can't download audio (talk) files from Internet

[evonb]

I just received a MZ-NH900 Hi-MD to replace my MZ-R900. In the past, I just connected the optical cable to my computer and recorded whatever I wanted (in real time) from the Internet (book review programs, soccer interviews, etc. -- not music). However, when I upgraded my Mac to OSX, this method no longer worked. It absolutely didn't work from my laptop PC. Also, the R900 was breaking down. Recording with the old machine worked from my CD player and from my tape player (I record talking books from the library and listen to them in the car or while walking).

So, with this new machine, I received a USB cable and an optical cable. The instruction manual says to use the USB cable and the SonicStage software to download files. The instructions are mainly for music files. When I tried to record a Daily Shop clip from Fresh Air (a radio program) in real time, just by pushing the record slider, it wouldn't engage/record. The file was being played on RealAudio (the default player for this program). So then I tried to save and import the file into Sonic Stage. This didn't work. The file was an M3U or dmg (I probably have the name wrong) and Sonic Stage wouldn't recognize it. I tried to import the file into iTunes, didn't work. I tried Jukebox, didn't work. I read the manual again and scrolled through the SonicStage help file. I just couldn't find a clue for how to record off the Web. I'm totally flummoxed on how to record the programs I enjoy.

Any hints, instructions, etc. would be most gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance!

Edwinna

[A440]

If you're trying to record audio from the internet to your computer, bypass the MD.

Here's a recording program for Mac.

http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/wiretap/

It should pick up what's coming through your soundcard.

There was also an older freeware version of it that you may be able to find by searching somewhere.

You have to get an output from your computer into your MD. It may be that when you changed operating systems you changed default settings so you no longer were getting optical out. I'm not familiar at all with Mac, but are there settings for soundcard inputs and outputs? See if you can re-enable optical out.

The NH900 is made to work with Windows machines, not Macs. If it's brand new you could try to exchange it for the MZ100, which will upload to a Mac.

How did you get SonicStage going on a Mac? It's a Windows program.

M3u is a playlist, probably sent to tell RealPlayer what to play.

[Syrius]

Oh man. All of that sounds so strange. Let me see if I can help...

The USB +SS + Hi-MD will work only on windows to download the already-existing file from the computer, to the Hi-MD, like A440 just mentioned.

SonicStage will not record. It's not capture software.

The Hi-MD will not record through the USB cord. In other words, there's not a single bit of data being sent to the recorder the way you set it up. It would be nice if it worked that way, but unfortunately it wasn't set like that.

If you can get any audio out of the Mac through the optical cable, the Hi-MD should be able to record it. My guess is that somehow the optical out has not been enabled in Mac OSX, or there's some sort of incompatibility. Try connecting it to a Dolby Digital receiver, and see if theres any audio at all. (Edit: Sorry, A440, hadn't noticed you addressed that already)

M3U or DMG or whatever it was that file, are not actual music recordings. It's just a simple beacon that points a player (Real in this case) to a server where they can stream that music or sound program.

Try enabling your optical out, or use the capture software that A440 mentioned.

Good luck.

[evonb]

I'm sorry. I wasn't clear. I gave up recording off my Mac. With the RH900, I've only tried recording off my laptop PC - Windows machine -- with no result, as I unclearly explained in my original message. I understood that the RH900 wasn't Mac-friendly.

However, I will download the Mac software that A440 mentioned and try that.

If I understand you both, I should connect the optical cable and try that way to capture audio playing on the Web using my Windows laptop and also check to see if Optical Out is enabled on my Mac.

Do I understand this correctly as well -- that SonicStage can only be used for existing files -- files that have been downloaded onto my computer? And that the USB cable is used to upload these files from my computer through SonicStage and onto my MD?

Thank you so much for your patience with my techno-challenged questions.

Edwinna

Oh man. All of that sounds so strange. Let me see if I can help...

The USB +SS + Hi-MD will work only on windows to download the already-existing file from the computer, to the Hi-MD, like A440 just mentioned.

SonicStage will not record. It's not capture software.

The Hi-MD will not record through the USB cord. In other words, there's not a single bit of data being sent to the recorder the way you set it up. It would be nice if it worked that way, but unfortunately it wasn't set like that.

If you can get any audio out of the Mac through the optical cable, the Hi-MD should be able to record it. My guess is that somehow the optical out has not been enabled in Mac OSX, or there's some sort of incompatibility. Try connecting it to a Dolby Digital receiver, and see if theres any audio at all.  (Edit: Sorry, A440, hadn't noticed you addressed that already)

M3U or DMG or whatever it was that file, are not actual music recordings. It's just a simple beacon that points a player (Real in this case) to a server where they can stream that music or sound program.

Try enabling your optical out, or use the capture software that A440 mentioned.

Good luck.

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[A440]

You've pretty much got it, Edwinna, and I hope by the time you're reading this something is working right for you.

SonicStage is file transfer and music library software. It copies music from computer onto MD, or uploads your recordings from the MD onto your computer. That's what goes through the USB.

If you can play audio out your computer speakers, you should also be able to capture it in realtime by plugging an output into Line-In on the MD. Either an analogue cable (stereo plugs) or an optical cable should work if you can just get the computer to output through it. It's a matter of the settings on your soundcard--under Windows Control Panel in Sound and Audio Devices. For Mac, you're on your own.

If you want to record internet audio on your PC, which I think is still a better way, then there's StepVoice, which records in mp3, or TotalRecorder ($12), which records in .wav as well. TotalRecorder is excellent, and the freeware version of StepVoice, the only one I've used, is perfectly acceptable unless you need super high fidelity (and internet radio won't be hi-fi to begin with).

www.totalrecorder.com

http://stepvoice.com/download.html

Once you have those files recorded on the computer, you can use SonicStage to transfer them to MD.

[evonb]

Yup, thanks to you and Syrius, I'm up and running and recording like mad!

I've tested the recorder on my tape deck and that's working as well.

I will try out the Windows software that you mentioned to do transfers from SonicStage.

Thanks again for all your advice!

Edwinna

You've pretty much got it, Edwinna, and I hope by the time you're reading this something is working right for you.

SonicStage is file transfer and music library software.  It copies music from  computer  onto MD, or uploads your recordings from the MD onto your computer. That's what goes through the USB.

If you can play audio out your computer speakers, you should also be able to capture it in realtime by plugging an output into Line-In on the MD. Either an analogue cable (stereo plugs) or an optical cable should work if you can just get the computer to output through it. It's a matter of the settings on your soundcard--under Windows Control Panel in Sound and Audio Devices. For Mac, you're on your own.

If you want to record internet audio on your PC, which I think is still a better way, then there's StepVoice, which records in mp3, or TotalRecorder ($12), which records in .wav as well. TotalRecorder is excellent, and the freeware version of StepVoice, the only one I've used, is perfectly acceptable unless you need super high fidelity (and internet radio won't be hi-fi to begin with).

www.totalrecorder.com

http://stepvoice.com/download.html

Once you have those files recorded on the computer, you can use SonicStage to transfer them to MD.

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