Version:

1.2.7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions asked about this software:

1. Who is the author of the software available for downloads on this web site?
2. What is the experience of the authors of the software?
3. Why is Simple Radio Recorder offered for free for the first 30 days?
4. I was not able to register within the first 30 days of free registration. Can you waive registration fee for me?
5. Is this software compatible with Microsoft Windows 10?
6. When I record sound using Simple Radio Recorder I hear noise (and/or recording is not clear). How can I fix that?
7. I like this software but how can I make it simpler to set up recording schedule?
8. How do I set SRR to record the same show every day automatically?
9. I am recording an online radio broadcast and I need SRR to halt recording for several seconds. How can I do that?
10. I would like to run more than one program (open more than one document and/or web page) when recording starts (and/or ends). How can I do that?
11. Can I save a schedule I'm using for later?
12. How do you set up to record from speakers (i.e. Stereo Mix) under Windows Vista or Windows 7?
13. When I run Simple Radio Recorder I get an error message that says, "There are no recording sound devices found on this system"?

 

Answers

1. Who is the author of the software available for downloads on this web site?

   Every software product available for downloading on this website was designed and coded by a trusted team of developers lead by Dennis A. Babkin. For authenticity and to provide better trust for our users we code-sign our executable files with Dennis' personal digital certificate.

   To check authenticity of any of our executable file, right-click it (.exe, .msi or .dll files only) and go to its Properties. Then switch to Digital Signatures, and make sure that the signer (or publisher) on the certificate is Dennis A. Babkin. Then highlight it, click "Details" and make sure that "Digital Signature Information" is shown as "This digital signature is OK."

   

   This is how you can make sure that the software is genuine, that it was not tampered with and that it came unaltered from our developers. We always stand by all of our signed files.

   In case an executable file that "claims" to have been downloaded from our site does not pass any of the steps of the digital signature verification outlined above, DO NOT run that file and notify us about it!

2. What is the experience of the authors of the software?

   Our software developers have a wide range of skills including: C, C++, MFC, Objective-C/Cocoa/Cocoa Touch, C#, ASP.NET, HTML/DHTML, JavaScript, VBScript, PHP, SQL/MySQL, ActionScript, x86 Assembly, and much more. Also design and graphics skills with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Word, and more.

3. Why is Simple Radio Recorder offered for free for the first 30 days?

   I'm not going to lie, it took some time & effort to make this software. At this point, we would like to collect some information from its users and also learn how we can improve it. That is why we're trading the information you provide during registration in exchange for a free license. (Having said that, we promise that the information you provide during registration will not be used for any marketing purposes or to send you spam! The information we collect is used only for our internal metrics.) So before we change our mind, take us up on it and register your copy. Because if you don't do it within the first 30 days, your free license will expire.

4. I was not able to register within the first 30 days of free registration. Can you waive registration fee for me?

   Sorry, we cannot waive the registration fee if you missed the free registration period, or if you deauthorized your previous free registration. In that case consider donating to the work on this software by purchasing a paid license.

5. Is this software compatible with Microsoft Windows 10?

   Yes. Since version 1.2.6 the Simple Radio Recorder is compatible with Windows 10.

6. When I record sound using Simple Radio Recorder I hear noise (and/or recording is not clear). How can I fix that?

   Most certainly you did not set up the program right before you started using it. Simple Radio Recorder (SRR) should configure itself for the basic recording needs, but sometimes manual interaction is required. Here's what you can try to do to fix it:

   1. Go to Options, then Sound Input tab. The Source section is where you need to apply changes:
   • Make sure that the Rec Volume is set to the "good" recording volume and that stereo Balance slider is set to the middle. INFO: We know that many people complained that recording volume control does not have an equalizer in version 1.2.1. We will try to include it in the next release of this software. Until that here's how to configure the recording volume level:
     • Close Options window.
     • If SRR is minimized to the system tray, right click its icon and select Play Input. (In case you see the Main Window, click Play button in the Now Playing section.) This should play the current sound input. (Make sure that speakers are connected to the computer and are on.)
     • Set appropriate playback volume in the Main window, Now Playing section. (If SRR is minimized to the system tray, you will need to select Restore Window). Set playback volume slider to approximately 1/8-th of the slider width. (It's OK at this point if the sound you hear is not of a "normal" volume and/or quality.)
     • Go back to the Options window and switch to the Sound Input tab. Adjust Rec Volume slider according to the quality of the sound that you hear. INFO: You will not be able to hear the result of your adjustment until you click OK in the Options window.
     • Repeat this operation until the quality of sound becomes satisfactory. INFO: Try to avoid jarring noise in the sound by lowering the recording volume.
   • Some sound cards allow sound input through several lines. Try changing sound input lines in the list above of the recording volume section.
   2. Once you adjusted the recording volume level and made sure that the sound input quality is satisfactory (by playing the current sound input in the SRR), try recording a test file. If the quality is still not good enough try changing sound input and recording quality. For that:
      • Go to Options, then switch to Sound Input tab. You'll need to adjust controls in the Quality section.
      • There are several preset selections in the drop-down list at the top of the Quality section. They are self explanatory and are designed to facilitate selection for a novice user. By specifying an item lower in the list, you increase the sound quality (and resulting file size in case of recording!) Make sure to select an appropriate quality for the kind of recording you use. For example, recording of an AM radio talk show does not need the CD Quality. INFO: Selection in the Quality section depends on the codec currently used by the SRR (that is specified in the Code tab.)
      • Switch to the Schedule tab and make sure that the same sound quality is specified in the Default Quality section. (This selection will determine a default recording sound quality that will be used for controls when you attempt to set a new recording schedule.)
   3. If after all the adjustments listed above the quality of the recording is still not good enough, the following could be the reasons:
      • The codec currently used by SRR is of a lower grade and does not support required recording quality. To see the current codec used by SRR go to Options and switch to Codec section. INFO: By default SRR will be using a system default mp3 codec. We recommend checking "Use default codec" option is default system codec does not produce a satisfactory quality of recording.
      • The system may be low on memory, or hardware does not support selected rate of recording. INFO: Although many computers that were purchased in the recent years should not have a problem recording sound with SRR, some older models may experience problems. For Windows NT/2000/XP users: To see if your system supports rate of recording selected in the SRR, start a manual (or scheduled) recording, then switch to the Task Manager (by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del keyboard sequence), then go to Processes tab and highlight the line in the list with SRR.EXE. Check the value in the CPU column. It shows percentage of CPU time used to process operation of the SRR. The lower this value the better. If it maxes over 60-70, you have an older system (it may be also caused by a "bad" codec). Later recording may lead to decrease in quality, loss of recording segments and software errors. In this case we'd strongly recommend lowering the recording quality.

7. I like this software but how can I make it simpler to set up recording schedule?

   Yes, for the first time when you open up the SRR scheduler it looks quite daunting, but indeed most of its fields should be already preset for you. In reality all you will need to set up is the time for recording to start, hit Next, set the time for recording to stop and click Set. That's it. Then minimize SRR and it's done! In case some default values, that the scheduler is initially filled out with, do not satisfy your needs, you can adjust them in the Options window. (Refer to the program manual for more info.)

   In case you want to simplify the setting of the schedule even more, here are couple of ways:

   1. Save schedule in the SRRD-format file. Here's how:
      • Open the SRR scheduler by clicking "Set Schedule" from the Main window, or by selecting Set Schedule if run from the system tray.
      • Thoroughly set the schedule that you'd like to repeat later. IMPORTANT: To make this schedule repeatable DO NOT specify date for recording! IMPORTANT: To make sure that you do not record into the same file every time you activate this saved schedule, use special meta characters in the File Name (and/or Title) field. For more info on meta characters click ? button to the right of the Title field. Example: If you record your radio show every day, you may want to give your recording this title (the File Name field should be updated automatically): My Radio Recording #DATE
      • Click Next and set the rest of the schedule.
      • When done, but before pressing Set button, go to More, then Save As. This will open the saving dialog. Select an easy location for the save and give it a descriptive name. Make sure to select "Simple Radio Recorder files" in the Save As Type field. Then click Save.
      • When back to the scheduler you may start the schedule by pressing Set button, or simply cancel out of it.
      • Next time you'd want to set the same schedule simply double-click the .srrd file that you created above, or open up the SRR scheduler, go to More, then Open From File. Select the .srrd file that you created in the steps above and click Open. This should fill out the controls in the scheduler for you. Now all you have left to do is to click Next and then Set.
   2. Save schedule in the DOS command line batch file. Here's how:
      • Open the SRR scheduler and set your schedule as described in the method (1) above.
      • When done setting the schedule (on both pages of the scheduler), go to More, then Save As. This will open the saving dialog. Select an easy location for the save and give it a descriptive name. Make sure to select "Command Batch files" in the Save As Type field. Then click Save.
      • When back to the scheduler you may start the schedule by pressing Set button, or simply cancel out of it.
      • The steps above will create a DOS command line batch file that could be used to start SRR with the saved schedule already enabled. To do that simply double-click created batch file. IMPORTANT: To prevent confusion, it is NOT recommended to start more than one recording at the same time!

8. How do I set SRR to record the same show every day automatically?

   Since version 1.2.6 Simple Radio Recorder supports repeated schedules. (Check software manual for details by going to Help -> Manual.)

   Alternatively, you can use any outside scripting language and the SRR command line parameters for that. Here's how:

   1. Set recording schedule for one recording and save it in the DOS command line batch file as described in Q.7, method (2). The IMPORTANT thing is not to specify the date for beginning and ending of a recording.
   2. Find the batch file you created in step (1) above. Right-click it and select Edit. It should open in the Notepad. If present, make sure to remove the ID="<N>" part of the command line, where <N> stands for a number. (You may also want to edit the automatically generated command line. Check Command Line Help available from the program's Manual for more info.) In the Notepad go to File, then Save. Close Notepad.
   3. Close SRR instance.
   4. Double-click the batch file created in step (1) above. It should set the schedule. In case the Main window is visible, click Edit. In case SRR is minimized to the system tray, right-click its icon and select Edit Schedule.
   5. Click Next to switch to the Ending Event page of the scheduler. Put a check next to "Run the following file/program/web page", and specify the batch file created in step (1). For that you may want to click the "..." button on the right and select the batch file from the Open File dialog.
   6. Click More, then Save As. This will open the saving dialog. Make sure to select "Command Batch files" in the Save As Type field. Find the batch file you created in step (1) and select it. Then click Save. When asked if you'd like to replace an already existing file, answer Yes.
   7. Then close the scheduler by clicking Cancel, and stop the schedule by pressing Stop button, or Stop Schedule, if run from the system tray.

   The steps above will create a DOS command line file that will cycle SRR to record with the same schedule every day. To activate this process now simply double-click the batch file created in the step (1) above.

   In case you want to have this schedule active every time the current user logs in do the following:

   • Locate the batch file that you created in the steps (1-7) above and drag its icon first into the Windows Start button, then into All Programs, then into Startup folder and then when it opens up, drop it there. IMPORTANT: Do no release left mouse button while dragging the file link through Start button pop-up menus!
   • Reboot your system and log in under the same user name to make sure that the SRR is activated and the schedule is set.

   To remove SRR from activating every time the user logs in do the following:

   • Go to Start -> All Programs -> Startup and locate the file link to SRR schedule (it will be called, "Shortcut to <NAME YOU GAVE TO BATCH FILE>") and right-click it, then select Delete and confirm deletion. After you reboot your system the auto scheduling with SRR should be stopped.

9. I am recording an online radio broadcast and I need SRR to halt recording for several seconds. How can I do that?

   You will have to use the following technique to implement that:

   1. Set up a schedule for recording as follows:
      • In the Starting Event window of the scheduler specify recording to begin immediately (you can do this by checking "After specified time period (from now)" and setting Hours, Min and Sec values to zeros). Also make sure that "Begin Recording" is checked and recording parameters are set correctly.
      • Click Next and specify duration of the recording.
      • DO NOT click SET button. Go to More, then Save As and save the contents of the scheduler as a DOS command line batch file (see above.)
      • Click Cancel.
   2. Set up another schedule by clicking Set, or Set Schedule if run from the system tray:
      • In the Starting Event window of the scheduler specify the time when you want to connect to the web page (and/or online broadcast to begin.)
      • Uncheck "Begin Recording".
      • Provide a web site link that you'd like to connect to in the "Run the following file/program/web page" section. (INFO: Make sure to provide a full web site URL. Example: https://www.pandora.com)
      • Click Next and specify duration of the pause that you'd like to halt recording for. You can do this by checking "After specified time period (from wake-up moment)", and providing Hours, Min and Sec values to wait.
      • In the "Run the following file/program/web page" section of the page click the "..." button (the one above) and provide a path to the DOS command line batch file created in step (1) above;
      • Now you can either enable this new schedule by clicking Set, or you can save it for later use (see Q. 7 for more info.)

10. I would like to run more than one program (open more than one document and/or web page) when recording starts (and/or ends). How can I do that?

    By using a batch file you can implement that. Here's how:

    1. Open up a Notepad and place your programs/documents/web pages using the following rule:
       • In case of a document (such as text/MS Word/Excel, etc. document, picture, music and video file):
         • Locate your document file in the Windows Explorer.
         • Right-click it and select Properties.
         • In the Properties window right-click Location field value, then Select All, then right-click it again and select Copy.
         • Begin a new line (in the Notepad) with a double quotation mark (i.e. ".)
         • Then go to Edit and select Paste. A path for your document should be pasted after a double-quotation mark.
         • Put in a single slash (i.e., "\") after it, and type in (or better copy and paste) the name of a document.
         • Make sure to end your document file name with a period and a file extension. (INFO: File extension is typically a one-, two-, or three- letter acronym. You can get it from the Properties window if you hit Change button. The file extension will be indicated in the File field of the Open With window.)
         • Put a double quotation mark after file extension and hit Enter to put a new-line.
         • If you want to add more programs/documents/web pages you can add them on the next line.
           Example of opening a Word document:
           "C:/Users/UserName/Documents/Calendar.doc"
       • In case of a program (the one which file extension is .EXE):
         • There two ways you can run a program:
           • Synchronously, i.e. other programs down the list will not be executed until this program's execution is completed:
             • Use the following syntax:
               <PROGRAM_NAME> <PROGRAM_PARAMETERS>
               where:
               - <PROGRAM_NAME> stands for file name of a program. (IMPORTANT: In case your program file is located outside of the system folders, you will have to provide its path in the DOS 8.3 format, i.e. without using spaces. Refer to the third-party software on conversion to such format.)
               - <PROGRAM_PARAMETERS> - are command parameters for a program (may be omitted.)
             • Hit Enter to put a new-line. Then you can add another program/document/web page.
           • Asynchronously, i.e. other programs will start execution right after this one is started (but not necessarily finished):
           • Use the following syntax:
             START <PROGRAM_NAME> "<PROGRAM_PARAMETERS>"
             where:
             - <PROGRAM_NAME> stands for file name of a program. (IMPORTANT: In case your program file is located outside of the system folders, you will have to provide its path in the DOS 8.3 format, i.e. without using spaces. Refer to the third-party software on conversion to such format.)
             - "<PROGRAM_PARAMETERS>" - are command parameters for a program inside double-quotation marks (may be omitted.)
           • Hit Enter to put a new-line. Then you can add another program/document/web page.
           Examples of running a Windows Calculator asynchronously (second line is example of starting Windows Messenger in 8.3 format):
           start calc
           start C:\PROGRA~1\MESSEN~1\msmsgs /background
       • In case of a web page (when you precede it's name with http:, https:, etc.):
         • Use the following syntax:
           start IEXPLORE "<WEB_PAGE_URL>"
           where:
           - "<WEB_PAGE_URL>" stands for the URL of your web page. Make sure to enclose it in the double-quotation marks.
         • Hit Enter to put a new-line. Then you can add another program/document/web page.
           Example of opening a Google Mail web page:
           start iexplore "http://gmail.com"
    2. When done (in Notepad) go to File, then Save As and select an easy location to save this batch file in. Then type the following in the "File name" field:
       BATCH_FILE_NAME.bat
       where BATCH_FILE_NAME could be any meaningful name you want to call this batch file. Click Save.
    3. Now you may close Notepad.
    4. Back in the SRR scheduler, depending on whether you'd like to run all these programs when recording begins, or ends, check "Run the following file/program/web page" at the appropriate scheduler page.
    5. Specify the path for the batch file created above. An easy way would be to click "..." button on the right and select it using the Open window.
    6. Done! You may want to see if you programmed everything right by going to More -> Try running File/Program/Web page.

    INFO: This method does not support the use of the "Wait for the program to initialize" option in SRR scheduler.

11. Can I save a schedule I'm using for later?

    Yes. When setting a schedule go to File -> Save As to do that. You can later open it from the File menu, or by hitting Ctrl+O on the keyboard. For additional details please refer to Q. 7 above.

12. How do you set up to record from speakers (i.e. Stereo Mix) under Windows Vista or Windows 7?

    The Stereo Mix (or Wave Out) recording source is not supported by every Windows Vista or Windows 7 system and those that do support it may not have it available by default. To check if yours is available follow these steps:

    1. Click on the Start button and then go to Control Panel.
    2. In the "View by" drop-down box select "Large Icons."
    3. Click on "Sound" icon and switch to the Recording tab:

       

    4. Right-click somewhere in the free space in the list and check "Show disabled devices."
    5. At this point you should see Stereo Mix icon. If you do, right-click it and select Enable.
    6. If you do not see Stereo Mix or Wave Out icon it is probably not supported by your system. In that case make sure to download a firmware/driver update for your sound card from the web site of its manufacturer. (Check this list of vendors from Microsoft.)

13. When I run Simple Radio Recorder I get an error message that says, "There are no recording sound devices found on this system"?

    If the program was run under Windows Vista or Windows 7, this message may be displayed in one of the following situations:

    • When there are no recording devices enabled/plugged in the system. To remedy do one of the following:
      • Plug in the outside device into one of the recording lines in the sound card (example: Line-in, or Mic), or
      • Enable device in the Sound Recording mixer window. (Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Sound -> Recording, then right-click on the sound device and click Enable.)
      • To enable the Stereo Mix or Wave Out virtual device to record off the speakers output check the FAQ #12.
    • When there's no sound card installed in the system. To remedy install a sound card.

 

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