Still looking for Windows sound recorder replacement.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dos-Man
  • Start date Start date
D

Dos-Man

Hello ACFers, I am still looking for a Windows sound recorder
replacement, but my requirements have now changed. The program
still needs to be easy to use and uncluttered, but needs to be
able to save in an audio file format other than .WAV.

Does anyone know what file format I should use in order to fit
up to 10 hours of radio and store in an audio file that will
fit on a 250 meg ram drive?

I am looking for a freeware ram drive tool to create this
ramdisk and may have found one but I may end up needing that, too.

Thank you for your help, and do not miss out on these free
software programs that I give to you:

-------------------------------------------
Textbox - plain text editor
http://www.bee.net/prime-time/textbox.zip

Enviro - GUI environment variable viewer
http://www.bee.net/prime-time/enviro.zip

Snoop - hides visible windows
http://www.bee.net/prime-time/snoop.zip

Cmd.com - MS-DOS command interpreter
http://www.bee.net/cmd.zip

Cal - date viewer
http://www.bee.net/cal.zip
 
Dos-Man wrote in
Hello ACFers, I am still looking for a Windows sound recorder
replacement, but my requirements have now changed. The program
still needs to be easy to use and uncluttered, but needs to be
able to save in an audio file format other than .WAV.

Does anyone know what file format I should use in order to fit
up to 10 hours of radio and store in an audio file that will
fit on a 250 meg ram drive?
Click to expand...

Audacity? Does MP3
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
10 hours @ ~128k/sec (net acceptable-ish if you're not that fussy quality)
is still a 600Mb file though (about 1Mb/minute).
 
Dos-Man said:
Does anyone know what file format I should use in order to fit
up to 10 hours of radio and store in an audio file that will
fit on a 250 meg ram drive?
Click to expand...

I routinely record from AM radio using MP3 format, 32 KHz sampling, 56
kbits/sec stereo. This records an hour in 24 to 25 MB, so 10 hours
should fit in 250 MB.

FWIW, I download these recordings to a portable mp3 player and then
play then while working out and while driving. It basically lets me
time-shift radio programs I want to listen to.

Of course, AM radio is mono, so I could record in mono, but in my
experience recording in stereo when the two channels contain the same
data doesn't make the size significantly larger, so I don't bother
switching to mono.

Similarly, you could drop the sample rate. I've gone as low as 8 KHz
and found the results indistinguishable from 32 KHz. But the file
sizes weren't any smaller, so I just leave it at 32 KHz.

With AM radio, I have tried higher higher bit rates, and I can't tell
the difference. There's just not much bandwidth present in AM radio.

With FM radio, I record using the same parameters, because I don't
want the file sizes to go much larger, and I find this quality
acceptable for working out and driving. However, if I increase the bit
rate, I can definately tell the difference, even listening over
computer speakers or cheap headphones on a mp3 player. Listening to
music, there are parts of the music that just aren't there at 56 kb.
And the overall sound is muddier.

By the way, I have recorded the same program in both AM and FM (we
have a local NPR station that broadcasts Prairie Home Companion on FM
on Saturday evenings, and then rebroadcasts on AM on Sunday.)
Converting to MP3 at these same formats (56kb), the FM recording is
definately better. Lower noise, sharper music. Of course FM should be
better, but I was surprised I could easily tell the difference at 56
kb/s.

Some factoids that you may find useful.
- FM radio signals are frequency limited to 15 KHz. Thus, there is no
reason to sample higher than 30 KHz.
- AM radio signals are frequency limited to 5 KHz. Again, there is no
reason to sample higher than 10 KHz.
- Most internet radio stations that I have tried use 8KHz sampling,
and bit rates from 10 to 50 kb/s. In general, they sound much worse
than the same program recorded over-the-air.

HTH,

Terry
 
Terry Orchard said:
I routinely record from AM radio using MP3 format, 32 KHz sampling, 56
kbits/sec stereo. This records an hour in 24 to 25 MB, so 10 hours
should fit in 250 MB.


Good.



With FM radio, I record using the same parameters, because I don't
want the file sizes to go much larger, and I find this quality
acceptable for working out and driving. However, if I increase the bit
rate, I can definately tell the difference, even listening over
computer speakers or cheap headphones on a mp3 player. Listening to
music, there are parts of the music that just aren't there at 56 kb.
And the overall sound is muddier.
Click to expand...

I am recording talk-radio so sound quality should not be too much
of an issue, but somehow it is. A lot of distortion, and background
noise that I need to figure out how to filter out. Might need new
speakers :(
HTH,
Terry
Click to expand...

Yes, it does. I will look for a program that can record small MP3s.
Thanks.

Dos-Man
 
-½cut said:
Dos-Man wrote in

Audacity? Does MP3
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
10 hours @ ~128k/sec (net acceptable-ish if you're not that fussy quality)
is still a 600Mb file though (about 1Mb/minute).
Click to expand...


Thanks, but looks too complicated for me to use.
(PC literate: yes. Audio expert: no!)

Would like something with similar interface to windows recorder.

dos-man
 
Thanks, but looks too complicated for me to use.
(PC literate: yes. Audio expert: no!)
Click to expand...
Would like something with similar interface to windows recorder.
Click to expand...

I don't see how you can say it looks too complicated... if you can record
using Windows Sound Recorder... you can just as easily use Audacity...

to record push the big red button... to stop push the stop button to save
file File > Save Choose file format and click save...

if you choose mp3 choice your sample rate etc, and click save simple as

Audacity is probably the in between step of Win Sound Recorder and a semi
professional sound suite. Personally you won't get much easier...

--
----------------------------------------
Quantum Illusions: http://quantum.2ya.com
Pegasus Mail Support Site: http://pegasus.quantum.2ya.com
Freeware Site: http://freeware.quantum.2ya.com
DATA Solutions: http://datasolutions.quantum.2ya.com

If you truly want to contact me click the link
http://quantum.2ya.com/email.htm
 
Bebop & Rocksteady said:
I don't see how you can say it looks too complicated... if you can record
using Windows Sound Recorder... you can just as easily use Audacity...

to record push the big red button... to stop push the stop button to save
file File > Save Choose file format and click save...

if you choose mp3 choice your sample rate etc, and click save simple as

Audacity is probably the in between step of Win Sound Recorder and a semi
professional sound suite. Personally you won't get much easier...

--
----------------------------------------
Quantum Illusions: http://quantum.2ya.com
Pegasus Mail Support Site: http://pegasus.quantum.2ya.com
Freeware Site: http://freeware.quantum.2ya.com
DATA Solutions: http://datasolutions.quantum.2ya.com

If you truly want to contact me click the link
http://quantum.2ya.com/email.htm
Click to expand...



Then I will go and try it.
Thanks.

dos-man
 
Dos-Man said:
I am recording talk-radio so sound quality should not be too much
of an issue, but somehow it is. A lot of distortion, and background
noise that I need to figure out how to filter out. Might need new
speakers :(
Click to expand...

You're right, with talk radio sound quality should not be much of an
issue. You can probably push the bit rate down quite a bit from 56
kb/s and still get acceptable sound.

But first you have to figure out what the quality problem is. It's
probably not the mp3 compression, because it sounds like you're use
sound recorder so far. Do some tests:

1. Listen to the radio without any computer involved. If the quality
is bad, get a better radio, get an antenna, etc. :)

2. Connect the radio to your computer, and and listen to the output on
your computer speakers. If quality is now bad, the most likely culprit
is your sound card. Speakers is unlikely to be the problem for
talk-radio, even the cheapest speakers will be more than enough.

You may have the line-in gain set too high, so you're "clipping" the
audio input That would cause the distortion you mention.
Alternatively, some audio cards are just horrible at digitizing audio
input from line-in. I have a Dell laptop that I once tried to digitize
auidio on, and every time the laptop fans kicked on, it filled the
audio signal with white noise! However, I've never seen an audio card
in a full size computer that wouldn't do talk-radio just fine, so it's
probably adjustments in your audio settings.

3. If it sounds OK direct from radio to computer speakers, then try
recording with say sound recorder, or audacity set to record to wav
format. That eliminates any problems due to mp3 compression.

4) And finally use audacity (or whatever) with mp3 ouptut.
I will look for a program that can record small MP3s.
Click to expand...

All programs that can record to MP3 can set the bit-rate to produce
larger or smaller files. There are tiny differences in recording
quality, but for talk-radio, you won't care about these, so choose
your MP3 recorder by:
1) Can it record direct to mp3
2) Is it easy for you to use

Terry
 
Terry Orchard said:
Dos-Man wrote:


2. Connect the radio to your computer, and and listen to the output on
your computer speakers. If quality is now bad, the most likely culprit
is your sound card. Speakers is unlikely to be the problem for
talk-radio, even the cheapest speakers will be more than enough.

You may have the line-in gain set too high, so you're "clipping" the
audio input That would cause the distortion you mention.
Click to expand...


I have noticed that turning off the monitor slightly reduces the distortion.

I need to find a replacement for the lame windows volume program
in the taskbar. Moving knobs around seems to have no effect.
All athey them seem to do is increase or decrease the volume.

I want more control over sound, like I have with
my boombox which has 5 little sliders that affect
bass, mids, and higher pitches. Those sliders actually
affect the sound - not just make volume lower/higher the
way windows volume seems to do.

As far as line-in gain, I don't know how to set that.
If it's through MS "Volume," I wouldn't even waste my time.
It wouldn't have any affect, just like none of the other knobs
has any affect. I would just go and get another sound card.

dos-man
 
Dos-Man said:
I have noticed that turning off the monitor slightly reduces the distortion.
Click to expand...

So you have some sort of electrical noise problem, though this may not
be your major problem.
I need to find a replacement for the lame windows volume program
in the taskbar. Moving knobs around seems to have no effect.
All athey them seem to do is increase or decrease the volume.

I want more control over sound, like I have with
my boombox which has 5 little sliders that affect
bass, mids, and higher pitches. Those sliders actually
affect the sound - not just make volume lower/higher the
way windows volume seems to do.
Click to expand...

That's an "equalizer". It allows you to adjust the volumn of a certain
range of frequencies. Such a feature is not included in Windows,
though it sometimes is included in the software that comes with your
sound card. And many of the audio recording/playing programs come with
such a thing. Audacity probably does, since it's billed as an audio
editor, but I don't use it, so I can't help you there.
As far as line-in gain, I don't know how to set that.
If it's through MS "Volume," I wouldn't even waste my time.
It wouldn't have any affect, just like none of the other knobs
has any affect. I would just go and get another sound card.
Click to expand...

It depends somewhat on your version of Windows, but yes, you can
adjust this with the Windows volumn controls. And yes, all it does is
"adjust the volume". Try turning down the line-in volume, and turn up
the normal volume. You're not trying to change the volume as you hear
it. What often happens is the line-in volume is adjusted so high that
the signal exceeds the capability of the A/D converter in the sound
card. You're trying to fix this, by turning down the gain on line-in,
and then compensating by turning up the overall volume.

Or, you may need to adjust the volume control on your radio, depending
on how you have the radio connected to your sound card. This does not
apply if your radio has a line-out connection, and you have that
connected to your line-in of the sound card. But if you have the
"headphone output" of the radio connected to the line-in of the sound
card, then the sound out of the radio will be affected by the radio's
volume control. If the volume is too high, the sound level will exceed
what the sound card can handle no matter what you do with the line-in
volume control.

Terry
 
| Hello ACFers, I am still looking for a Windows sound recorder
| replacement, but my requirements have now changed. The program
| still needs to be easy to use and uncluttered, but needs to be
| able to save in an audio file format other than .WAV.
|
| Does anyone know what file format I should use in order to fit
| up to 10 hours of radio and store in an audio file that will
| fit on a 250 meg ram drive?
|
| I am looking for a freeware ram drive tool to create this
| ramdisk and may have found one but I may end up needing that, too.
|
| Thank you for your help, and do not miss out on these free
| software programs that I give to you:
|
| -------------------------------------------
| Textbox - plain text editor
| http://www.bee.net/prime-time/textbox.zip
|
| Enviro - GUI environment variable viewer
| http://www.bee.net/prime-time/enviro.zip
|
| Snoop - hides visible windows
| http://www.bee.net/prime-time/snoop.zip
|
| Cmd.com - MS-DOS command interpreter
| http://www.bee.net/cmd.zip
|
| Cal - date viewer
| http://www.bee.net/cal.zip
| --------------------------------------------
|
| dos-man

Check out Polderbits.com to see if it will accomplish what you want. It does
allow for lower quality recording-- hence less disk space used.

Jarhead
 
Jarhead said:
| Hello ACFers, I am still looking for a Windows sound recorder
| replacement, but my requirements have now changed. The program
| still needs to be easy to use and uncluttered, but needs to be
| able to save in an audio file format other than .WAV.

Check out Polderbits.com to see if it will accomplish what you want. It does
allow for lower quality recording-- hence less disk space used.
Click to expand...

This is trialware, 2 week time limit. And I don't see that it has any
advantage over various freeware options.

Note that *any* recorder capable of writing mp3 files can write
smaller and lower quality files.

Terry
 
| Hello ACFers, I am still looking for a Windows sound recorder
| replacement, but my requirements have now changed. The program
| still needs to be easy to use and uncluttered, but needs to be
| able to save in an audio file format other than .WAV.
|
| Does anyone know what file format I should use in order to fit
| up to 10 hours of radio and store in an audio file that will
| fit on a 250 meg ram drive?
|
| I am looking for a freeware ram drive tool to create this
| ramdisk and may have found one but I may end up needing that, too.
|
| Thank you for your help, and do not miss out on these free
| software programs that I give to you:
Click to expand...

---snip--

One of the programs I use is Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
which is free and released under the GPL. It saves its input files
from the sound card to a project file format that only Audacity uses.
You can then export the file in a variety of formats.
 
TW said:
---snip--

One of the programs I use is Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
which is free and released under the GPL. It saves its input files
from the sound card to a project file format that only Audacity uses.
You can then export the file in a variety of formats.
Click to expand...

For the maximum compression and great audio, I recommend Dolby AC3.
I recently had a wave file of 1.2GB and had it converted to about 200 MB AC3
with no apparent loss in quality.

Have fun!
 
For the maximum compression and great audio, I recommend Dolby AC3.
I recently had a wave file of 1.2GB and had it converted to about 200 MB AC3
with no apparent loss in quality.

Have fun!
Click to expand...
Great idea. Should have thought of it already kind of thing. Know of
any freeware encoders?
 
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