# Would this thread be allowed? \[recording off radio\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016 "2005-08-21T21:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/1 "2005-08-21T21:40:48Z")
I am thinking about starting a thread asking about the best way to tape off the radio. But given that it is possible to use such information for illegal purposes, would the mods close my thread? ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/2 "2005-08-22T02:51:58Z")
I can’t see why there’d be a problem. There are plenty of legal means to [record radio](http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/radioshark/index.php). If you’ve got something illegal in mind just keep it to yourself 🙂 Disclaimer 1: IANAMod. Clearly. Disclaimer 2: I’ve never used the device linked above. But it is sold legally. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/3 "2005-08-22T10:46:09Z")
It’s a sticky matter for us because material broadcast on the radio is often copyrighted. Radio stations pay licensing fees for the right to broadcast, which is not the same as right to reproduce; it’s okay for you to listen to it, but not necessarily legal for you to tape it. We tend to err on the side of careful and so anything that looks like it might violate copyright tends to get shut down really fast. Let me run this by the staff to be sure everyone sees it, but I’m not optimistic, let me put it that way. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![citybadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@citybadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/citybadger)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/4 "2005-08-22T13:46:45Z")
By the same logic, would you forbid a thread on VCR programming? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/5 "2005-08-22T14:38:57Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It’s a sticky matter for us because material broadcast on the radio is often copyrighted. Radio stations pay licensing fees for the right to broadcast, which is not the same as right to reproduce; it’s okay for you to listen to it, but not necessarily legal for you to tape it. I agree with **citybadger**. It’s perfectly legal to record a television programme, so there should be no reason why it would be a violation to record a radio programme. As long as the recording is for personal use (e.g., time-shifting, something you personally want to re-hear, etc.) then I can’t see that there’s even a question of copyright violation. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/6 "2005-08-22T15:16:43Z")
We always err on the side of caution, even where Fair Use is concerned. your humble TubaDiva Admnistrator ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/7 "2005-08-22T15:54:23Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Let me run this by the staff to be sure everyone sees it, but I’m not optimistic, let me put it that way. > > your humble TubaDiva I think it’s good for the staff of SDMB to be cautious. OTOH, this shouldn’t affect OP’s actions too much. IIRC, fair use rulings say it’s okay to tape off the TV. So it should be okay to tape off the radio. I’ve done so myself, and I’m glad I did, because today you’ll almost never hear a recording from Cuba on the air again. At one time, you could, and I recorded some. Many of these recordings aren’t for sale in the U.S. Also, I’ve recorded some old radio dramas. Few of them are on sale in other places, AFAIK. Maybe I haven’t looked enough. In any case, it’s for personal use; I don’t copy them for other people. I admit I know very little little about copyright law; someone please correct me if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/8 "2005-08-22T18:46:59Z")
I am not a lawyer. Stating that, my understanding of the copyright situation is as you have posted above, guiznot; there is some fair use latitude allowed for personal use. Your staff has been spending a good portion of the morning reading some of the statutes on this subject and I think that’s pretty much the conclusion we have reached as well. If you’re just recording for your own personal use . . . you do not intend to share this with other people . . . you do not intend to, say, burn copies and sell them on the street corner . . . you do not intend to use the material on a website or otherwise make it available for republishing/redistribution . . . you’re within the Fair Use and you’re good to go. You paid your ocpyright fee when you bought your recording device; there’s a royalty fee built in that the manufacturer submits to a general fund that covers home recording for personal use only. Again, I am not a lawyer, this is my understanding as someone with an interest in the situation trying to keep the Reader out of trouble and our folks out of the soup as well. Should I move this to General Questions now? 🙂 your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/9 "2005-08-22T21:04:50Z")
Well, I’m pleasantly surprised, especially considering how quickly the DVD-copying thread in GQ was closed down. You can indeed move this to GQ, **TubaDiva** , and I would like to thank the staff for all their hard work. 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/10 "2005-08-22T21:15:25Z")
We tend to keep a close eye on copying threads because they very quickly convert to sharing threads . . . and that is a copyright problem. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/11 "2005-08-22T21:17:19Z")
Moved to GQ at the request of the OP. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/12 "2005-08-22T21:29:40Z")
So what’s the deal, **Derleth**? You wanna record radio digitally to your computer? Analog (trust old tapes)? That Griffin unit linked to above looks pretty snazzy, but seems to include a lot more features than just radio reception (time-shifting, automation). Many TV Tuner cards also include an FM tuner such as [this one](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815100113) from Newegg. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/13 "2005-08-22T21:53:16Z")
If I were an Administrator or Moderator, I’d be just as cautious. Big companies are most concerned with copyright law. That’s their job. Nobody here wants the Chicago Reader to face a big lawsuit. **Many thanks** to those who have investigasted the issue. That’s why we subcribe: because you have **integrity**. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/14 "2005-08-22T22:03:13Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > those who have investigasted the issue. That’s why we subcribe: because you have **integrity**. those who have **investigated** the issue…sorry… ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/15 "2005-08-23T07:52:11Z")
Recording onto tape is probably the safest topic for these boards. I don’t want this thread closed because a mod thinks information about getting data onto a computer is too high a liability for the guys in charge around here. With all that in mind, what is the best option for getting radio transmissions onto tape? I’m mainly interested in AM and FM right now, but taping shortwave sounds appealing as well. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/16 "2005-08-23T12:29:02Z")
Look, if you’re taping using an “approved media,” you can legally tape off the air – you paid for the ability to do so\* when you bought the tape. This applies to both video and audio tapes. Putting it on CD is a different matter. AFAIK, they’re not approved media. \*Technically, you aren’t granted the right, but you cannot be sued for a copyright violation if you use approved media to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/17 "2005-08-23T14:08:37Z")
So about recording radio… I was playing Wall Of Voodoo’s _Grandma’s House_ for someone once. The song is instrumental, with a ringing telephone that never gets answered. My acquantance surmised that I had played the LP on the stereo and put a tape recorder by the speakers, and that someone tried to ring while I was recording. :smack: ‘Grandma’s house’! ‘No answer!’ _Get it?_ Aiyiyi. Anyway, this is how I copied things off of the radio, or from LP when I wanted to take my music with me back in the day. Very low-tech. But then I got a new stereo that allowed me to record vinyl, 8-track, or radio to the cassette (or vinyl, cassette, or radio to the 8-track). This is also how I copied the Wall Of Voodoo EP and other records, and a couple of Dr. Demento shows from the radio. I haven’t had a proper stereo for several years, but I think my ‘boom boxes’ are capable of recording off the air. Any home stereo system with a cassette deck – either an all-in-one unit, or separate decks – should have the capability of recording the radio. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/18 "2005-08-23T16:21:02Z")
The easiest way is to buy a boom box that has both a radio and a cassette tape. Most of these will allow you to just press the “record” button and tape whatever you are listening to. Alternatively, if you have a radio with a headphone jack (or Line Out connections) and a tape recorder with a Line In connection, you can run a cable between the two units. To get the best quality recording, you need to get high quality components, such as a stereo AM/FM receiver that has an output for a tape deck and perhaps a digital tape recorder. I would NOT recommend placing the microphone of your El Cheapo cassete recorder next to the speaker of your El Cheapo radio (although I have done this when desperate). ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/19 "2005-08-27T02:09:59Z")
**FatBaldGuy** : Thanks for your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-thread-be-allowed-recording-off-radio/318016/20 "2005-08-27T03:10:03Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Look, if you’re taping using an “approved media,” you can legally tape off the air – you paid for the ability to do so\* when you bought the tape. This applies to both video and audio tapes. I’m not aware of any levy on blank VHS tapes in the United States. Cite? > [@](#): > > Putting it on CD is a different matter. AFAIK, they’re not approved media. Music CD-Rs (the ones that cost more than regular CD-Rs) are, when used with a CD recorder that requires those discs and implements the serial copying management system.