Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   Like a few other audio/video apps, the iRecordMax Sound Recorder relies on several Direct X filters or files from NCT -- basically they're front ends or GUIs for however many NCT code libraries are used [in XP Pro I've got a total of 23 that were installed by various apps]. I haven't ever found anything on the company NCT that was current, though I haven't looked all that hard either -- Brothersoft lists a shareware collection of NCT Active X files here http://www.brothersoft.com/nctaudiostudio-activex-dll-322.html . Apps like today's GOTD likely haven't been updated because without newer versions of those NCT files available -- & AFAIK there aren't any newer versions available -- what's the point? The NCT files themselves aren't bad, though they're not world class either, & while it's certainly possible they'll conflict with some other Direct X files you have installed, I haven't had any problems in my XP Pro install. Any app that installs the NCT files will add several registry entries [iRecordMax Sound Recorder added a couple thousand in my win7 32 VM], but once installed they're shared by any other apps using them, so it's a one time deal. That said, I'm not sure how compatible they are with win7/8 -- that monitored win7 32 install used win7's Virtual Store so there may be some issues -- & iRecordMax Sound Recorder would not run in my XP Mode VM.

   As far as the app itself goes, it includes an old copy of Lame that you *might* want to try updating, but otherwise it's a fairly simple & straightforward app that uses your sound card or on-board audio chipset to digitize whatever comes in the inputs & writes the results to an audio file. The simple editor that comes with it isn't bad but neither is it extraordinary -- the biggest fault is it doesn't allow plug-ins, & those tools &/or FX that are built-in are the basics. I have the NCT files installed in XP Pro mainly because I do a little work there using Graph Edit, where I might use the files or filters on their own -- as already mentioned in the comments Audacity & Wavosaur are more powerful, plus I've got some paid software I use. That shouldn't be taken as me telling you not to use iRecordMax Sound Recorder - if you like it, Cool, & it is simpler than Audacity & Wavosaur because there's less there to confuse you.

   Also while Audacity & Wavosaur may be the most well known free audio apps, there's a couple of newcomers to the free software market, both by Nero -- Nero SoundTrax & Nero WaveEditor are now free http://www.nero.com/enu/downloads/ . And they're both pretty nice apps.

   Posted 11 years ago #
2. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   I put this under tech notes because I wanted to add a few things to what I posted in the comments on the download page...

   First & foremost your audio recording is a reflection on the hardware you use & the environment you use it in. If you're recording from a mic in a noisy environment you're going to record some of that noise. If you're recording via USB hardware or using a sound card or on-board chipset, you will record electrical noise from inside your PC/laptop. Beyond that the quality of the recording is directly due to the quality of your input, e.g. the microphone you use, & the hardware that digitizes that signal before it's written to storage as a file. You can use hundreds of dollars worth of software, or whatever's built into Windows, & the hardware & environmental influences will be the same, the results pretty much the same.

   The 2nd most important thing to mention is you need to get a good set of monitoring headphones &/or speakers if you intend to record anything & want to do it at least somewhat accurately. Headphones are of course the cheaper route, since with speakers you not only have to get a good reference set, but worry about how the room where you're doing your listening is effecting, coloring the sound. A room's sound deadening & overall acoustics are what separates the average basement or garage from a studio. What you have to look for or worry about is most headphones & speakers color the sound to make it, well, sound better. If you don't know there's a problem because your headphones cover it up, you can't fix it. If you think the bass is a bit heavy & tone it down, you might find out later all that bass was from your headphones & now your recording sounds like chipmunks. Luckily with headphones you can do some research & find some that are moderately priced yet still pretty accurate -- OTOH the words Pro, Reference, or Monitoring headphones have come to mean nothing.

   Posted 11 years ago #
3. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   It occurred to me that I should add why the noise a PC/laptop adds to a recording matters.

   Besides the obvious everyone wants a clean recording, it's very common to have to boost the recording level unless you've spent a bit extra on your recording hardware -- Windows even has a mic boost built in. Boost the volume & you boost the noise too, so what was easy to ignore may not be all of a sudden. When they discover that many [most?] people interested in recording decide to up their game with better hardware.

   Picking on WR, both because I don't think he'll mind, & because *maybe* using him as an example is at least barely plausible... Say one day he decides to try podcasting his reviews -- after all speaking is easier than typing. And or maybe his wife being a teacher wants to put some lectures or instruction on line for her students.

   Going the conventional route the 1st step most people think about [at least after they try recording with their PC's on-board sound chip] is buying a soundcard. Good ones start about $100, many soundcards are 5 year old [or older] designs, driver issues are Very common, & the market's become a bit specialized -- there are gaming cards, headphone listening cards, & audio recording cards, but the old days of having one card do respectably well at all 3 are gone.

   Many people then decide to go for a USB box instead, which makes sense, but when you're asked to pay over $100 [sometimes a Lot more], you're not told that while that box may not make for noisy recordings, the USB circuits in your PC/laptop will handle that end of things just fine. The end result may just be something else to stick on your desk.

   Then there's the issue of a mic... a decent enough dynamic mic designed for on stage performing & stuff like Karaoke might only set you back $30-$40, but wait until you buy a stand & set it on your desk -- pick a pen up off the desk & you'll hear it in your recording. So you spend more on a mount &/or a boom stand, & decide after all this work & money you can justify a good condenser mic, many of which Start around $200-$300. Now you've got a decent setup, though you still have to put up with or try to filter out a bit of noise.

   An alternative approach might be a portable recording device, many of which are completely hand-held. Depending on the make/model, you might even get change back for $100 bill. Many come with built-in condenser mics so you record in stereo, & they have USB connections so you can transfer the audio files you've already recorded while sitting back in a quiet part of your home. Many take external mics too if you'd rather, and can do double or triple duty too, e.g. recording the kids at that party or recital while you shoot the event with your camera or camcorder [that'd likely make a nice soundtrack for that slideshow of your child's birthday party].

   At any rate, just something to consider maybe if you're thinking about recording with your PC.

   Posted 11 years ago #
4. 

   Whiterabbit-uk
   Games Guru

   Thanks for the info Mikiem, as always your input is much appreciated.

   Posted 11 years ago #

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