How do I download audio files from Web pages?

This may seem like a weird question, but how do I download audio files when they appear as links on Web pages? If I click on the link, a mini-audio player starts up in my Web browser, but I want to copy the info onto my iPod, not listen on the computer. What's the trick?

Dave's Answer:

I just today got a mailing from The Teaching Company and saw the self-same issue arise, actually, so let me step through how I saved the audio file and you'll see how you can solve it too.

The link in the email took me to a page about The History of the Olympic Games, a page that features download links for two lecutres on the Greek originsl of the games by Professor Jeremy McInerney, Associate Professor in the Department of Classical Studies and Chair of the Graduate Group in Ancient History at the University of Pennsylvania.

The actual download links on that page look like this:

The Teaching Company's free lectures on the history of the olympic games

Nice, but if I click on one of 'em, I see this:

Playing an audio file (history of olympic games) in a Web browser

Not what I want. What I want to see is a 'save' dialog box so I can actually save the file to my computer.

The secret is to right click (or, if you're on a Mac like me, control-click) and then you'll see a pop-up contextual menu with options like this:

Saving an audio file (history of olympic games) in a Web browser

As you can see, choose "Save Link As..." and you'll get the save dialog box you were hoping to have seen earlier:

Saving an audio file (history of olympic games) in a Web browser: file name?

Now, finally, you know how to save audio files that otherwise end up being played in your browser when you really want to drop 'em onto your iPod or cell phone.

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 8416, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: downloading audio, ipod, olympic games
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Reader Comments To Date: 19

PaulM said, on August 1, 2008 11:49 AM:

In Windows XP, the right-click menu item you want is "Save Target As...".

Stephanie Brasher said, on April 29, 2009 3:50 AM:

Hi Dave, I stumbled across your website while doing a google search. I have to say it's pretty interesting. I am working on a website for a charity organization (I am not a professional designer or anything, it's just something I do in my spare time, thus I am not very advanced) and they need me to put some audio files on the site. I have put them up as buttons on the home page and they work fine as links, but I cannot figure out how to make the 'save' dialog box appear. The organization has requested that I change the files to make them "downloadable so as to give the listener an opportunity to save it to their computer, phone, etc." I've tried the advice you have given about right-clicking the file and hit the 'save as' but the 'save as' does not appear when I right-click. Like I said I am not advanced in the world of web design so some advice would be greatly appreciated. Oh by the way, I am doing all of this in Dreamweaver. Ok, Thanks Dave!

Bob said, on October 12, 2009 1:33 AM:

Stephanie, it doesn't work because you are using Adobe Flash for the buttons. You need to use links like those you have at the top of the page for "Home", "Calendar", "Contact Us", etc.

Another thing you could do instead of using Flash is simply use pictures for the buttons that you can click on (in the same way a picture is used at the top of this page, for example) although you won't get the animation effects you have now.

Anonymous said, on December 13, 2010 6:52 PM:

TYVM, very helpful.

katie said, on January 20, 2011 11:18 PM:

Awesum advice! so easy but SOO useful!
thanks so much Dave

Zainil said, on April 13, 2011 11:34 AM:

how do i download the audio from the following page..??
http://www.france-pub.com/french/alphabet.html

berto said, on April 19, 2011 10:47 AM:

Thanks a lot. Vry easy but very useful. Greetings from Dakar, Senegal. Blllleeeessss!!!

Dave Taylor said, on April 22, 2011 9:30 AM:

Zainil, as far as I can tell, they have a custom widget on their site so you can't just figure out the audio file and download it separately. What you could do is use something like Wiretap (for the Mac) or a PC equivalent to actually *play* the audio and record it simultaneously, perhaps while you're sleeping, then you'd have a copy. Good luck!

Eric said, on April 23, 2011 11:08 PM:

Hi and thx for the tips, two questions for you;

Do I need to use wiretap for downloading these guys 2:

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details_new.php?seriesid=2010-D-67271&semesterid=2010-D

And if yes where I can get the software, and also I wonder if there is any way to download these guys 2:

http://academicearth.org/lectures/sequential-games-1

thank you again

Victoria Kulovic said, on September 27, 2011 8:49 PM:

Hi Dave,
Help Please! I would like to convert some files from
http://store.debbieford.com/pages.php?pID=59
and cannot seem to be able to get it to work. My computer is a Mac. When I control-click, as you suggested, on the file I don't get the "save link as" ... any advice would be most appreciated.

Dave Taylor said, on September 27, 2011 9:49 PM:

Victoria, those files are all audio files embedded in the Flash audio player. I don't think there is any easy way to save them short of using an audio recording app like Wiretap. (Google it)

Vickykul said, on September 28, 2011 8:39 AM:

Dave, first, thanks for answering my question (from Victoria K. asking about files from http://store.debbieford.com/pages.php?pID=59). You suggested that I check out Wiretap, but I am a complete moron when it comes to this stuff so I need to know your advice. What would you do if you were me and you really wanted to be able to upload this to your ipod? Would it be possible or am I just plain out of luck? And, if it is possible, I kind of want it to be "easy."

Also, wanted you to know, I just bought you a cup of Chai. Hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for the help. Oh, and I have a daughter who graduated from Purdue. So, "Go Boilermakers"

Vicky

Dave Taylor said, on September 28, 2011 9:45 AM:

Vicky, Ambrosia Software has some very good tutorial videos online: http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/wiretap/videos/ Go watch a few, see if it instills you with confidence. :-)

Hanurus said, on February 24, 2012 1:46 PM:

I try download audio from this website but i cant, any ideas? http://www.absolute-video-games.com/audio/1933/suburbs-3

Dick Petulant said, on May 27, 2012 9:33 AM:

Thanks, that was really helpful. You've just rescued my day!

artman77 said, on June 19, 2012 6:40 AM:

thanks dave, I found the above very helpful.

mauricio m-ortiz said, on October 24, 2012 3:10 PM:

San Salvador, Oct. 2012

HelloMr. David.

Only wanted to say that your article helped on my question of download it my file from podcast to my pc, .

from El Salvador, CentroAmerica. have a great day!!!

Best regards,

Mauricio

Lee Doan said, on December 16, 2012 11:11 AM:

Dave,
Is there an app -or a way to batch save ALL the audio links on a web page?
I want to save bunches of old time radio programs on certain websites to my computer for offline listening. In case the power goes down or something. It would be very tedious to have to save them one by one.

thanks

Rick said, on February 18, 2013 2:45 PM:

Dave,

I produce a daily mp3 audio segment that I post to my website via ftp. Soon I hope to market this segment to websites, radio stations, etc. My question is about distribution.

* Is it possible for interested parties to download the files from my site? From the above discussion, I would think yes, but when I pull up the file and control+click ( I have an iMAC) my only two options are to save as a page source or a web archive. Saving as a mp3 is not an offered option.

Best,

Rick

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

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

How do I download audio files from Web pages?

Reader Comments To Date: 19

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

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