[GendoIkari]

I figured the Computer-As-Source forum would be the best place to stick this thread. I'm not sure if there are moral/legal implications to this questio so please call me out if there is.

There is an archived radio show that is readily available for streaming on a website I use and I would like to know if it is possible to record it to a 192kbps mp3 or higher, and if so, what software and steps are necissary to get do so. I do not plan on sharing it and it has never been released on an LP, I just want to have it for when it is removed from the site.

Thanks!
Alex

 

[ade1982]

It very much depends on the radio station, and the technology you use. If you PM me the channel you want, I will be happy to help.

The fail-safe one is to record it through Audacity, which is a free program, which captures it directly from your soundcard.

The big *BUT* is ... if the stream is, say, 56kb/s mp3, then there is no benefit to recording it as a 192kb/s mp3, as the stream is compressed, and the information that is lost when compressing it cannot ever be retrieved. It just makes a bigger file by padding it out with nothing, and no increase in quality.

 

[HFat]

Sometimes you can simply download the file instead of letting your media player open it. Sometimes you need to use a program that's able to fool the server. And if you can't find such a program, well, you can always record the output of your soundcard.

But what I really wanted to say is that, if you're essentially transcoding from lossy, you do get better quality by transcoding to a higher bitrate... not better quality than the original, but better than a transcode to a lower bitrate.

 

[GendoIkari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFat /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sometimes you can simply download the file instead of letting your media player open it. Sometimes you need to use a program that's able to fool the server. And if you can't find such a program, well, you can always record the output of your soundcard.

It runs through a media player that the page opens (using a WMP plugin)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFat /img/forum/go_quote.gif But what I really wanted to say is that, if you're essentially transcoding from lossy, you do get better quality by transcoding to a higher bitrate... not better quality than the original, but better than a transcode to a lower bitrate.

I believe it is at least 192kbps (it sounds GOOD for a stream)

 

[HFat]

What we need to know is what your browser tells your media player to do.
For example, it might tell it to stream a file from a web server... if that's the case, you can simply download that file with your browser.

 

[NiceCans]

I do not know about the legalities as that depends upon the source and material you intent to rip.

However technologically it is very possible and easy to do with the appropriate software.

Typically they will 'intercept the data directly from your soundcard, or position themselves between the source (incoming stream) and your soundcard, emulating a soundcard (allowing them to rip virtually any stream or source while remaining transparent). The software then writes a copy of the data as it passes it to your physical soundcard.

Some have other recording and editing uses (like Total Recorder) while there are those made solely for web streams (Streamripper).
Total recorder can save in various formats and bitrates, including wav and vbr.

 

[GendoIkari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCans /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do not know about the legalities as that depends upon the source and material you intent to rip. However technologically it is very possible and easy to do with the appropriate software. Typically they will 'intercept the data directly from your soundcard, or position themselves between the source (incoming stream) and your soundcard, emulating a soundcard (allowing them to rip virtually any stream or source while remaining transparent). The software then writes a copy of the data as it passes it to your physical soundcard. Some have other recording and editing uses (like Total Recorder) while there are those made solely for web streams (Streamripper). Total recorder can save in various formats and bitrates, including wav and vbr.

I'm not really all that concerned with legalities since I don't planning on distributing or selling it.

Thanks for the software recommendations, I'll definitely check out Total Recorder.