CNET Editors' review
WireTap Studio is an excellent, relatively inexpensive audio-capture tool that can help you record, edit, and export any audio on your Mac, whether from your overall system audio, a specific app (like Skype or iTunes), or even an external microphone.
For simple tasks, like recording an iChat conversation, you can access many of WireTap Studio's features directly from its streamlined Controller window--including a very cool Live Preview, which lets you hear what your audio will sound like before you start recording (even as you switch formats, compression rates, and more, on the fly). The rest of WireTap Studio's interface is also reassuringly straightforward, with handy (if not professional-grade) tools for editing, and a lossless editing environment; so if you cut or reduce the bit rate of a recording, it's easy to go back and change your mind later.
With extras like video tutorials, drag-and-drop exporting, scheduling (WireTap Studio will even wake or turn on your Mac), and the ability to record from two sources at once, WireTap Studio is a solid app and a good value.
Publisher's Description
From Ambrosia Software:
WireTap Studio is a professional audio recording, editing, and management solution, allowing you to manage and manipulate your audio with ease. Discretely record from a specific application, record all of your Mac system audio simultaneously, or even record from any hardware/line-in device of your choice.
After recording, edit your clips with WireTap Studio's revolutionary and completely lossless editor. Lossless master recording technology enables you to edit your recorded audio without any loss of quality or content. Come back days, months, or even years later and undo the changes you've made. You can even take a file you mistakenly recorded at a lower quality and increase the quality at any time, without the need to re-record!
Even better, patent-pending LivePreview(tm) technology enables you to preview your audio before you capture it, saving you lots of time and stress. No longer will you need to record multiple bitrates and formats and then compare them side by side. Change the bitrate, compression format, or even add Audio Unit effects, and hear the changes in real time - before you record!
What's new in this version:
- Fixed iPhone ringtone issues being experienced with iTunes 9.2
- Improved functionality of Silence Removal
- Faster Variable Bit Rate encoding of your MP3s
- Addressed crash while editing a file as waveform was loading
- Numerous other fixes and enhancements
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 9 votes
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Results 1-9 of 9
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"Simple to Use & Does What I Need"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.1.1
Pros
Very easy to use
Works perfectly
Send files to iTunes with the click of one button
Very Responsive customer serviceCons
no cons for me
Summary
I was looking for a simple-to-use program to do a simple task: the ability to record anything I heard through my speakers. I spent hours researching different programs, & narrowed it down to three "finalists". They were Audacity, Audio Hijack, & WireTap Studio.
I already had Audacity, but downloaded the latest version (free). It was easy to use, did a thousand things I don't need, & the price was right. Only one problem-all the recordings sounded like they were made in a garbage can, tinny reverb, etc. Maybe I could have changed settings (I tried several, nothing worked), then gave up; I'm not looking to experiment & get fancy, just record what I hear the way I hear it.
Next, I tried Audio Hijack. This program worked very well, & I was ready to buy it, until I read that I needed to change my Safari sample bit setting to 32 bit. Again, I'm not looking to change anything, & try to remember to change it back again (or not), so that was eliminated.
Finally, I went to WireTap Studio. I must admit that I'm a long-time fan of Ambrosia, back to the days when they were the only way to do a screen/object/selection copy/print on the Mac. WireTap Studio proved to be real simple to use, & real simple to send a file to iTunes. I don't need it to edit sound files (I already do that with WavePad or SoundSoap). With WireTap Studio, there are no Safari settings to change, & most importantly, WHAT-YOU-HEAR-IS-WHAT-YOU-GET, no tinny sound distortions here.
I bought WireTap Studio & have used it quite a bit, & I'm totally satisfied with it. -
"Exporting doesn't work -- they don't offer refunds"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.1.1
Pros
Very advanced and easy to use for recording any sound source quickly. The editor supports a "scrubbing" feature to help you select the sound you want.
Cons
If you're looking for "radio tivo" this isn't it. The scheduler is lacking in features (weekdays instead of every day, for example), and the biggest bug is that exporting to iTunes, just doesn't work, and is a manual process.
Summary
When I explained this to the support staff, stating that I would be uninstalling and wanted my money back (on the same date as the purchase), they refused, stating that the free trial should have given me enough time. So be very careful before jumping in with both feet as I have done.
Perhaps in the future, if they add these simple features in, it would make more sense to buy, but until they do, it's still not quite fully baked.
For an alternative, try "Audio Hijack Pro." I admit, I haven't tried it, but the features I'm looking for are advertised on their site. -
"Good recorder for"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.1.0
Pros
Very simple usage
Cons
nothing annoying
Summary
It's smart and easy interface and options makes it great and simple for using. I want to use only this tool for recording audio on my mac.
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"Great Recorder"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.1.0
Pros
Its excellent and can record from any source possible.
Cons
The mic icon when its recording can get annoying cause you cant hide it.
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"It's a savvy application I can't do without."
Version: WireTap Studio 1.1.0
Pros
I was using WireTap Pro, and really liked it. When I went to Leopard, I upgraded to Wiretap Studio. Of the various features that are new, I like the ability to pick the input source which could be an individual application.
Cons
I'm not in love with the editor. I actually prefer Audacity. For me, it's annoying to have to save the files to disk. I'd prefer to bypass WireTap Studio and just have the file sent directly to Audacity - like it was previously.
Summary
To my own preferences and work style, i's better in some ways, not so much in others. But the nutshell is that it's still an invaluable tool that I don't want to be without. I personally think the Library interface could be improved upon. Perhaps I've got an idea or two. But the bottom line is that even with my personal clash, I'll still give it a five.
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"Works Very Well although infrequent user"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.1.0
Pros
Very simple to learn ...audio professionals will find it a snap
Cons
5 star worthy gets 4 as price a bit steep
Summary
I have not used enough to honestly speak to its overall reliability.
IMHO in theory it uses the same conventions that are well proven system(core audio) most likely issues not be with WTS, likely more w/ 3rd party audio hardware drivers. -
"clear, easy and efficient"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.1.0
Pros
Its a real pleasure to work with this soft. It is small but great in efficiency, well interfaced with iTunes and so... And it works well: no freezes, no bugs.
Cons
Nothing wrong.
Summary
The same: Its a real pleasure to work with this soft. It is small but great in efficiency, well interfaced with iTunes and so... And it works well: no freezes, no bugs.
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"Does what it says"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.0.12
Pros
Its easy to use.
Cons
Not as many features as Audio Hijaak Pro.
Summary
For quick and easy recording this works great. There are programs that have more tweaking available out there.
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"Efficient, simple, flexible good performer"
Version: WireTap Studio 1.0.12
Pros
The simplicity of it's interface, flexibility for recording storage and specification and the fact it is active immediately, no fitting it to a source first then re-booting it.
Cons
Nothing at all
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