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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. Free Sound Recorder is a perfect audio recorder to record your own voice, music or any other sound by working directly with your sound card. 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.
What's new in this version: Version 9.3.1 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes
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All versions:
3.0 starsout of 614 votes
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Current version:
2.8 starsout of 93 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Simple and easy to use"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
It's very straightforward and has a filelist to manage recordings
Cons
It has no issue with recording my audio
Summary
don't know why this product hasn't got more downloads, it's the only one that worked for me
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"Installs toolbar & doesn't do what it says"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
None found
Cons
Installed its search toolbar even though I declined it, uninstalling it removes it from Internet Explorer but not Chrome. Supposedly records from the sound card but doesn't.
Summary
Installs malware, doesn't do what it says it does. Steer well clear.
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"perfectly simple to use"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
nothing to figure out.nothing to learn.select sound source and record it.
Cons
default hotkey to record is F2
Summary
finally a program that does one very simple task without having to convert for output.
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""Free" 30-day TRIAL"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
Don't know. I don't do Trial-ware.
Cons
Is only a 30-day trial.
See for yourselves:
http://coolrecordedit.com/download_coolrecordeditpro.htmlSummary
'nuff said.
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"Good recordings"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
I'm impressed by the number the presets.
Cons
a hotkey may conflict with renaming (F2)
Summary
A very good free audio recorder.
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"VERY IMPRESSIVE!!"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
Excellent choice of output quality,
Save recordings in various formats
Excellent freeware productCons
None really
Summary
Highly rec. this. Its easy to use and lots of fun but it is also a very serious App. if you need it to be.
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"My favorite audio editing software ever"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
Multiple formats can be used. All sound sources supported.
The interface is intuitive and I had no problem working it the first time.Cons
Nothing I can think of.
Summary
My son and Daughter are able to use it without my help and without my instruction so it must be a pretty simple program.
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"perfectly simple to use"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
nothing to figure out.nothing to learn.record audio, then save it.
Cons
Nothing yet
Summary
Recording karaoke is just fun. Now I can record the performance for my sis.
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"Be careful when you install and use it"
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
nice interface
Cons
all the bloat the comes with it
Summary
This is a nice little program BUT it has things imbedded in it that load other software that you have to buy for $30. It also loaded a whole bunch of other "things" that I had to turn around and remove. So be VERY careful when you install it. I'm surprised that CNET endorses this and feel they should remove it from the list.
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"Does what it says."
Version: Free Sound Recorder 9.3.1
Pros
Works exactly like it says. Records what your sound card hears.
Cons
I have not found any yet.
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