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  #1  
Old 10-25-2009, 12:49 AM
dos-man
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Posts: n/a
Default Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

I'm jumping through a lot hoops here to record music off of FM radio.

* I've got my radio connected to my DVD recorder to record several
hours of music. Then I have to take the DVD-RW to my computer and I'm
using dreamlinux to create/edit MP3s of the individual songs. Finally,
I jump into windows to create MP3s.

* And then I have another DVD recorder (that I just bought at big lots
for $30) getting stuff off the satellite radio stations. Repeat
procedure as above.

* I also have a sandisk sansa express which records into wave files
for 2 hours at a clip. Then I have to retrieve the wave files from
linux due to a lack of drivers for windows.

I can't help but think that a simple FM radio on USB would make this a
lot easier. I could record entire days on a given station instead of
these 2 hour intervals. You'd be surpised how many commercials there
are in 2 hours, about 45 minutes worth
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  #2  
Old 10-25-2009, 01:17 AM
Paul
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Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

dos-man wrote:
> I'm jumping through a lot hoops here to record music off of FM radio.
>
> * I've got my radio connected to my DVD recorder to record several
> hours of music. Then I have to take the DVD-RW to my computer and I'm
> using dreamlinux to create/edit MP3s of the individual songs. Finally,
> I jump into windows to create MP3s.
>
> * And then I have another DVD recorder (that I just bought at big lots
> for $30) getting stuff off the satellite radio stations. Repeat
> procedure as above.
>
> * I also have a sandisk sansa express which records into wave files
> for 2 hours at a clip. Then I have to retrieve the wave files from
> linux due to a lack of drivers for windows.
>
> I can't help but think that a simple FM radio on USB would make this a
> lot easier. I could record entire days on a given station instead of
> these 2 hour intervals. You'd be surpised how many commercials there
> are in 2 hours, about 45 minutes worth


What is wrong with plugging an FM radio, into the line input
of your sound card ? Your PC can store a lot of sound, as long
as you have a program that writes out the recorded sound directly
to disk. (Some sound editor programs, record to RAM, which
can be a limitation. Recording directly to the hard drive,
would make your 24 hour target easier to do.)

Paul
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  #3  
Old 10-25-2009, 03:38 AM
dos-man
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

On Oct 24, 7:17*pm, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> dos-man wrote:
> > I'm jumping through a lot hoops here to record music off of FM radio.

>
> > * I've got my radio connected to my DVD recorder to record several
> > hours of music. *Then I have to take the DVD-RW to my computer and I'm
> > using dreamlinux to create/edit MP3s of the individual songs. Finally,
> > I jump into windows to create MP3s.

>
> > * And then I have another DVD recorder (that I just bought at big lots
> > for $30) getting stuff off the satellite radio stations. Repeat
> > procedure as above.

>
> > * *I also have a sandisk sansa express which records into wave files
> > for 2 hours at a clip. Then I have to retrieve the wave files from
> > linux due to a lack of drivers for windows.

>
> > I can't help but think that a simple FM radio on USB would make this a
> > lot easier. *I could record entire days on a given station instead of
> > these 2 hour intervals. *You'd be surpised how many commercials there
> > are in 2 hours, about 45 minutes worth

>
> What is wrong with plugging an FM radio, into the line input
> of your sound card ? Your PC can store a lot of sound, as long
> as you have a program that writes out the recorded sound directly
> to disk. (Some sound editor programs, record to RAM, which
> can be a limitation. Recording directly to the hard drive,
> would make your 24 hour target easier to do.)
>
> * * Paul


Hi, Paul. What I've noticed in the past is that hooking up to the
soundcard creates a lot static and "white noise". PCs aren't quiet
like DVD recorders. They hum, they vibrate, they make quite a bit of
noise. I've never been happy with the sound quality I got from doing
that.

Actually, I used to have a wintv PCI card which had a radio tuner on
it. Seemed buggy and quirky so I got rid of it. Wish I still had it
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  #4  
Old 10-25-2009, 06:21 AM
Jef Roe
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?


"dos-man" <ChairShot@mail.com> wrote in message
news:7c710910-4749-4849-98a5-32054d27f08a@d23g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
> I'm jumping through a lot hoops here to record music off of FM radio.
>
> * I've got my radio connected to my DVD recorder to record several
> hours of music. Then I have to take the DVD-RW to my computer and I'm
> using dreamlinux to create/edit MP3s of the individual songs. Finally,
> I jump into windows to create MP3s.
>
> * And then I have another DVD recorder (that I just bought at big lots
> for $30) getting stuff off the satellite radio stations. Repeat
> procedure as above.
>
> * I also have a sandisk sansa express which records into wave files
> for 2 hours at a clip. Then I have to retrieve the wave files from
> linux due to a lack of drivers for windows.
>
> I can't help but think that a simple FM radio on USB would make this a
> lot easier. I could record entire days on a given station instead of
> these 2 hour intervals. You'd be surpised how many commercials there
> are in 2 hours, about 45 minutes worth


if you can use Google you might be surprised


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  #5  
Old 10-25-2009, 06:27 AM
Jef Roe
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vega-Portabl...6448384&sr=1-1



"dos-man" <ChairShot@mail.com> wrote in message
news:7c710910-4749-4849-98a5-32054d27f08a@d23g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
> I'm jumping through a lot hoops here to record music off of FM radio.
>
> * I've got my radio connected to my DVD recorder to record several
> hours of music. Then I have to take the DVD-RW to my computer and I'm
> using dreamlinux to create/edit MP3s of the individual songs. Finally,
> I jump into windows to create MP3s.
>
> * And then I have another DVD recorder (that I just bought at big lots
> for $30) getting stuff off the satellite radio stations. Repeat
> procedure as above.
>
> * I also have a sandisk sansa express which records into wave files
> for 2 hours at a clip. Then I have to retrieve the wave files from
> linux due to a lack of drivers for windows.
>
> I can't help but think that a simple FM radio on USB would make this a
> lot easier. I could record entire days on a given station instead of
> these 2 hour intervals. You'd be surpised how many commercials there
> are in 2 hours, about 45 minutes worth



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  #6  
Old 10-25-2009, 08:42 AM
kony
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:38:04 -0700 (PDT), dos-man
<ChairShot@mail.com> wrote:


>Hi, Paul. What I've noticed in the past is that hooking up to the
>soundcard creates a lot static and "white noise". PCs aren't quiet
>like DVD recorders. They hum, they vibrate, they make quite a bit of
>noise. I've never been happy with the sound quality I got from doing
>that.
>
>Actually, I used to have a wintv PCI card which had a radio tuner on
>it. Seemed buggy and quirky so I got rid of it. Wish I still had it



Were you connecting to a decent quality sound card, or a
low-end or integrated audio? The former tend to be quieter.

Another option is a USB sound *card*, one with a line in,
input. They tend to be quieter by virtue of the impedance
across the USB cable, though I suppose some of those are
better than others too.

As you mentioned a PCI tuner card is another option, and
fairly inexpensive.

It's easier to find combo TV/FM USB tuners than only FM USB
tuners, though another place to look is ebay.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=1484%3A10234
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  #7  
Old 10-26-2009, 03:54 AM
Andy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

There's the Radio Shark 2
(http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/radioshark2) that I have.
The recording function works very well, but I would rate the quality
of the radio as average to poor.

Another one that I don't have personal experience with is Radio
Extreme (http://www.radio-xtreme.com/RadioXtreme.htm).

On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:49:04 -0700 (PDT), dos-man <ChairShot@mail.com>
wrote:

>I'm jumping through a lot hoops here to record music off of FM radio.
>
>* I've got my radio connected to my DVD recorder to record several
>hours of music. Then I have to take the DVD-RW to my computer and I'm
>using dreamlinux to create/edit MP3s of the individual songs. Finally,
>I jump into windows to create MP3s.
>
>* And then I have another DVD recorder (that I just bought at big lots
>for $30) getting stuff off the satellite radio stations. Repeat
>procedure as above.
>
>* I also have a sandisk sansa express which records into wave files
>for 2 hours at a clip. Then I have to retrieve the wave files from
>linux due to a lack of drivers for windows.
>
>I can't help but think that a simple FM radio on USB would make this a
>lot easier. I could record entire days on a given station instead of
>these 2 hour intervals. You'd be surpised how many commercials there
>are in 2 hours, about 45 minutes worth

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  #8  
Old 10-26-2009, 05:03 AM
dos-man
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

On Oct 25, 9:54*pm, Andy <1...@2.3> wrote:
> There's the Radio Shark 2
> (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/radioshark2) that I have.
> The recording function works very well, but I would rate the quality
> of the radio as average to poor.
>
> Another one that I don't have personal experience with is Radio
> Extreme (http://www.radio-xtreme.com/RadioXtreme.htm).
>



Thank you for the suggestions. I need to do a little research and see
which one fits best and which one can possibly work in linux. The
second one has linux drivers, but that doesn't guarantee I can
configure it
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  #9  
Old 10-26-2009, 05:09 AM
dos-man
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

On Oct 25, 2:42*am, kony <s...@spam.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:38:04 -0700 (PDT), dos-man
>
> <ChairS...@mail.com> wrote:
> >Hi, Paul. *What I've noticed in the past is that hooking up to the
> >soundcard creates a lot static and "white noise". *PCs aren't quiet
> >like DVD recorders. *They hum, they vibrate, they make quite a bit of
> >noise. *I've never been happy with the sound quality I got from doing
> >that.

>
> >Actually, I used to have a wintv PCI card which had a radio tuner on
> >it. Seemed buggy and quirky so I got rid of it. *Wish I still had it

>
> Were you connecting to a decent quality sound card, or a
> low-end or integrated audio? *The former tend to be quieter.



I really can't recall. I mean I've had a small army of PCs over the
past few years and at one point I even had an ISA sound blaster. I
just remember a lot of air in a seashell type background noise.



>
> Another option is a USB sound *card*, one with a line in,
> input. *They tend to be quieter by virtue of the impedance
> across the USB cable, though I suppose some of those are
> better than others too.



I haven't heard of those before. I will have to look around.


>
> As you mentioned a PCI tuner card is another option, and
> fairly inexpensive.
>



My old wintv card was hard to work with, as well as being costly.
Wasn't so much a problem with the hardware, but the software to
control the device was buggy. Well, that was a long time ago when I
had that. Possibly 2002 or earlier.
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  #10  
Old 10-26-2009, 05:12 AM
dos-man
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Is there such a thing as a USB radio?

On Oct 25, 12:27*am, "Jef Roe" <M...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vega-Portabl...o/dp/B001HRA8R...
>
> "dos-man" <ChairS...@mail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:7c710910-4749-4849-98a5-32054d27f08a@d23g2000vbm.googlegroups.com...
>
>


Don't think this will be of any help. It appears a device for
internet radio stations (a realm I've never ventured into.) I'm
dealing with more traditional radio listening. Actually, I'm not even
sure why this device would even be necessary?
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