| When Internet radio first began, about all a | | | | As you might guess, these programs vary greatly |
| listener could do with it was, well, listen. And the | | | | in both ease of use and in the features they |
| listening experience wasn't very good. The sound | | | | sport. Some can convert an audio capture into a |
| was awful ... when it worked at all. Having the | | | | large number of different music file formats, while |
| audio stream abruptly terminate, or take endless | | | | others can only handle one or two. Some, but |
| time to re-buffer, was a common occurrence. | | | | definitely not all, will automatically remove noise |
| Today, most Internet broadcasters use much | | | | and hiss from the audio. Similarly, some will |
| better technology to send their streams into | | | | remove gaps caused by buffering or network |
| cyberspace. As well, more listeners are equipped | | | | congestion. |
| with broadband Internet connections, good sound | | | | One of the first, and still one of the best, audio |
| cards, stereo system-quality speakers and | | | | capture programs is called Total Recorder. It can |
| sophisticated media player software. | | | | record PC audio from almost any source, including |
| The listening problem has been overcome. | | | | streamed audio, CDs, the computer microphone |
| Now, what about the ability for a listener to | | | | and other input lines. |
| capture those audio streams and save them to | | | | You can download a free evaluation copy of Total |
| play back at will? The technology to do that was | | | | Recorder, but it will insert a bit of noise about |
| slower in coming, but it's finally here. With the right | | | | every 60 seconds throughout the recording. To |
| program installed, you can now capture those live | | | | be able to record audio without the noise, you |
| audio streams from your favorite Web radio | | | | must purchase a license for the software. |
| broadcasters and save them to your hard drive | | | | The recording software that I find really exciting |
| to enjoy as often as you like. | | | | is the kind that not only will capture an audio |
| There are now several shareware and even | | | | stream, but will also save it as separate audio files |
| freeware programs available for recording | | | | ... automatically. The most obvious use for this is |
| streaming audio. Their names include Voice | | | | to break up a music stream into individual song |
| Activation Interface, WMA/MP3 Recorder, Audio | | | | mp3 files. The best audio capture software that I |
| Record Wizard, Advanced MP3-WMA Recorder, | | | | know of, that includes this mp3 splitting feature, is |
| Silent Bob, #1 Sound Recorder, Ace-High MP3 | | | | called Radio2MP3. |
| Recorder, 1st Easy Recorder, Visual Sound | | | | Internet radio has finally come into its own. The |
| Recorder, Audiolib MP3 Recorder, Audio Playback | | | | sound is great and so is the diversity of |
| Recorder, Loop Recorder, Replay Radio, FairStars | | | | programming. Being able to record all those |
| Recorder, Boombox Internet Radio Player, and | | | | wonderful radio streams is the icing on an aurally |
| Easy Radio. | | | | delicious cake. |