[NTLUG:Discuss] Tivo like audio recorder?

[kbrannen@gte.net]

Jack Snodgrass wrote:
> Anyone looked at using linux for a TiVo like audio
> recorder?

I've had visions of this...  I take sound recordings (speeches or class 
lectures), edit, improve the quality, etc., then create MP3, RM, and WAV (cd 
audio) outputs.  I've always had to reboot into Win98 to do this because 
that's where the powerful tools are.  Grrrr.

> 
> I have a radio connected to my Linux box. I'd like to be able to
> 1). record to a .wav or .mp3 file.
> 2). listen/pause/rewind/fastforward/etc a .wav or .mp3 file
>     Maybe #1 above as it's being recorded or one that was
>     recorded earlier.
> 3). cut/save portions of what I've recorded to a smaller file.
> 
> I know that I can record a .wav and I can convert a .wav to
> an mp3 file.  I can find audio players ( but haven't found
> anything that can let me ( easily ) rewind, fastforward, etc) .

You can record to WAV with wavrec.  And playback with wavplay, but you're 
right, this doesn't really have any controls.

This may not be satisfying from a purist point of view, but you can also use 
the Real player for that, e.g. "realplay whatever.wav" (and MP3 too), and its 
interface does have a bar to show where you are in the WAV file, and if you 
move the slider you'll jump to that point (just like xmms).  Or are you not 
wanting a GUI?  (which I don't think would be possible)

> 
> I did manage to go from .wav to .mp3 on the fly and listed
> to the .mp3 file with xmms, but xmms didn't handle a 'expanding'
> .mp3 file very well. It never knew how long the file was since
> it kept expanding so it kept getting confused.

Yeh, I'm not suprised.  It probably wasn't built for streaming. :-)  I've 
never done it, but you might be try "realplay" for that too, it might be able 
to cope.

I'm definitely NOT a fan of the Real company, however their player is fairly 
versatile.  OTOH, I did just try to feed it an MIDI file an it choked, :-) so 
it's not as versatile as xmms as far as formats go.

> 
> Anyone know of something that does #1, #2, and #3 and is
> already packaged and ready to go... or am I goind to have
> to piece togher different packages to get my 'TiVo like'
> audio recorder?

At this point in time, it looks like you'll have to piece it together.  You 
might check at http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/planetccrma/software/ to see if 
they have something close.  I have yet to go thru their entire collection of 
audio programs to see what's there, but it's one of the best collections that 
I know of.

If you find a good solution, please let us know.  One of my first computer 
purchases after I find a job will be a TV/Radio tuner card; so I'm curious as 
to how your and Madhat's projects go.

HTH,
Kevin