The most POPULAR stream recording software (free download):

• REPLAY MEDIA CATCHER
  the best audio/video stream ripper. Supports the most popular flash video format (RTMP and HTTP).
• REPLAY CAPTURE SUITE
  the best audio/video stream recording/capturing bundle
• REPLAY MUSIC
  the best streaming music recorder
• WM RECORDER
  the best Windows Media, Real Audio/Video stream capture software

Other RECOMMENDED software and services:

• REPLAY MEDIA GUIDE
  free service to find and record online radio, Internet TV, podcasts
• AVS VIDEO TOOLS
  convert, split, join, remove commercials, edit, rotate, apply effects, capture, transfer, copy, rip and burn DVD and video files
• EMUSIC
  the best legal music download service
• AUDIBLE
  download audio books, audio magazines, newspapers, radio programs
• SOUNDTAXI
  remove DRM protection from Windows Media, iTunes music and video files

Specifying your connection speed is very important, whether you have a broadband or a dial-up connection. The quality of the receiving stream depends on the connection speed you specify.

Some streaming media recorders use connection speed from your player like Windows Media Player or RealOne Player, other stream recorders allow you to select connection speed whether for all the streams or for every single media stream (please contact us if you experience problems in changing the connection speed).

Say for example that your connection speed is 33.6k and you're downloading a video clip that has two bit rates (speeds) listed in its header (28.8 kbps and 232 kbps). Some players for example RealOne Player allows you to see these speeds (Clip info/Clip source for the RealPlayer).
If you specified your connection speed at 33.6k or even 128k, than the 22.8k version of the video will be downloaded. This version will have a lower video and audio quality than the 232k version, but it'll be downloaded faster. If you select 256k for your connection speed, the better quality 232k version will be downloaded but at a much lower rate.
Note that if you have a 33.6k connection, you won't be able to record/download any live stream at a speed of 232k or even 56k. As for the other streams (not live), they could be downloaded in many cases (no matter how much time it takes :).

Note that multiple bit rates are not always available on the same stream. If your connection speed is lower than the stream bit rate, you should probably search for another URL where a lower speed version of the stream is available.