Posted by Fred Waterer on November 2, 2009, 9:36 pm
216.121.235.227

Can anyone recommend a recording program, to record audio streams? I have played with Total Recorder in the past. I'm curious what any of you may or may not recommend?

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Posted by Peter the K on November 2, 2009, 9:51 pm, in reply to "Recording Audio Streams"
69.165.129.182

Replay-av from Applian Technologies is an excellent program that handles just about anything. I've no connection with them other than being a satisfied customer. --Peter Replay-AV

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Posted by Elad on November 2, 2009, 10:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Recording Audio Streams"
99.237.248.28

I second that! It does cost money but it's well worth it. I must've purchased it 3 or 4 years ago, I use it almost daily and it's great.

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Posted by Mark McKenzie on November 2, 2009, 10:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Recording Audio Streams"
76.64.209.195

I use "Super MP3 Recorder". I like it cause it has a scheduler, and a bunch of other features.

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Posted by Mike Cleaver on November 2, 2009, 11:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Recording Audio Streams"
76.10.184.126

For recording and editing, Audacity. Free. I use Adobe Audition, many more features and tools but not necessary for simple recordings.

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Posted by RM on November 3, 2009, 12:28 am, in reply to "Re: Recording Audio Streams"
199.246.2.10 | Message modified by user rob9701 November 3, 2009, 12:28 am

I also use "Super MP3 Recorder". It has an editing window in it as well. The scheduler is a nice bonus. Mike spoke of Audition. Is Audition perhaps the standard editing program used at radio stations? I listen to the Fan 590 in the morning and am interested in how Don Landry does some of those voice impersonations - is something like Audition able to help you sound more like Don Cherry, John Ferguson Jr. or Cliff Fletcher, assuming that you can get the whole pattern of speech down first? Is there software out there that offers enough different parameters to actually duplicate a voice?

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Posted by Mike Cleaver on November 3, 2009, 2:27 am, in reply to "Re: Recording Audio Streams"
76.10.184.126

Audition is used by many radio stations. It includes many features that allow you to modify the sound in many ways. The most popular digital production software is ProTools, sometimes called Prostools by it's detractors. As to modifying voices, there are all sorts of software and hardware devices for doing this, including the ubiquitous AutoTune which can turn no talent bimbos into passable singers.

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Posted by ITGeek on November 3, 2009, 5:16 am, in reply to "Recording Audio Streams"
65.95.236.93 | Message modified by user ITGeek November 3, 2009, 5:17 am

Fred, you mentioned Total Recorder - I heartily recommend it. http://www.highcriteria.com/ . You can schedule timing, etc. and it has other nice features. They just released version 8.0, and as well, they're a Richmond Hill company so you're supporting something local with the purchase. I have no connection with them other than being a happy customer for a few years with the product.

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Posted by oneil on November 3, 2009, 4:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Recording Audio Streams"
99.232.81.37 | Message modified by user oneil November 3, 2009, 9:17 pm

Adobe Audition is used by a lot of stations as Adobe has a pretty decent licensing program for chains. The learning curve is easy as well. Protools is gaining more ground with stations as well, mostly in the US. Protools is very stable now and quite inexpensive for the LE version which is well beyond most station needs. Protools also allows for easy integration of Source Connect which more and more stations use for their Talent to hook up. ISDN quality over the internet. I dropped my ISDN lines a year ago and haven't looked back. As for making a persons voice sound like Don Cheery etc...no software will replicate another persons voice perfectly.

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Posted by Mike Cleaver on November 3, 2009, 5:04 pm, in reply to "protools"
76.10.184.126

It's amazing how the technology is improving, especially streaming live audio via the internet. It's inexpensive and almost totally reliable IF you have a good fast internet connection. Which raises the question as to why so many radio stations still do remotes etc. using horrible cell phone quality when the gear is here and affordable? Cheapdom appears to be the answer but it's a fact that poor audio quality causes listener tune out.

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Posted by Michael Englebert on November 4, 2009, 9:35 pm, in reply to "Re: protools"
99.230.118.130

I use Sound Forge in producing my weekly show which has the advantage that you can rip a CD into it in a matter of minutes - you are able to even pick the tracks to rip. Pro Tools can't do this.

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Posted by Charlie O'Brien on November 5, 2009, 9:58 am, in reply to "Re: protools"
205.210.253.12

I use SoundForge as well for single track work - do all my voice work on it. The big key for online recording is that your sound card (and most good recent ones will) handle "what you hear" recording. It needs to be a duplex card. I have a good laptop - but a crappy integrated sound card - can't do it. But my desktop box has an excellent Creative Live sound card and can record streaming audio. It's so easy, my wife has learned how to do it. If only she would delete her old audio. Sigh!

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Posted by Mike Cleaver on November 5, 2009, 3:56 pm, in reply to "Re: protools"
76.10.186.213

Best solution for laptops and netbooks with lousy audio, a USB external sound stick. I solved that problem with the combo CEntrance mic port pro, which gives you a mic preamp and sound card all in one USB device. A good quality sound card is essential if you are doing pro audio. For desktops, Lynx and others make excellent products. I use a Lynx 2 after many years with a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, one of the best sound cards ever made for home and pro use. If you are doing sound files to send to production houses, you want the best quality you can get.

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Posted by oneil on November 5, 2009, 5:50 pm, in reply to "Re: protools"
99.232.81.37

I've had a studio in my home designed by a Sound engineer for about 17 years now. The one thing I've never done is scrimp on mic's, preamps, computers, software and peripherals. I have virtually 2 of everything. I can't go down for repairs with daily clients. It's a larger investment but the quality difference is substantial. When I used PC based systems I had one dedicated DAW and then an office computer that were not networked to avoid virus contamination. I switched to a Mac a few years back when they went intel as it offered a well engineered machine easily upgradable and repaired in minutes. In the beginning I had two Otari 1/4" tape machines and Fedex stopped every day at 5 for the boxes of tapes off to stations for next day delivery. That went to DAT and then to ISDN. Now the Zephyr is just about a door stop..no use for it. I use Source connect which will only work with certain software programs for live delivery. I'll be purchasing a Mac laptop for use while on vacation in the near future. So long as the resort has hi speed access...I'm good to go. Some of my clients use the ftp site rather than live but can listen on the phone while I record. The one thing I've never done is open my studio to my commercial clients in Toronto. I get so many referrals from studios I never wanted to have them lose studio time as a result of their referral. It's a lot of money to do it right but the return is fast.

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Posted by Mike Cleaver on November 5, 2009, 6:48 pm, in reply to "Home studios"
76.10.186.213

Yes if you're in the biz to make money, you'd better have the best gear you can get and be able to provide everything in the format they want, the preferred delivery system, etc and most of all ON TIME. I too have a dedicated desktop in my little studio only for audio and another for everything else. I also have a small laptop for outside work and interviews. Most of my clients prefer .wav by ftp. Others still want a hard copy cd or dvd. Some want smaller files by email. I've found sending audio files to the client's ftp the fastest and most reliable method, a cd takes a day or so, depending on where it's headed. I don't do any production, just raw voice files. When a few of my clients are finished their work, you'd never recognize my voice after all the processing they use to get the exact sound they want. Most of the industrial stuff, narration, etc. is pretty much left alone except for some compression.

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Posted by oneil on November 5, 2009, 10:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Home studios"
99.232.81.37

I don't have anyone anymore who wants a "hard copy". I keep a folder with the files for 60 days, mostly because clients either lose the original or delete by accident. Saves me the trouble of re-recording. I also do not produce material, although I do often receive the digital video file to sync with a guide track. Thats where protools becomes very useful. With stations some want different EQ and compression so I save the settings and just apply before bouncing the file to the desired format.

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