Posted on 08/01/2007 6:42:13 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn
How do I record sound to a CD from the computer or from live?
I have the freebie music scoring program Finale so it doesn't have simple click to record the actual music sound you've written. I think I can move the file to the drive to burn onto a cd but I don't think another computer will be able to access the sound. Another computer will be able to bring up the typed score but I'm not so sure it will actually play the piece without the second computer downloading the Finale program.
I have Windows XP which has that "record now" program but it will only record 60 seconds through a mic. This way the computer will play the piece outloud and the mic picks it up and "record now" will eventually burn it to a cd. Doing it this way is fine but I don't see that it will record for a longer time. I need about 15 minutes.
Any ideas?
Oops, the recorder thingie isn’t “record now” it’s “sound recorder”.
If you save the sound portion as “WAV” files, once recorded to a CD it is playable to any CD player (theoretically).
Okey dokey, remember you’re talking to a dummie. How would I save it to a WAV file?
“thingie” is computer literate ?
You have FreepMail.
There is a program called “Audacity”
Its freeware. Google it.
It will record anything that comes off the sound card, including the microphone line. No time limit for recording.
You may also have to download lame_enc.dll, which is also freeware, to work with Audacity. I believe the Audacity website explains this. Lame will allow you to encode an mp3 file with variable bit rates (you will be able to choose the quality of the recording)
www.oldversion.com
find the version 4.x of JetAudio.
Should do it for you. It will set itself as default music/video player if you let it.
The current paid version probably is awesome.
The current freeware version (last I checked) seemed to wimpy crippleware.
I just started using Sound Recorder last month and you CAN record for more than 60 seconds all you have to do is record for 60 seconds and then hit record again and it will record for another 60 seconds if you do this 15 times you will have a file 15 minutes long(it will say 900 seconds).
At this point all you have to do is use this same 15 minute file and tape over it (over and over again) but be sure to save it under different file names.
I use this method to tape some of my favorite online old-time radio programs. It works!
Total Recorder comes highly recommended.
exe file:
http://www.highcriteria.com/download/tr61se.exe
I think the trial version allows you to do everything the paid version does for 30 days. And if you don’t like it after 30 days, just uninstall it.
Ok, walk me through this, please. I’ve googled Audacity but just to make sure... it will record “live” audio, saves it somewhere (where?) and then I can burn it to a cd, right?
If I’ve got this straight it’ll be of so much help. I volunteer for the middle school and high school band so when a student needs a recording of a piece of music I’ll type it into Finale for them but if it’s over the 60 second recording thing on Windows it’s just not going to get the job done. I need something to record several 3-4 minutes selections per each student’s cd.
I am not an expert, but I just looked at Audacity and it does allow for a microphone for input. I’ve used it to record broadcasts off the internet, but I haven’t used the microphone for input.
Recorded input is saved to a file that you specify. I’m not familiar with Finale, so I’m not sure which file type is best for you. I would guess MP3 is acceptable.
I’d suggest that you download it and play around with it for a couple of hours. There is a small learning curve to get over.
Someone suggested TotalRecorder. I just bought the Professional version of this. It isn’t any easier than Audacity to use, but Total Recorder allows me to make scheduled recordings of internet radio, on the fly. But for your purpose, Audacity is equally good.
I see someone has mentioned "Audacity". You should be able to find that, and more, at one of the above sites.
And last, but not least:
I’ve been playing with Audacity and it looks like it’ll do the job, so thanks a million!
A couple questions -
1) On the pull down window where it lists microphone, phone line, in line, etc. - what does “in line” mean?
2) How do I separate each piece of music into it’s own track?
I will say this for Total Recorder...its website is better than Audacity. Total Recorder has a website with tutorials on recording. The tutorials are very good.
I’ll revise my suggestions: I’d sugggest downloading the trial version of Total Recorder and use the tutorials on their website to learn how to make a recording. Unfortunately, the trial version for Total Recorder limits the length of the recording (I think its a 1 minute limit). Then use your new knowledge to operate Audacity, or buy Total Recorder.
Ah, that’s an idea! I think you’ve given me everything we’ll need. Thanks again for all your help. Now, off to play around with both programs.
1. We’re kind of the blind leading the blind here. But I think “Line In” is for something like a radio or a tape recorder that is connected to your computer.
2. You can use Audacity to seperate a larger file into smaller files, which is then used to make seperate tracks. I have used Audacity to do this, but it was a couple of years ago.
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