.

Posted by: Máy Bộ Đàm at February 23, 2008 1:51 AM

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I do have a comment, now that you mention it!