[vmpaul]

I found a number of great Internet radio stations that I'd like to record and play away from my Mac. Like most people, my stereo is separate from my computer set-up. I'm thinking of recording a couple hours of my favorite stations and then burning to CD to play in the car or on the stereo.

Is there a way to record streaming audio on the Mac? Is there either a software solution or a particular setting in the control panel?

I know on the PC side there are a number of freeware solutions available. I'd like to stay on the Mac if possible.

I'm using a blue & white G3 running 9.1.

P.S. I don't know if it matters to you or not but my request to record the music is for my personal use only.

[skg]

I am also searching for a way to capture internet radio broadcasts.

I am wondering if it might be possible with the new USB iMic? I haven't bought the iMic, yet. Anyone tried it? I am thinking G4 1/8" sound-OUT to iMic, then USB iMic sound-IN to G4 to capture.... basically creating a loop OUT from the computer and then back IN using the iMic? Don't know if this would work. (I have SoundEdit 16 to make the recording).

I also have this question posted on the Apple forums. It seems there are several others out there who haven't figured it out yet either!!!????:
http://discussions.info.apple.com/We...K^3@.eeba8a0/2

[This message has been edited by skg (edited 02-19-2001).]

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by skg:
I am also searching for a way to capture internet radio broadcasts.

I am wondering if it might be possible with the new USB iMic? I haven't bought the iMic, yet. Anyone tried it? I am thinking G4 1/8" sound-OUT to iMic, then USB iMic sound-IN to G4 to capture.... basically creating a loop OUT from the computer and then back IN using the iMic? Don't know if this would work. (I have SoundEdit 16 to make the recording).

I also have this question posted on the Apple forums. It seems there are several others out there who haven't figured it out yet either!!!????:
http://discussions.info.apple.com/We...K^3@.eeba8a0/2

[This message has been edited by skg (edited 02-19-2001).]

I'm thinking if you do it that way then it wouldn't be a pure digital proces. Wouldn't it convert to a analog signal and then back into a digital. Too many conversions will lead to a loss of quality.

Like I said, on the PC side there are freeware software solutions available. I'm just wondering if nobody's got to it yet on the Mac side.

[skg]

I sent this question to Griffin Technology (makers of iMic) and got this reply:
>
> I am considering purchasing an iMic for my G4 PowerMac. But first, I would like to know if the iMic will allow me to record sound-OUT from my Mac. Specifically, I want to know if I can connect the 1/8" sound-OUT from my G4 to the iMic, and then connect sound-IN via USB iMic? I am trying to capture internet radio broadcasts on my G4 using iTunes?
>
>Hmm, I get it. Yes, it should work just fine, assuming that the app that you use to record the music is Sound Manager aware. You will be able to select the iMic as the audio input, and the built in audio port as the output in the Sound control panel.

Come to think of it, this would be a great way to record CarTalk off of Real Player, I like the way you think!

Regards
Jason
_____________________________________
Technical Support Staff
Griffin Technology
1619 Elm Hill Pike, Suite C
Nashville, TN 37210
Wk: 615-399-7000
Fx: 615-399-8041
support@griffintechnology.com
_____________________________________
>
>

Although this guy at Griffin thinks it will work, he doesn't mention sound quality.. I think you are right that you will lose considerable quality this way.
skg

[brainchild2b]

A simple hack is to get a 1/8 stereo patch cable from your speakers out and loop it to the microphone in :-) then get a multithreaded recording program like logic audio and record away!

[skg]

The latest development: I've discovered the streaming audio recorder programs available for the PC. So, I am running Virtual PC on my Mac to record. I have a fast machine, so it works ok and keeps everything in the digital.
Now I just need to find a good program to convert .asf files to .wav or .mp3. Any suggestions?

[skg]

Seems I'm talking to myself here, but I'll keep posting. There must be others out there trying to record streaming media on a Mac.
Anyway, I found a program to convert Windows Media Player files (.asf) to .wav. It is called Wave Converter Pro. I actually managed to find a copy with the SN. I have been able to save a streaming audio file as .asf. But, Wave Converter Pro doesn't recognize it.
Dammit, I'll figure out a way to record and burn audio streams if it kills me!

[vmpaul]

Nope, I'm still listening. Well, you've pretty much confirmed what I already know. The only solutions are on the PC side. I haven't tried them yet because my PC is getting repaired. I should have it back this weekend. I'll let you know if I find any easier way. Is the only file format you can save to .asf? Is there any media program out there that does conversions?

Wish I had some programming knowledge. Sounds like a perfect niche for a little sharware program on the Mac.

[skg]

The software I found is Streambox VCR. Heard of it? It is supposed to be able to record either .asf or .ra. I am able to capture them and play both back on my machine, but cannot yet convert to another file (I want to convert to .aiff, .wav, .mp3... anything that will allow me to burn it to a CD. Wave Converter Pro will not recognize either my saved .asf or .ra files. I'm looking into another way to convert .ra to .wav.

[mrchin]

MacAmp (I think) which was formerly Amp Radio let's you record streaming broadcasts. It actually saves them as an mp3 file. Pretty amazing and especially if there's congestion and it pauses and has to rebuffer, the recording actually pauses and continues when the stream resumes. On playback, you get an uninterrupted song or whatever. I never really got into the whole streamed broadcasts and haven't used it much, but maybe I will start back up again.

[vmpaul]

MacAmp works - for mp3 broadcasts. And at $15, not a bad price.

That's progress but many streams are in Real Audio which it doesn't play, I think. I went to their website and it mentions they've "added experimental support for Real Audio and QuickTime streams". I'm not sure what that means but I'll check into it. Maybe it's not an official feature yet. That would solve all our problems.

Otherwise, the only option is to record RA streams on the PC and try to convert them to AIFF or mp3 formats post-recording. Does anybody know any software that will convert those fles?

[skg]

Quote:
"Otherwise, the only option is to record RA streams on the PC and try to convert them to AIFF or mp3 formats post-recording. Does anybody know any software that will convert those fles?"

I successfully converted a Real Audio file to .wav file last night using Ra2Wav on Virtual PC. I previously could not get it to work because I did not have Real Audio installed. It uses the codec from Real Audio.
I was then able to listen to the .wav file in iTunes, so assume there should be not problem burning to CD. Will let you know about the final sound quality.

So, I'm psyched! I was mainly trying to capture live broadcasts from radio stations abroad-for the music and also to improve my foreign language skills. Most of these broadcasts are in .ra and rarely .MP3.

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by skg:

I successfully converted a Real Audio file to .wav file last night using Ra2Wav on Virtual PC. I previously could not get it to work because I did not have Real Audio installed. It uses the codec from Real Audio.
[/B]

That's cool. I'm assuming Ra2Wav is another shareware.

I e-mailed MacAmp last nite regarding the RA & QT streams. They do play RA but it does not record it like it does for mp3 streams. I think because it's a beta plug-in.

I too am going to use it for personal reasons. Listen to some talk radio programs on my own time. The quality isn't good enough for any other purposes.