Recording with a continious sound recorder.....

[RedPenguin]

Alright, to explain what I want, I will explain why I want it this way.

I occasionally have special events in my area which produce a pretty darn good amount of radio traffic.

Though normally there isn't a huge amount of traffic in my area, so normally I use a Vox-type Recorder, such as XCorder and Vox2File.

Now one thing I did notice about Vox-type Recorders is that they seem to work for the most part, but some Vox Recorders I have had, not XCorder or Vox2File, have ended up screwing up on tons of traffic.

So I would like to use a continuous sound recorder as well just in case. If I end up not needing it, I can just delete it. I never tested my recorder PC under heavy traffic.

For continuous sound recording, I have always used Audacity, though the problem that I see is that, because the traffic can easy go on for 8+ hours, Audacity may take an hour or more to export to mp3.

My big question is then, is it just safer to go with the long export of Audacity or just opt for a continous recorder that just constantly records directly to mp3?

Plus, after reading the Wiki on setting up your radio scanner to your PC (yes, I've already done it, but figured maybe I would get some tips), I noticed they said if you have a constant hum you may want a Group Loop Isolator. Like the one from RadioShack.

Is this the sound they are talking about?

http://adam.250free.com/noaudio.mp3

Note:I get this sound when I hook up my BCT15 or BR330T to any computer.

 

[matthewtomek]

You could still use Audacity and before you export it as an mp3, save it in Audacity's file format. Then, go in and clip out all the "dead air" time.

Personally, I use Total Recorder (http://www.totalrecorder.com/productfr_trPRO.htm) to do my recording, which is a paid program . The VOX feature on it works great and also has a scheduler on it so you can dump files on the schedule you set. If you wish to know more about how I use this software, just let me know.

As far as the hum, try a ground wire from the scanner to your computer case. It worked for me.

 

[k9rzz]

I'm a big fan of audio recording off of the radio (all bands and modes).

I like ScanRec (http://www.davee.com/scanrec/). Free, built in squelch to eliminate dead time, and you can set the quality of recording from 8k/8bit mono to ???. If you've got a couple GB of hard drive, you can record for DAYS on end.

In fact, I have a 666mhz PC dedicated to just audio, pumped into a stereo amp + speakers.

 

[RedPenguin]

More info please.....

You could still use Audacity and before you export it as an mp3, save it in Audacity's file format. Then, go in and clip out all the "dead air" time.

Personally, I use Total Recorder (http://www.totalrecorder.com/productfr_trPRO.htm) to do my recording, which is a paid program . The VOX feature on it works great and also has a scheduler on it so you can dump files on the schedule you set. If you wish to know more about how I use this software, just let me know.

As far as the hum, try a ground wire from the scanner to your computer case. It worked for me.

Well I believe I know how to use Total Recorder but I defiantly would like some more information on a ground cable.

The hum is not unbearable but if I can cheaply get rid of it, I would like it.

I will defiantly have to try that.

The problem is that my recording PC even though it's 1.5GHZ/512MB, it seems like if I have Audacity convert to MP3 it may suck up all CPU and possibly make the other recording software freeze or slow down and miss stuff.

Basically, I want a way in which I can record the audio on the one PC since obviously the scanner is hooked to it, then use my main desktop for all the editing so I don't bother the recording PC.

It appears through saving it as an Audacity Project, that could easily be arranged and it will give me a chance to work on the dead space.

Too bad Audacity doesn't have a plugin that could just go in and delete any blank space it finds, but I guess it could end up deleting in the wrong areas.

 

[rananthony04]

I'm a big fan of audio recording off of the radio (all bands and modes).

I like ScanRec (http://www.davee.com/scanrec/). Free, built in squelch to eliminate dead time, and you can set the quality of recording from 8k/8bit mono to ???. If you've got a couple GB of hard drive, you can record for DAYS on end.

In fact, I have a 666mhz PC dedicated to just audio, pumped into a stereo amp + speakers.

I really like ScanRec as well. I leave it recording for about 4 days at a time(using the 32,000/16 bit sampling rate in mono), on my days off I retrieve it, and use Sound Forge to go through and listen, its real easy.

I have a few audio files on my YouTube page that can demonstrate the quality of the ScanRec program..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTiRhFLicsw

 

[matthewtomek]

Well I believe I know how to use Total Recorder but I defiantly would like some more information on a ground cable.

The hum is not unbearable but if I can cheaply get rid of it, I would like it.

I will defiantly have to try that.

The problem is that my recording PC even though it's 1.5GHZ/512MB, it seems like if I have Audacity convert to MP3 it may suck up all CPU and possibly make the other recording software freeze or slow down and miss stuff.

Basically, I want a way in which I can record the audio on the one PC since obviously the scanner is hooked to it, then use my main desktop for all the editing so I don't bother the recording PC.

It appears through saving it as an Audacity Project, that could easily be arranged and it will give me a chance to work on the dead space.

Too bad Audacity doesn't have a plugin that could just go in and delete any blank space it finds, but I guess it could end up deleting in the wrong areas.

On the ground cable, I just have an 18 gauge wire going from a screw on the back of my BCT15 to the rear of my computer tower. It knocked the hum out.

As far as the recording, an 8 hour file here in Memphis is about 33MB recording in stereo at 56kb/s. I've been recording since December 2006.

I don't use Audacity unless I want to make a specific clip of something. The only drawback is if you use Audacity to do all the recording, it's going to be a pain to go in and cut out all the dead air time. Also, there may be something else going on with your computer if it's getting bogged down just by exporting audio to an mp3 file. What kind of size file are you talking about?

 

[zzdiesel]

I screwed up a couple of weeks ago and paid $50 for Proscan. The program is fine for Uniden, but I just bought a new Pro-197

 

[RedPenguin]

Well....

On the ground cable, I just have an 18 gauge wire going from a screw on the back of my BCT15 to the rear of my computer tower. It knocked the hum out.

As far as the recording, an 8 hour file here in Memphis is about 33MB recording in stereo at 56kb/s. I've been recording since December 2006.

I don't use Audacity unless I want to make a specific clip of something. The only drawback is if you use Audacity to do all the recording, it's going to be a pain to go in and cut out all the dead air time. Also, there may be something else going on with your computer if it's getting bogged down just by exporting audio to an mp3 file. What kind of size file are you talking about?

Well, I don't 100% need to use Audacity, but like I said in my first post, I use XCorder and Vox2File which always seem to pick up what my scanner receives. Though I was not sure how my PC would act under the channel having a ton of traffic compared to know which is active but not crazy.

Though during two once-a-year events, I didn't want to loose anything, because first all of all they are only once-a-year, but second, they produce pretty darn material for the 3-4 days they are in my area.

I was thinking, of just having Audacity record in the background, even though the other recorders are working fine, just so that I don't miss anything.

I mean, the recordings are not life or death, but I also will like them, because on one of the channels, I like to do unit identification and during these two special events, almost all the units on that channel pop out, when normally you have to record day in and day out to ever catch them for a minute.

I guess I really shouldn't miss any audio, because I mainly record a single channel during the both events, though wasn't sure how Vox-Type Recorders would handle constant radio traffic from basically 12 Noon until 6PM at least each day. That's defiantly not the only hours of each event, just the "happy hour" each day of the recordings. LoL.

 

[matthewtomek]

It sounds like you may just want to use the VOX recorder and be done with it. If you lose a little bit, so be it.

 

[poltergeisty]

Though normally there isn't a huge amount of traffic in my area, so normally I use a Vox-type Recorder, such as XCorder and Vox2File.

Now one thing I did notice about Vox-type Recorders is that they seem to work for the most part, but some Vox Recorders I have had, not XCorder or Vox2File, have ended up screwing up on tons of traffic.

Vox2file or Xcorder can record constantly, just lower the settings to zero. File on hour would be a wise idea in case the computer loses power or some other unforeseeable event occurs. I had xcorder running from a USB stick to save on the hard drive. The hard drive would then spin down. But that method will decrease the life expectancy of flash memory. Was using an old hard drive, so it had its merit to use flash memory instead.

I have recorded an entire day of traffic without problems. I have a CD of several 4th of July's

FYI to others on using VOX properly.

Make sure that the settings are set higher; the delay and sensitivity. Typically, 8 for both settings should be sufficient enough without missing any traffic and leaving a short pause in between communications.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=37&pictureid=423