YouTube Audio Capture
The internet is full of audio so a good audio capture program is a huge asset.
This is a very simple yet robust audio capture and is the one I use. To look at it is to understand it. You can select the audio file format, record threshold, record volume and things of that sort. On start it goes right to the YouTube home. The title pic shws the settings I actually used to make this recording.
If you look at the pic below, you'll see that I can aim the browser to a folder on my hard drive.
This is a folder full of flash vids that I'm converting to mp3's. You can use the folder view menu to select the vies, I usually use list as well as delete files from the folder while in the program's browser. The browser looks like an IE derivative. It can get a bit balky at times on the Back move and you'll have to hit back again and it will back up two pages and you'll have to come forward again. Also you may get a partial load. Just use Refresh.
GETTING THE PROGRAM
The program downloads for free but then you register and that is where the $US15 is paid. This gets you an additionlal program registration so that you actually, at least as of when I got it, get two programs. Two very powerful audio programs @ $US7.50 each; don't even think twice. My second one is MP3 Workstation. Here is the process:
- Open the link at the top of the page
- Download the program
- Contact eSoft by email using the address they tell you.
- Arrange payment and registration; It's good to have PayPal
- Make the arrangements for your second program.
I've been on a tear ever since I got it. I hear it; I want it: I get it. It's almost automatic.
WELL, HOW 'BOUT IT? In a word: Terrific. Once yu get used to it, it's like clockwork. Now the details:
- Layout vertical, self-explanatory and intuitive. what you see is what you get. There may be a small Accsessibility problem with the white text on a light gray ("silver") background. This can be a real hassle on the encoding screen. I would reccommend a set of high visibility light on dark skins. so it downgrades from an A+ to an A. A really big plus is that the tooltip text popup shows what you're working with when you land on a graphic/controller.
- Browser can get balky or not fully load but usually performance is good. Having a built-in browser lets you point the program where you want it to go, including folders on your hard drive. B
- Versatility: Everything you need from start to finish for making audio files
- Lets you select the kind of audio file you want to make: MP3, WMA, WAV, MP4 and M4a
- As you will see when you get to Setup/Encoding. The input to this program sits at the output of your sound card. Whatever your sound card will do like Line in, Microphone, etc. will be picked up here. My only complain here is that in the record mode you don't hear what the actuall output will sound like, just the input, so you have to watch your scope and you have to keep the capture to use the Preview function. With a little practice this is no problem
- You can not only make the mp3 or whatever kind of audio file you want, you can do the ID3 tags. The Smart Tag lets you use ID3 and ID3 version 2 which is more detailed. The only thing I don't like about it is that the title becomes the file name which, if you have a title with more than about 30 characters, the file will not FTP. However you can use the tag system which kicks in when you choose to keep the capture to name the file, insert the artist and year. then come back later and rename the title. The Smart Tag works with your tooltip in the folder. For the final tags, I prefer AUDIO SHELL It lets you redo the title while keeping the filename as is and it works in Properties both display and edit as well as with the tooltip.
- Album cover art.I have not tried the cover art although I've looked it over and, as usual with this application, it doesn't look hard. I took a close look at it and it seems quite easy as with most of the stuff on the program.
- For what I've used, A
- THe Help instructions are a bit weak but that's no big deal. it does a good job of explaining things so it's worth looking into for information: B.
The only real trick to all of this is learning to set the volume for the quality of sound you want in the file. This is a great beginner's program and one I'll probably still be using whne I'm 75. My other Audio programs should be this easy to learn and use.
It's done everything I've asked as well as I wanted and more than I expected of it. Very loud bang for the buck. Another Big Deal with me is that the company talks to you and you know how I am about reachability.
Fit to be the heart of any mp3 software system. RATING: ****1/2
USING THE PROGRAM