Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Free Windows sound recorder needed

Here's a question for you software experts out there. Do you know of a free, simple, no-frills sound recorder application that can record audio from any sound card?

Windows Sound Recorder has the simplicity I need, but it can only record from the default recording device. If I want to record from the radio I have to change the default input device to whatever sound card is attached to that radio. This usually results in hours of head-scratching later on after I forget to switch the default sound card back.

Audacity is the sound recorder application most people recommend. It is free, and it can record from any sound card, but the user interface is so complicated I can't figure out how to use it.

So I have decided to ask you, my readers. I imagine this is something that many hams have tried to do. What do you use?

14 comments:

Lynn (D) said...

It's not free, but reasonable. I've used Total Recorder (http://www.totalrecorder.com/) in the past, but not recently. They've got a free (timed, IIRC) demo so it might be worth giving a spin.

Alex Hill said...

Audacity is another one thats free, cross platform and a bit quirky. A lot of people swear by it.

i've used it a few times and its worked ok for me.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Alex

ab2tc said...

Have you tried the Unreal media server? This is what I use for my web accessible IC-718's audio stream. It's free and I am pretty sure it can record from any source.

AB2TC - Knut

ab2tc said...

I forgot the link:

http://www.umediaserver.net/

AB2TC - Knut

ab2tc said...

No that I think of it again, maybe it can only produce an audio stream. I am at work so can't check it out right now.. But it is a package with a companion player, so it would surprise me if it couldn't record to a file also.

AB2TC - Knut

aartw said...

I use mpdirectcut
aart PA3C

Patrick said...

I can recommend Xcorder....works very nice...VOX activated etc.
http://www.gromkov.com/faq/capture/xcorder.html

73 ON4CDJ Patrick

Unknown said...

Hey, some great recommendations here! Keep 'em coming!

LY2SS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I'm also doing all the recordings with Audacity. Great software.
73 Toby
www.dh1tw.de

PC1I said...

Hi Julian,

I use Spectrum Lab for all kind of audio things.Spectrum Analyser, some digital modes, you can use it for SDR experiments and you even can find bats with this software...

http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.html

Do not install the software in the protected C:\Program Files folder as that does not work always when using Vista or Windows 7.

Install it in C:\Spectrum instead.

73 de Kees PE2KM

Bryan Herbert said...

I use ScanRec. Designed to be used with scanners but also works great with ham radios, it comes with a built in VOX feature which is great if you want to record your local repeaters (Newsline). Just run an audio cable from the headphone jack on your radio to the mic input on your computer and your good to go. Easy to install and use. Best of all it’s free.

Download it here http://www.davee.com/scanrec/

Enno - PF5X said...

mp3DirectCut works for me ...

http://mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dc.html

73,

Enno - PF5X

Unknown said...

I know of a few amateurs who use RecAll-Pro. The Pro version isn't free, but it is quite cheap and provides sound card selection. http://www.sagebrush.com/recpro.htm
73 Dominic M0BLF