The best streaming media recorders
All Streaming Video Recording Software - compare main features of streaming video recording software.
Replay Media Catcher 3 - highly recommended
Replay Media Catcher 3, released on August 15, 2008, can now download all the known protocols on Flash Servers, as well as Windows Media. Plus, it is able to make readable file names of the downloaded music or video, which is something other products don't do.
Replay Media Catcher can record the following streams:
- Windows Media audio and video streams (HTTP, MMS, RTSP);
- Real Audio and Real Video streams (HTTP, RTSP);
- QuickTime (HTTP);
- Flash Video (HTTP,RTMP,RTMPE/ .FLV);
- iTunes radio stations (Shoutcast MP3 http streams. NO song splitting and tagging).
Replay Media Catcher uses a series of plug-ins, each of which is able to record a specific media type. You can enable or disable each plug-in in the Settings menu. Plug-ins are also updated automatically. This means that Replay Media Catcher is always up to date, without having to reinstall. It's a great product. You can learn more about downloading video and audio with Replay Media Catcher here.
Some disadvantages of Replay Media Catcher:
- No integrated conversions. (Applian recommends you use Replay Converter instead.)
- No support for QuickTime over RTSP.
A free trial is available for download here.
WM Recorder 12.1 - also recommended
In my humble opinion WM Recorder (Shareware/Windows) is also a great choice .
WM Recorder can record the following streams:
- Windows Media audio and video streams (HTTP, MMS, RTSP);
- Real Audio and Real Video streams (HTTP, RTSP);
- QuickTime (HTTP);
- Flash Video (HTTP,RTMP / .FLV);
- iTunes radio stations (Shoutcast MP3 http streams. NO song splitting and tagging).
WM Recorder can schedule recordings of on-demand streams (not live streams) or record them instantaneously.
WM Recorder is very unique. In the ADA Real Time Recording mode WM Recorder can record more Windows Media and Real Media streams than any other software available on the market. Besides it can record password-protected streams, and it is very good at recording live streams.
Also WM Recorder allows you to record every streaming media mentioned above automatically (AUTO ON) without even hitting the record button.
Disadvantages of WM Recorder:
- Can't record RTSP QuickTime streams
- Can't record RTMPE streams used by some big media companies.
- Can't split and tag songs for recorded Shoutcast MP3 audio streams
- Is not the best software to record multiple streams from a web-page with many streaming links or from many web-pages
A free trial is available for download here.
Replay Capture Suite, Replay A/V
Another stream recording software I highly recommend is Replay A/V (Shareware/Windows). Replay A/V allows you to record almost any streaming audio and video instantaneously, or schedule recordings to happen automatically later. It can record the following stream types:
- iTunes radio stations (Shoutcast MP3 http streams. You can split and tag mp3 files automatically);
- Windows Media audio and video streams (HTTP, MMS, RTSP);
- Real Audio and Real Video streams (HTTP, RTSP);
- QuickTime (HTTP);
- Nullsoft video streams (AOL .NSV videos);
- Sirius and XM Online radio;
- Flash Video (HTTP / .FLV);
- Flash (HTTP / .SWF);
Replay A/V has an integrated Replay Media Guide that lets you pick Radio Shows, Radio Stations, TV Stations and Podcasts to record with a single click.
Plus you can upgrade to Replay Capture Suite or just buy Replay A/V as a part of it. Replay Capture Suite includes the following software:
- Replay A/V - audio/video stream recorder and ripper
- Replay Media Catcher - see above
- Replay Music - unique direct sound recording software that can record any sound produced by your sound card splitting and tagging songs automatically.
-
FreeCorder - VoIP and Skype call recorder.
- Replay ScreenCast - one click audio/video screen capturing software
Disadvantages of Replay Capture Suite
- WM Recorder can record more Windows Media streams than Replay A/V (like password-protected .WMV, .ASF, .WMA streams)
- FLV Recorder is not as reliable as Replay Media Catcher and it doesn't support flash audio streams, but it can record password-protected flash video .FLV streams
- Replay A/V and Replay Media Catcher are not the best software to record multiple streams from a web-page with many streaming links or from many web-pages
More stream recorders
Other stream recording software I prefer to use:
- NetXfer (NetTransport) to download multiple streams (usually more than 4) from a web-page or a few web-pages. In such cases I use the "Download all by NetXfer" feature integrated into my web browser or the "Site explorer". Usually it greatly simplifies a search of stream URL's as well as a process of adding multiple downloads.
- HiDownload or PP Recorder to record p2p Internet TV programs (unique feature of these programs)
- HiDownload and MovRecorder to record QuickTime streams through the RTSP protocol (unique feature of these programs)
- FLV Recorder to record password-protected rtmp:// and http:// Flash Video .FLV video streams (unique feature of the program)
- Pamela to record Skype phone calls, SkypeCasts, Skype Video calls and Chats
- StreamRipper to rip Shoutcast/Icecast .MP3, .AAC and .OGG streams with automatic song splitting and tagging, Nullsoft .NSV Streaming Video (these streams are sometimes called iTunes radio stations and Winamp TV)
- Offline Explorer Pro to download complete web-sites or directories that include audio/video streams
- At Large Recorder to record streaming video from SlingBox
Sometimes I also use VLC, MPlayer.
The only reason for me to use multiple stream recorders is that none of them can record all stream formats and support streaming protocols. Before selecting a stream recording software you should think about stream formats and protocols you need to record. After that you can analyze our recommendations in the Streaming video recorder comparison chart and Streaming audio recorder comparison chart .
To read more comments about stream recorders, leave your opinions about them, request help choosing a stream recorder or recording a particular stream, please visit streaming video recording forum and streaming audio recording forum.
Stream recording software mentioned in the article:
|
