Frequently asked questions
Click on the question in the list below, to jump directly to the answer:
| Q: |
Can I record an Internet broadcast through
RealAudio? |
| A: |
Yes.
You can record from virtually any sound source that is audible through
the computer speakers, including Internet broadcasts with RealAudio
for example.
Just make sure to follow these steps:
- First start play-back of the Internet broadcast in the player
you are using, like RealPlayer.
- Wait for RealPlayer to start play-back. First it will download
a couple of seconds of sound, before it starts play-back.
- Then start the Sound Recorder and select the appropriate sound
source.
The names of the sound sources differ from one system to another,
but the sound source for recording RealAudio play-back, is usually
named Wave, Stereo Mix,
What You Hear, or something in similar wording.
The Sound Recorder will automatically select the appropriate recording
quality if needed.
- Start recording in the Sound Recorder.
Optionally you can restart play-back in RealPlayer, to record the
whole sound clip from the beginning.
Note that on certain computers you cannot change the recording quality
to anything other than that of the sound quality of the Internet broadcast.
Also on certain computers you will get an error message in RealPlayer,
about not being able to access the sound card, if you started the Sound
Recorder before starting play-back in the RealAudio player. In that
case the selected recording quality in the Sound Recorder window does
not match that of the Internet broadcast and then RealPlayer cannot
access the sound card for play-back. Just follow the steps explained
above, to resolve this conflict.
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| Q: |
The CD's I create with your recordings play
back on my computer, but not on my home or car player.
What is wrong? |
| A: |
If the CD's cannot be played back on a regular CD player,
then this can have several reasons.
The most common reason is that the CD was not created correctly with
your CD-burning software. Most CD players require the CD-recording-session
to be closed. For more information on creating standard Audio CD's and
CD-recording-sessions, please refer to the manual of your CD-burning
software.
Another possibility is that you created a Data CD with the sound
files. This kind of CD is not recognized by regular CD players. Make
sure you create an Audio CD instead and to "close the session" on the
CD.
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| Q: |
I cannot open or save mp3 files. Why is this? |
| A: |
You probably have an old version of the software installed.
Older versions of the software made use of third-party mp3 codecs that
are already installed on your computer for saving and opening mp3 files.
Starting with version 3.0 we have included full mp3 and mp3PRO support,
thus not depending on third-party mp3 codecs anymore.
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| Q: |
My recordings contain pops, skips or other
distortions, while the original sounds fine. What is wrong? |
| A: |
If your computer is sufficiently equipped (see
System requirements), this could
be caused by a defect in the sound card hardware, but most likely it
is caused by a problem in the software driver of your sound card.
The Sound Recorder is totally depending on the quality of the sound
card hardware and software driver, for the digitizing process.
Here are some recommendations and things to check, in order of likeliness
that they cause the problem:
- Check if there is an update available for the software driver
of your sound card.
Most manufacturers of sound cards have an Internet site where free
updates can be downloaded.
- Make sure that no other tasks are active on your computer, while
you are recording.
The activity of other tasks, could have a negative impact on the
response time of other processes like the recording process, causing
short skips and pops.
Do not forget about the tasks sitting in the "system tray" of Windows.
That is where the clock is displayed, at the bottom right hand of
the screen. Usually this is where programs like virus scanners are
active.
Also, if you have a continuous Internet connection (through cable
or (A)DSL for example), it is best to disconnect it while you are
recording.
- Check the hard disk light on your computer.
While recording, it should blink just shortly every 2 or 3 seconds.
If the light blinks constantly and if you constantly hear hard disk
activity while you are recording, then the speed of your hard disk
could be the problem.
What might help then, is to de-fragment your hard disk. This can
be done with the hard disk de-fragmentation tool that comes with
Windows and it can be found in the Start menu under Programs / Accessories
/ System tools / Defragmentation.
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| Q: |
I have no sound output, except from your program.
Why is this? |
| A: |
The Sound Recorder and Editor both automatically make
sure that the volume is set correctly when it starts, but other programs
most times don't do this automatically.
If you don't hear any sound when the Recorder or Editor is not running,
then you can manually control the sound channels on your system with
the Windows volume controls.
To show the Windows volume controls, double click on the little speaker
icon in the task bar of Windows (near the clock) and make sure that
the volume slider for the Wave channel is not set too low or even muted. |
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| Q: |
Can I paste and merge pieces of sound in the
Editor? |
| A: |
No.
The primary purpose of the Sound Recorder and Editor, is to digitize
and prepare existing recordings on vinyl or tape, before you record
them as separate tracks on audio CD's.
Pasting and merging pieces of sound, is used to create new sound effects
and this is not what the Editor is designed for. |
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| Q: |
Why is the disk full so quickly? |
| A: |
Sound files are very large files. Specially sound files
that are suitable for making an audio CD take a lot of disk space, because
they contain the information for two-channel (stereo) sound with a frequency
of 44.1 kHz.
For each second of digital sound, you need approximately 172 Kb of free
disk space. That is approximately 10 megabyte for each minute.
Please note that the actual amount of required disk space depends on
the selected recording quality.
As soon as you have recorded the sound files on an audio CD, you can
of course remove the files from disk again. |
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| Q: |
Why is the amount of available disk space not
decreasing after I recorded something? |
| A: |
A new recording is always stored on the hard disk as
a temporary file.
While recording, the amount of available disk space on the disk that
is used to store the temporary file will decrease.
This is indicated in the Sound Recorder window, as the time that the
new recording can last before the disk will be full.
After recording, when you save the new recording to another disk
with the Sound Editor, the used space will be released on the disk that
was used to store the temporary recording file and this space will then
be reused for the next recording. |
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