Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
The Sound Recorder that comes with Windows will capture the audio stream and save it as a WAV you can edit or convert later on. But there's room for improvement, and there are more than a few choices, when it comes to recording digital audio with your PC. It's possible to spend staggering amounts of money on pro audio suites that really don't handle most users' needs any better than Free Sound Recorder by CoolRecordEdit. Like the Windows tool, it records whatever your sound card is processing, but Free Sound Recorder adds scheduling, more output formats, hot keys, and some unique extras. Several premium upgrade levels are available if you need still more.
Free Sound Recorder's interface resembles a media player, and in fact it is one, at least in part. A set of media player controls beneath the Files List addresses one of the most serious shortcomings of many versions of the Windows tool: the inability to play back recordings. The recording controls, two-channel level display, and counter also give Free Sound Recorder that "music" look. Clicking Options opened a tabbed dialog box that let us choose to save files as MP3s, WMAs, WAVs, or Ogg files. There's a useful option to create file names based on the date and time; it's selected by default. Hot key and Schedule settings are fairly standard, but the Automatic Gain Control certainly isn't. This feature can limit the High Level, Low Level, and Attack Time of recordings when the source is too loud, too soft, or too dynamic, producing a more even sound. The Voice Active System let us set the threshold for reading sound levels as silence to accommodate clean high-quality audio or noisy recordings. It's not as complicated as it sounds, as we found when we clicked links labeled "What Is This?" that open the program's clear, comprehensive Help file on the appropriate pages. The Files List and Mixer panels can be minimized.
We've made digital recordings of many LPs as well as live audio and other sources, and Free Sound Recorder is a definite upgrade in quality, capability, and convenience over the built-in Windows tool.
Publisher's Description
From CoolRecordEdit:
Free Sound Recorder does exactly as it sounds - it is an easy-to-use software program that lets you record any sounds from your sound card and save the recording directly into MP3, WMA or WAV files. It supports the record input/source from a microphone, streaming audio from the Internet, external input devices (CDs, LP, music cassettes, phone line) as well as other applications like Winamp, Media Player. With built-in advanced audio record engine, the recorder produces high quality recordings. In 3 steps you can get any sound recorded directly to audio files, without being bothered by unnecessary numeric adjustment.
What's new in this version: Version 9.4.1 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes
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All versions:
3.0 starsout of 611 votes
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Current version:
3.2 starsout of 33 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Easy, and the sound is CD quality"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
Easy to use interface and preferences.
Cons
Would have been nice to have a burner included, but whatever...I have 5 already.
Summary
It worked for my purposes and came with some editing tools.
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"Excellent software"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
The output formats include MP3, WAV, WAV & OGG.
Cons
Everything is easy. As a free recorder, i have nothing to complain about it.
Summary
I had it up and running in under one minute, very quick to download and easy to use. Far better than the analog recorder that comes in Microsoft Plus!
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"Nice program"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
I've got some old audio tapes of my daughter singing. I used Free Sound Recorder to record them and save them to MP3 files. Great work I just wanna say. Now i'm working on it to make a gift CD.
Cons
I've got some old audio tapes of my daughter singing. I used Free Sound Recorder to record them and save them to MP3 files. Great work I just wanna say. Now i'm working on it to make a gift CD.
Summary
I've got some old audio tapes of my daughter singing. I used Free Sound Recorder to record them and save them to MP3 files. Great work I just wanna say. Now i'm working on it to make a gift CD.
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"Danger - Do not Dowload!"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
None - didn't work in Windows 8
Cons
On install you are asked if you want to install 2 web tool bars. However there's no point in unchecking these are they are installed anyhow! They are an absolute pain to remove unless you have some IT skills.
Summary
Do not download under any circumstances unless you want trouble!
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"Don't downlaod it!"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
None that I could find.
Cons
This program loads toolbars and changes your search engine even if you tell it not to. Had a lot of faith in Download.com until this came along and screwed up my computer. Thank God for system restore.
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"Best thing it does is install viruses for you."
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
None. It's worthless.
Cons
I rejected toolbar and bloatware. It installed them anyway, changed my search engine, installed a shopping tool, screwed up all my browser settings.
Summary
This product should be pulled from cnet.
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"A great program that brings MALWARE/VIRUSES!!"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
Brings MALWARE/VIRUSES
Cons
It started fine but recordings became poor.
Summary
I have used this program for years, BUT recently the recordings became strange. It has happened ones before many years ago. So I assume someone is using this open source to plant their ****.
The program is great and esy to use, but this sideeffect destroy everything. -
"SPYWARE ADWARE MALWARE VIRUSES"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
This is a crap program loaded with SPYWARE, ADWARE, MALWARE. DO NOT DOWNLOAD.!
Cons
SYPWARE, MALWARE, ADWARE, VIRUSES.
Summary
Crap. Simply a bundle of virus laden crap.
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"Nice program for free."
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
User friendly. If you are recording streaming audio, this program will do that in CD quality.
Cons
You have to remove all the add-ons. There is at least 5 programs you have to remove after you download free sound recorder.
Summary
If you are willing to take the time to remove all the extras that you get with this program, you will be happy with it.
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"Best free sound recorder"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.4.1
Pros
Simple but very powerful program when you get into it. The sound quality pleases me so much
Cons
None,None,None.
Summary
It's hard to believe that a program this good is free.
