# PC Software Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-software-question/116783>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 1, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-software-question/116783 "2002-07-01T04:47:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-software-question/116783/1 "2002-07-01T04:47:20Z")

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Okay, I’ve got a DVD that I want to record a sample of some audio off of as .wav file. Problem is, I can’t figure out how to do it. I’ve tried putting the disk in the DVD drive and using sound recorder to capture the sound, but that doesn’t work. All I get is silence when I play back the file. I’ve done this before, but its been so long that I don’t remember how. Anyone know how I can do it?

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**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-software-question/116783/2 "2002-07-01T06:12:28Z")

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You need a program that will (a) read the DVD track with the audo you want, (b) split the track into its separate audio and video components, and © decode the audio into something you can easily play back. The legality of all this (especially (b) and © is duvious at best, so you may need to poke around some “underground” sites for the software.

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**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-software-question/116783/3 "2002-07-01T09:44:13Z")

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    - For the PC: Go to [hitsquad.com](http://hitsquad.com) and look for a program named “Total Recorder Standard Edition”. Total Recorder is recording software that can record anything played through the PC’s soundcard, no matter the source (-better soundcards have this recording ability built-in to the hardware and drivers, but cheaper ones don’t).

- For the Mac: I have no idea. - DougC

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**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-software-question/116783/4 "2002-07-01T18:33:53Z")

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The site [ripdifferent.com](http://ripdifferent.com) used to have Mac-specific tools and information on ripping DVDs, but it seems to have disappeared again. Given the RIAA’s vigilant legion of lawyers, I can’t say I’m completely surprised.