[Harry Putnam]

Sorry for the lamer question but recently I had occasion to try to
record some sounds from the internet on my newish laptop. (Sager
NP8760)

I found no other option but to use the builtin mic as input. This was
sound that is not coming from some external source like a vocalist or
instrument playing in the room by me, but sounds found on the internet
and being played inside a web browser.

The sound dialog from the control panel (windows 7) shows only 1
device under the record tab, the builtin mic. Whereas my desktops
show things like SoundMax Digital audio.

So apparently the motherboard in the laptop has no similar builtin
sound ability

The result was really terrible since the builtin mic also picks up any
sound nearby including the a fairly serious amount of noise from the
laptop itself.

I've looked at what are listed as external sound cards, m-audio mobile
pre, Inspire 1394 and a few more.

These tools seem to be mostly about recording from mics, and I was not
able to tell after going through the features and specs, if they would
provide a way to record sounds found online. It might very likely be
there somewhere, but my limited knowledge was not able to see it.

I realize this probably shows a very serious lack of understanding
about how sound and computers interact but can anyone direct me to
something that will do what I've laid out? Allow me to record from
the internet in a similar way as I can with my desktops tools like
SoundMax?

Recording with mics is also needed and I can see the tools I've
mentioned have that capability... but still not sure about recording
from online source.

[Harry Putnam]

"Soundhaspriority" writes:

"Harry Putnam" wrote in message
...
Sorry for the lamer question but recently I had occasion to try to
record some sounds from the internet on my newish laptop. (Sager
NP8760)

I found no other option but to use the builtin mic as input. This was
sound that is not coming from some external source like a vocalist or
instrument playing in the room by me, but sounds found on the internet
and being played inside a web browser.

The sound dialog from the control panel (windows 7) shows only 1
device under the record tab, the builtin mic. Whereas my desktops
show things like SoundMax Digital audio.

So apparently the motherboard in the laptop has no similar builtin
sound ability

Harry,
It is not a hardware problem. All you need is a
program:http://radio.about.com/od/pcsoftware...g_Audio_PC.htm

I haven't needed this lately, so unfortunately, I cannot advise you as to
the best choice.

Thanks,

Before I start running thru them I should say that I have tried 2
recorders just now that claim to be able to capture `what you hear'.

freecorder and mp3mymp3.

In each case it asks for the sound device to record from, and as I
have mentioned the only one available on my machine says

Microphone
Realtic High Defininition Audio

Going to control panel/sound/ and then the record tab... that is all
there is shown.

The two tools I mentioned above offered to record from it... and it
pics up all sound nearby including the machines sounds.

Are you saying one of those shown at the link will install a different
device or something...? I'm sure I don't understand how it all works
but if that Microphone thing shown above is all there is on the
machine then it would require a different device wouldn't it?

[John Williamson]

Harry Putnam wrote:
"Soundhaspriority" writes:

"Harry Putnam" wrote in message
...
Sorry for the lamer question but recently I had occasion to try to
record some sounds from the internet on my newish laptop. (Sager
NP8760)

I found no other option but to use the builtin mic as input. This was
sound that is not coming from some external source like a vocalist or
instrument playing in the room by me, but sounds found on the internet
and being played inside a web browser.

The sound dialog from the control panel (windows 7) shows only 1
device under the record tab, the builtin mic. Whereas my desktops
show things like SoundMax Digital audio.

So apparently the motherboard in the laptop has no similar builtin
sound ability

Harry,
It is not a hardware problem. All you need is a
program:http://radio.about.com/od/pcsoftware...g_Audio_PC.htm

I haven't needed this lately, so unfortunately, I cannot advise you as to
the best choice.

Thanks,

Before I start running thru them I should say that I have tried 2
recorders just now that claim to be able to capture `what you hear'.

freecorder and mp3mymp3.

In each case it asks for the sound device to record from, and as I
have mentioned the only one available on my machine says

Microphone
Realtic High Defininition Audio

Going to control panel/sound/ and then the record tab... that is all
there is shown.

The two tools I mentioned above offered to record from it... and it
pics up all sound nearby including the machines sounds.

Are you saying one of those shown at the link will install a different
device or something...? I'm sure I don't understand how it all works
but if that Microphone thing shown above is all there is on the
machine then it would require a different device wouldn't it?


Ask and record toolbar installs into Firefox and does what you say you
want and more.

http://www.applian.com/asktoolbar/download.php

It can be set to record from line in, if it's fitted, the microphone, or
the signal at input to your sound card.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

[Harry Putnam]

John Williamson writes:

Ask and record toolbar installs into Firefox and does what you say you
want and more.

Thanks,

haa, I'll be darned... I don't know how many times I've said no to
installing that toolbar.

As it is, I found one that sounds pretty similar...(Freerecorder-4)
and posted some info about in response to `Soundhaspriority's' post in
this same thread.

[Harry Putnam]

"Soundhaspriority" writes:

Harry, I forgot that, beginning with Vista and continuing with Windows 7,
there has been removal of features that some would claim encourage violation
of intellectual property. Windows XP was the last Microsoft OS to include
mixing functions as part of the OS, as the "K_Mixer" programming feature.


Good info thanks.

This is not to say that what you want cannot be done, but there are two
caveats:
1. The older software, written for XP, can't do this with Windows 7, because
K_Mixer is no longer present.
2. The OS is designed to detect and stop capturing of a digital data stream
if that stream has copy protection attributes. And such a stream can be
played only by devices where the device driver is certified for security.


Here's a program that specifically claims to work with Windows 7:
http://www.wmrecorder.com/

Thanks again... I have found one that seems to do what I wanted. Its
the same as one I listed as NOT working but a newer version
`Freerecorder-4'. It installs into the browser and offers a whole
herd of tools. And it seems to supply the missing ability to record
from the internet with its own device... I suppose some sort of
virtual device.

It seems kind of overdone as it has so many functions but I can see
some use for them at some point.

Anyone interested can find it he
http://applian.com/freecorder4/

There is a little video at the bottom of page that does a quicky run
thru of all the stuff this thing does.

Sometimes, if a program such as this violates a Microsoft license provision,
they work for a while. Note, however, that when you bought Windows 7, the
license agreement to which you became a party specifically allows Microsoft
to remotely remove such a program from your machine, without your
permission.

Egad... I had no idea... I guess like most or at least many people, I
plow right thru those agreements without any care at all.

It would be interesting to hear how anyone at MS would know you were
using such a device... there must be some kind of `phone home' mechanism
builtin to win7 somewhere that can determine that it is happening.

[Harry Putnam]

"Soundhaspriority" writes:

Harry,
Please post a mini-review after you've had a chance to work with it. It
sounds nice, provided it doesn't drag in adware with it.


I can say even now that it appears to do as it advertises.

It may be a bit too helpful in some ways having such a lot of
capabilities. But does seem to be quite configure-able as to what
shows up in the head of your browser.

One thing I find annoying is that the several recorders things I've
tried all shared and seems to be endemic to this particular niche is
that it records to a file instead of into software where you can
manipulate the sound data before writing it to file. Like you might
with something like the free tool Audacity.

Maybe it can be linked somehow...into other software like audacity. I
haven't looked into very much yet.

But I will report on FreeRecorder-4 in a month or so.