Napster Free

[BarryC]

I saw a couple guys at work the other day listening to songs with Napster Free. I had no idea that Napster had a free site. So I checked it out just now. I'm quite sure that I read that the music files are streaming.

So I tried an experiment. I searched for Simon & Garfunkle's Scarborough Fair and gave it a listen. I wanted to see if my streaming media recorder would record it. Actually it wasn't an experiment. I fully expected WM Recorder to record it but it didn't. And my Orbit downloader didn't download it either.

I already have the song on my own computer, so it doesn't matter, but I'm curious why neither of my programs would download or record the file. I wonder if Napster has some kind of blocking software in place. Hmmmm...
I never encountered a streaming file that my WM Recorder didn't record. This is odd.

Barry

[Wolfcounsel]

"I already have the song on my own computer, so it doesn't matter, but I'm curious why neither of my programs would download or record the file. I wonder if Napster has some kind of blocking software in place." --BarryC

I'm not a computer wizard by any stretch of the imagination, but I've been told by many, that whatever one can see or hear on the monitor can be saved electronically for offline perusing.

[DoctorDoom]

Programs like Replay AV (http://www.applian.com/replay-av/index.php) will record just about anything that comes in from the Net. I use Goldwave (http://www.goldwave.com/) for recording and processing audio files. It records from the computer audio rather than from the Net connection.

It can easily be done. The problem with most streaming audio is that it is of inferior quality due to the low bit-rate. It's better to buy the MP3/WMA/RM/whatever and get the full quality.

[BarryC]

I see that Replay AV is from the same company as WM Recorder, the program I have. I had to pay for it when I put it in my own computer. When I decided that I wanted it in this computer I asked the company if that was okay, and they said it was. I just had to put in my license code after downloading it.

Anyway, this Napster Free is the first instance of streaming media that WM Recorder did not record. It doesn't matter though, since every song I like, that I know of, I already have on CDs or on WAV or MP3 files on my own computer.

By the way, Doc, how did you chop a piece out of that audio file earlier, the one with Bruce Kopstein? I ask because some time ago I used my WM Recorder to record the streaming file of D. James Kennedy's funeral off of one of the Coral Ridge websites. The problem is the file starts with some annoying electronic tones, along with a picture of Dr. Kennedy, shown for 35 min., 20 sec. straight! The funeral starts after all that. I wanted to chop that off if possible. I just happened to think of it now.
It's a 512 mb asf file, which is fine with me. The part of the file that I want to keep is about 2 hrs., 45 min. long.

Thanks,
Barry