Using Computer Recording Programs

Subject: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:30 AM

Hi Guys,
 
A few years ago I downloaded RealProducer onto my laptop computer.  Now I need a recording program for my main computer but it seems RealProducer is now called Helix Producer. From what I've been told the file size is about 1.2 megabytes for a 3-minute song, which is too large to e-mail from our dial-up line. RealProducer files where much smaller around 400Kb for a 3-minutes song.

Is there any way I can transfer the RealProducer program I currently have on my laptop to my main computer?
My laptop has only floppy capability and RealProducer is 9MB which is too large to copy on floppy disc.
Any suggestions how to transfer this program from my laptop to my main computer?

Or any suggestion on a program to download onto my main computer that doesn't create such large files?

Would appreciate your thoughts,
Banjo Bonnie





 

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:37 AM

Bonnie - what TYPE of file are you producing? Wav? Mp3?

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Amos
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:37 AM

Hey, Bonnie, how nice to hear from you!

I use Sound Studio, but it run on OS X, and I believe you're using WIndows.

We need a WIN expert to answer your question.

A

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:47 AM

a google search on

"real producer" download

might find the older version...

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From:
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:47 AM

Seems to me there was a link to Legacy versions of Real Products in a thread not too long ago.

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:48 AM

Howdy MMario & Amos
Talk about quick response - thanks!

I would be producing MP3 and yes I am using Windows.

I am assuming Wave files would be smaller or is it possible to produce MP3s in smaller files?

LN

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:53 AM

WAV files are usually BIGGER

- you can sometimes 'tweak' MP3 files to be smaller - but it usually means a quality loss. Sample rate is usually variable on these things. You might want to check file options on both programs - it may be that the defaults on the new program are for miuch higher quality then on your old.

George - I was thinking the same thing.

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From:
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:57 AM

Do you really need Real Producer? IT looks like the main thing is to use it to produce Streaming Media files.

You could probably get away with any recording program which produces MP3s.

A couple of sites you might want to check out are:

Computer Music Magazine
Hit Squad's Music Section

There are other places you can look as well.

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From:
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:59 AM

I checked on the Real Networks site, and they have Legacy products for the free Player software, but not the older ones which create files. Too bad.

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:08 AM

When you copy your software from your laptop, you can use WinZip, the file compression software, to spread a file over several floppies. If you get hold of a copy, it will tell you how to do that; you don't necessarily have to compress the file to do it. (And you won't compress mp3 files any smaller!)

Steve

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: BanjoRay
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:08 AM

I use Goldwave, which you can try out at http:\\www.goldwave.com - its a full version which lets you give it up to 3000 commands before you need to register and pay for it. You can save as wave or mp3, and you can specify various parameters which vary the size of the file you produce. Works really well. Hows the banjo playing coming on, Bonnie? We had Dwight here a couple of weeks ago (with Dave Bing teaching fiddle) - a fine time.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From:
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:12 AM

From the Hit Squad links:

Here's the section on Audio Recording

This one covers CD Ripping

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:34 AM

Thanks for all your help guys!!!!!
I'm going to look into all of this and get back to you.

Bon

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:46 AM

I was all set to recommend GoldWave, but BanjoRay beat me to it.

I've had good success with GoldWave, and I was in the process of using it to produce a CD until I decided my microphone wasn't up to it and my recording ambience at home was lousy, and about that time learned of a small recording operation called, appropriately enough, "Cheap Tracks" here in Indianapolis. They charge $25 per hour for either studio or post-production time. That's the way I'm going, but I still have high regard for GoldWave.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 01:53 PM

Being poor, *grin*,one of my hobbies is finding FREE programs to do most of the things I want to do on a computer. I have accumulated a number of audio programs that will record, edit, play, convert almost any format one could wish.

this one JetAudio will do all of what I think you want in its paid version, but its free version will not create directly an MP3 file. It will record (from any sound source- mic, soundcard, etc.)in either .wav, or in Ogg Vorbis, a very nice new format with excellent sound and compression. ...Then, if MP3 is needed, it is possible to convert from Ogg Vorbis to MP3 using something like Audacity, an amazing FREE program which will allow editing of the music file, then export (convert) it as MP3 using a plug-in .dll file found at ftp://ftp.zlurp.com/dll/lame.DLL/3.87/

(I just did this as a test...now I have the same piece of music in both ogg vorbis and MP3)

There are other combinations of programs one can use to get this result, or one can just spend $$$ and do it with one program.

(note..Jet Audio is not a small program...it is 15 megs, but it does and amazing amount of stuff, and the free version is well worth having no matter what you use for other tricks)

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: GUEST,From the Studio
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 07:50 PM

mp3 - via sound Forge FM Quality just under .5 meg a minute - we use it to save copies of off air broadcasts.... a song average three mins will use 1.5 meg to store/send - anything less will give very poor quality............

depends on what you want to use them for after - further compression can be added if required.... Sound Forge is a great program and well worth having in stock ........

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 12:14 PM

Update on my progress so far:

MMario - George I am now downloading RealProducer Download which I did find on my Google search - thank you very much - never thought of that one.

Steve Park - even with Winzip the file size is 4 MB which is too large for a floppy disc.

I was told I could transfer the Realplayer with the digital camera flash cards which has a 64MB card for pictures but it can hold files too. With a card reader on a USB port I could hook that up to my laptop, copy the file to the camera card, them move the reader to the other PC. Haven't tried it. Something to remember in the future.

BillD - I have downloaded JetAudio but haven't attempted to record on it yet. I would like to compare recording on Helix/JetAudio/RealProducer to see the difference in quality.

Uncle DaveO & BanjoRay - I will check-out Goldwave too. Thank you!

I did download Helix and tried to record something off my minidisc but I am running into some problems.
Sound is being picked up because I can see the L dBR R respond to the volume levels.

When I click START it says 'Untitle.......Not Ready'

Encoding Settings: Audio Mode: Music
                   Video Mode: No Video
Check mark on Use High Quality Resampler for Audio
No check mark on 2-pass Video Encoding (file to file only)

Recording Control is set on Line In
Device: Intel(r)Integrated Audio

If anyone does record with Helix, can you see something I have overlooked?

Bonnie

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From:
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 01:45 PM

Good luck. Glad you found the older version.

One of the problems with copying the file over from the laptop is that if you didn't keep the original install files, you can't just copy files over and have them work, necessarily.

However, good luck on the project. Enjoy.

=-

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 10:18 AM

Here's a link to a version of Goldwave which is excellent for making wav files from stuff you have on tape, and topping an tailing and cleaning them. Then you can put them on CD or whatever - or convert them to, for example, RealAudio files by using Real Producer.

And then you can stick them up on a suitable free website you've set up, and instead of sending big attachments with emails, you just stick the link there, and people can click on it to listen to it or download it if they wish.

Subject: RE: Using Computer Recording Programs
From: Mark Clark
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 05:42 PM

Hi, Bonnie,

Whenever I need to record something I use Musicmatch Jukebox. I can record MP3s directly from the microphone or from any other source including another player on the PC. It burns CD's as well converting the MP3 format to CD format as it goes.

I'm starting to experiment with other tools including Audacity (mentioned above) and a CD creation program called CDRDAO that uses Disk-At-Once (DAO) recording and gives one more control over the final product. I'm just beginning to try these out, however, and don't really make any recommendation yet.

      - Mark