# Please recommend an audio recorder program! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 27, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548 "2009-04-27T20:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Buran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buran)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/1 "2009-04-27T20:32:48Z")
Sorry, I wasn’t sure what forum to put this in. On my previous XP machine I had a nifty program called TOBEST Audio Recorder which I mainly used to record the music from game trailers, unfortunately with my upgrade to a new PC and XP it no longer works and I’m having trouble finding a replacement, I’d appreciate it if anyone has any ideas. I’m not doing anything illegal am I?!? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/2 "2009-04-28T07:02:45Z")
I use [Audacity](http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) whenever I want to record audio from something playing on the computer. It’s free & simple to use. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/3 "2009-04-28T08:06:56Z")
I’ll second Audacity. As far as free software goes it is as good as it gets. It is very useful and easy to use. [A little more info at Wikipedia.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audacity) ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/4 "2009-04-28T08:36:33Z")
Another recommendation for Audacity. It’s excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Buran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Buran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buran)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/5 "2009-04-28T22:32:11Z")
Thanks everyone, I’ve downloaded that file but it still doesn’t work, I’ve come to the conclusion it must be a setting on my PC, I can hear the sound playing file but the sound recording program doesn’t seem to want to pick it up. I’ve tried changing around with the options and settings to no effect. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/6 "2009-04-29T11:28:03Z")
Are you trying to record music as it’s being played on your computer? In that case, you typically need to change the input settings for the sound card to record from playback. Typically, this is called something like Stereo Mix or Wave/Wave Mix. See here for an example: [![](http://www.musicmorpher.com/images/tutorials/Recording%20Control_Mic.jpg) ](http://www.musicmorpher.com/images/tutorials/Recording%20Control_Mic.jpg) You need to select that as your input source before you can record. You can find the recording controls by double-clicking the Volume icon in the System Tray (near the clock) and then clicking on Options -\> Properties -\> Recording. Depending on your computer, you might need to change your Mixer Device for Recording to be enabled. Select Stereo Mix or the equivalent, and you should be able to record using Audacity. ---
**Author:** ![tetranz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@tetranz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tetranz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/7 "2009-04-29T17:15:10Z")
Several years ago ago I bought [TotalRecorder](http://www.totalrecorder.com/productfr_tr.htm) and it’s worked well ever since. An online audio show I enjoy is only available as a stream on demand, not a download. I play it silently through TotalRecorder to convert it to an mp3 to take away with me. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/8 "2009-04-29T19:29:48Z")
I use Total Recorder. However, there are some other things that might work for you. Here’s one. > **[Replay Music | Applian Technologies](https://applian.com/replay-music/)** > > Easily capture radio streams, song files, record audio from Youtube or digital music sites. Browse through the in-built media guide and take your pick! ---
**Author:** ![Buran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Buran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buran)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-an-audio-recorder-program/494548/9 "2009-04-29T22:57:37Z")
Thanks everyone, I’ll give those a try!