streamWriter
streamWriter is a free Windows application designed for recording music broadcasted by various internet radio stations. It allows users to capture their favorite online radio streams and save them to the computer for offline listening. Developed by Alexander Nottelmann
About streamWriter
streamWriter is a powerful and free application specifically designed for Windows users who want to record music from the vast world of internet radio.
Unlike simple audio recorders, streamWriter focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by online radio broadcasting. Here's a breakdown of its key capabilities:
- Stream Recording: The core function is to record audio streams directly from internet radio stations. This allows you to capture your favorite music, talk shows, or any other audio content being broadcast.
- Concurrent Recording: streamWriter is capable of recording multiple streams simultaneously, making it efficient for users who want to record from several stations at once or capture different parts of the same broadcast.
- Automatic Title Detection: A standout feature is its ability to automatically detect song titles and artists from the stream metadata. This information is often embedded in the stream itself, and streamWriter uses it to organize your recordings.
- Automatic Splitting: Leveraging the automatic title detection, streamWriter can automatically split recordings into individual tracks based on song changes. This saves you time and effort in manually editing long recordings.
- Wishlist Functionality: Users can create a 'wishlist' of songs or artists they want to record. streamWriter will then monitor the configured radio stations and automatically start recording when a match is found.
- Scheduling: The application includes scheduling features, allowing you to set up recordings for specific times or recurring broadcasts, ensuring you don't miss your favorite shows or songs.
- Silence Detection: To avoid recording dead air or commercials, streamWriter can detect periods of silence in the stream and automatically pause or stop the recording.
- File Naming Convention: You can customize the file naming convention for your recordings, incorporating elements like artist, title, album, and station name for better organization.
- ID3 Tagging: streamWriter supports writing ID3 tags to your recorded music files, ensuring that important information like artist, title, and album are embedded within the audio file itself for compatibility with music players and libraries.
- Portable Option: A portable version is available, allowing you to run the application directly from a USB drive or other removable media without requiring installation.
streamWriter provides a robust and free solution for capturing and organizing music from internet radio, making it a valuable tool for anyone who enjoys listening to and collecting music broadcast online.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free to use with no limitations.
- Automatic song splitting and ID3 tagging saves significant time.
- Wishlist and scheduling features enable passive recording.
- Can record multiple streams simultaneously.
- Portable version available.
Cons
- Relies on stream metadata for automatic features, which can be inconsistent.
- User interface is functional but not modern or highly intuitive for beginners.
- Exclusively for Windows.
What Makes streamWriter Stand Out
Free and Dedicated Internet Radio Recorder
Offers a comprehensive and free solution specifically tailored for recording internet radio streams.
Automatic Song Splitting and Tagging
Automatically segments recordings by song and adds relevant metadata, saving users significant post-processing time.
Wishlist and Scheduling Features
Allows users to passively record desired music or scheduled broadcasts without constant monitoring.
What can streamWriter do?
Review
streamWriter Software Review
streamWriter is a dedicated and free application for Windows designed to simplify the process of recording audio streams from internet radio stations. In an era where digital streaming is prevalent, but offline access or collection is desired, streamWriter provides a valuable tool for capturing broadcast content.
The primary function of streamWriter is straightforward: connect to an internet radio station and record the audio. However, the application distinguishes itself with a set of features that elevate it beyond basic recording software, particularly its intelligence in handling music streams.
A significant strength of streamWriter lies in its ability to automatically detect song titles and artists from the metadata embedded within many internet radio streams. This feature is crucial because it enables the application to perform automatic splitting of recordings. Instead of ending up with one long audio file from a recording session, streamWriter can intelligently identify where one song ends and another begins and save them as individual tracks. This automation is a major time-saver for users who want to build a music library from radio broadcasts.
Further enhancing this capability is the automatic ID3 tagging. When streamWriter splits a recording based on song changes, it also writes the detected artist and title information into the ID3 tags of the resulting audio file. This means the recorded files are immediately organized and contain relevant metadata compatible with most music players and library management software.
The application also includes a useful wishlist feature. Users can specify particular song titles or artists they are interested in. streamWriter can then monitor configured radio stations and automatically begin recording when a matching track is detected. This is a convenient way to passively collect desired music without needing to constantly tune in and manually start recordings.
Scheduling is another practical addition. Users can set up recordings for specific times or recurring broadcasts, ensuring they don't miss their favorite radio shows or scheduled music programs. This feature adds a layer of automation and convenience for consistent radio listeners.
streamWriter supports simultaneous recording of multiple streams, which is beneficial for users who listen to or want to record from several stations concurrently. The interface, while functional, is not overly polished but remains navigable and presents the necessary information clearly. It provides options for managing added radio stations, monitoring active recordings, and accessing the wishlist and scheduling features.
The application also includes features like silence detection, which can help prevent recording periods of dead air or commercials, and customizable file naming conventions for better organization of recorded files.
One point to consider is that the accuracy of automatic title detection and splitting heavily relies on the quality and consistency of the metadata provided by the internet radio station itself. While it works well with many stations, some may not provide reliable metadata, which can impact the effectiveness of these automatic features.
Overall, streamWriter is a robust and effective tool for its intended purpose. Its focus on automating the process of recording, splitting, and tagging music from internet radio makes it stand out. It is free, portable, and offers a powerful set of features for anyone looking to capture audio content from online broadcasts.
Similar Software
aTube Catcher is one of a growing number of tools that download videos from the likes of YouTube, Dailymotion and Metacafe.
Jaksta is a video, music and radio downloader and recorder.
Replay Media Catcher is a convenient online video downloader in the world. And it supports audio/MP3 download or recording too.
SIMKL Radio is an online radio platform that helps you discover some free online radio channels.
Screenshots
Help others by voting if you like this software.
Compare with Similar Apps
Select any similar app below to compare it with streamWriter side by side.
