Freecorder Guide

Overview
Configuring Freecorder
Making a Recording
Recording Skype Calls
Pausing and Resuming Recordings
Viewing and Playing Recordings
Submitting Feedback
Troubleshooting

Overview

Freecorder does exactly as it sounds -- it is an easy-to-use free software program that lets you record any sound you can hear on your PC. Recordings are saved as MP3 files on your PC. Freecorder is a great way to get started with capturing audio on your PC.

NEW: With Freecorder version 2.3, you can now record Skype or other VOIP calls that use a PC-based client.

As a fully functional basic recording tool, Freecorder is 100% free. As a free program, we encourage you to discover our other advanced recording tools for Music, Radio and Video: Replay Music , Replay Radio and WM Recorder. The free version shows ads for these programs, and it also limits you to 64 Kbps quality (FM quality) and 30 minutes per recording.

You can also pay for an upgrade to Freecorder, and get the following benefits:

• No ads.
• Higher quality recordings (to CD Quality 128 Kbps).
• No 30 minute limit on recording time.
• No 2 minute limit recording Skype or VOIP phone calls.
• Eliminate silence from your recordings.

Click here to obtain the upgrade.

If you're into recording Radio, Music or Streaming Video, check out these advanced recording tools:

Replay Radio - Records Internet Radio shows, and listen whenever you like. Replay Radio lets you schedule radio shows to record by picking from a list of over 500 shows and 700 stations, and automatically tunes to the station and records it for you as an MP3 file or audio CD. It's a great way to listen to your favorite shows whenever you like. Click here to learn more.

Replay Music - This is "The Ultimate Streaming Music Recorder". Replay Music records songs, splits them into individual tracks, and automatically tags them with the artist and song title. It's a great way to capture music from subscription services or high-quality online radio stations. Click here to learn more.

WM Recorder - Did you know that you can record Streaming Video from the Web? WM Recorder makes it easy to capture video from almost any streaming source. Click here to learn more.

Configuring Freecorder

When you first open Freecorder, the Settings screen appears. You can also access this by clicking the Settings button from the main screen.

Here's what the settings do:

Folder for Recorded Files: This lets you choose where your MP3 files are saved.

Prompt for File Name: When you record, you can either be asked for the name of the file before or after the recording session.

Or, select Auto Time Stamp with Prefix, and your files will be named automatically without prompts (available in the Paid version only). For example, if the prefix is "test", a saved file from October 4, 2004, at 2:01:42 PM will be named "test 2004-10-04 14-01-42.mp3".

Output Quality: Choose between 64 Kbps (FM quality) and 128 Kbps (CD quality). Note: 128 Kbps is only available when you upgrade Freecorder.

Eliminate Silence: Select this option to eliminate periods of silence in your recordings. Note: This option is only available when you upgrade Freecorder.

Sound Card: This lists your sound card devices, and lets you choose which one to use to record.

Line: Every sound card has a set of lines you can record from. To record what you hear over your speakers, you will usually see one of the following: Stereo Mix, Stereo Out, Wave Out Mix, What U Hear, Wave, Mix-Record or All. You will usually see a selection for Microphone or Line In -- use these settings to record sound piped into the microphone or line-in jacks on your PC respectively.

Optimize Mixer Volume for Recording: Selecting this automatically sets up the audio input levels on your PC for good recording quality. These levels are set when you open Freecorder, or when you alter any settings in Freecorder.

Also Record Microphone: If you need to record from the Mic and another source at the same time, check this option. This is especially handy for recording Skype phone calls. (This feature is new with Version 2.3.)

Setup Window Sound Mixer: Click this button to open the Sounds and Audio configuration screen on your PC. From here, you can manually set the recording levels and fine tune how your audio sounds.

Making a Recording

To start a recording, click the Record button. The Record Button turns into a Stop button as shown:

In addition, the blue bar below the status message shows audio activity, so you can be sure that recording is really taking place.

To stop recording, click the Stop button.

Depending upon how you have configured Freecorder, you will be asked for a filename for your recording either before or after the recording session, as shown here:

The file is saved in the folder you specified (in Freecorder's Settings).

Recording Skype Calls

With Freecorder version 2.3, you can now record Skype phone calls (or calls from other PC based VOIP clients.) Here's how to set it up:

1. Make sure you can record audio with Freecorder already.
2. Click Settings.
3. Make sure Also Record Microphone is checked.
4. Click OK.

Note: In unpaid mode, you get a maximum of 2 minutes to record phone calls. In paid mode, your time limit is unlimited.

Pausing and Resuming Recordings

Freecorder 2.1 allows you to pause and resume a recording. For example, if you're recording from online radio, and a commercial comes on, you can pause recording, and then resume when the ads are done.

To pause a recording:

• Click the Pause button. The Pause button turns into the Resume button.

To resume a paused recording:

• Click the Resume button.

Viewing and Playing Recordings

o see your recorded files or listen to then, click the View button. A list of all the MP3 files in your recordings folder appears:

Double click any file to listen to it.

Submitting Feedback

If you have questions about recording audio, or have idea for more advanced features for Freecorder, click the Feedback button. This is your way to talk to us and ask questions.

You can also contact us from here.

Troubleshooting

If you're having trouble recording, try the different options available for Line, under Settings. Different sound cards have different options available, so sometimes you need to experiment.

For problems with distortion, you may need to manually change the volume for the recording line you're using. Here's how:

1. Open Freecorder, and click Settings. Make sure Optimize Mixer Volume for Recording is unchecked.
2. Next, click Setup Windows Sound Mixer. The Windows Sound Mixer appears.
3. Click the Audio Tab. The Sound Mixer appears as shown:
   
   
   
   
4. Under Sound Recording, click the Volume Button. (Make sure this is not the Volume button under Sound playback.) The Recording window appears:
   
   
   
   
5. Try lowering the volume for the recording line you are using.

Note: If you don't see Stereo Mix, Wave Out Mix, What U Hear, or other likely options, select Options, Properties from the menu. A complete list of recording devices appears as so:

Make sure all available devices are checked, and then you'll be able to select the proper one.

You may need to experiment with some sound cards to get the best volume level.

You can also contact Customer Support here.