[roddoc]

Having a hard time choosing between WM Recorder (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/WMRecorder-One-click-online-audio-video-stream-recorder.htm) vs WM Recorder Bundle vs Replay Capture Suite (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Capture-Suite-Audio-video-streaming-capture-software-bundle.htm). The comparison chart doesn't help too much. I guess I'm trying to find out the limitations of WM Recorder vs the other two.

[Stream Recorder]

This is a tough choice indeed. Both WM Recorder Bundle and Replay Capture Suite (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Capture-Suite-Audio-video-streaming-capture-software-bundle.htm) have the same video splitter, the same screen recorder, but their converters are different. Also WM Recorder (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/WMRecorder-One-click-online-audio-video-stream-recorder.htm) is different from Replay Media Catcher (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Media-Catcher-HTTP-RTMP-FLV-MP3-ripper-recorder.htm), besides the Replay Capture Suite has Replay Music (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-audio-stream/Replay-Music-record-any-web-radio-station-or-streaming-music-service.htm) for recording any music from sound card (with auto song splitting and tagging) and Replay AV (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-AV-capture-Streaming-Video-Audio-Radio-Shows-Online-TV-Broadcasts-Video-Clips-Audio-Archives-Podcasts-Free-to-try.htm) for downloading and recording radio programs mainly.

If you don't record music and radio, then the choice is between Replay Media Catcher and WM Recorder. WM Recorder is a more powerful recorder of Windows Media streams and Real Media streams. But Replay Media Catcher supports Smooth Streaming, can extract audio tracks from videos, can convert downloaded streams automatically.
Also RMC tries to identify downloaded MP3 music tracks. As for downloading and capturing HTTP and RTMP streams, now that WMR 14.8 has the loopback recorder, both programs can download and capture such streams, so they both can be recommended.

I suggest you to try demo versions on the streams that you usually download and see what works best for you. Also note that both WM Recorder line and Applian products have a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee, and I can assure you that this is not just words.

Note that both WM Recorder and Replay Media Catcher can't download secure RTMPE streams. This is a limitation posed by DMCA, and forced by Adobe. The only commercial RTMPE recorder is GetFLV (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/GetFLV-Download-and-convert-flash-video-streaming.htm), which is being sold from China, but was kicked off from paypal, regnow,....

[placebo]

@roddoc
If someone really needs and wants a big bundle of tools, then the comparison is between WM Recorder Bundle vs. Replay Capture Suite (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Capture-Suite-Audio-video-streaming-capture-software-bundle.htm). At one point in my life :D i had both program suites installed on my system. I also had installed the full Nero (http://all-streaming-media.com/CD-and-DVD-burning/Nero-Burning-ROM-CD-DVD-HD-HVD-Blue-ray-disc-burning-software-Windows.htm) 10 Multimedia suite (the trial setup.exe extracts 1.63GB to \Temp\-dir, from which the proper Nero 10 setup is started!) at that time. After working with the PC for days, weeks, and months, i noticed that i use only 1-2 modules of Replay Capture Suite, and only 1-2 modules of Nero 10, and only 1 module of the WM Recorder Bundle.

After realizing the above, it quickly de-installed everything :) and purchased only the core products. Looking at Jaksta (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Jaksta-Streaming-Media%20Recorder-and-Converter.htm) (Replay Media Catcher (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Media-Catcher-HTTP-RTMP-FLV-MP3-ripper-recorder.htm) 4), the core product, or let's say "key product" of this forum, is software which saves the stream lossless, in 100% original bits and bytes, 1:1, to your harddisk, without any lossy conversion in between.

If you can save 100% original streaming server files, then this is the preferred method. Replay Media Catcher (the core product of Applian.com *imho*) does exactly that and is extremely easy to use. And since i got in love with RMC already, there wasnt any need to look further (e.g. WM Recorder (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/WMRecorder-One-click-online-audio-video-stream-recorder.htm)). I would spend my money on RMC, and get the other Applian utilities (Replay Music (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-audio-stream/Replay-Music-record-any-web-radio-station-or-streaming-music-service.htm), Replay Telecorder (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-audio-video-calls/Replay-Telecorder-for-Skype-Record-phone-calls-video-chats-conference-calls-voice-mail-from-Skype.htm) , Replay Converter, etc.) "for free" with trialpay .. but only if you really need them. Search the following webpage for the term < trialpay >
http://www.wmrecorder.com/links.php

Btw, there are often discounted offers on Replay Capture Suite -- to get the most for your money. But you can save the money if you just focus on the key product: a software which saves original bits and bytes. Again, compare the websites of applian.com and jaksta.com.

RMC and WM Recorder can download the same variety of internet streams (RTSP, MMS, RTMP, HTTP, etc.) -- so it's a matter of taste (REALLY!) which one you choose. Let us know!

Also check the "relevance" of products here:
http://stream-recorder.com/forum/best-video-stream-recorder-stream-downloader-stream-t8683.html
And the popularity here:
http://forum.applian.com/forumdisplay.php?1-Applian-Technologies-Software

[roddoc]

Thanks to all & for all your advise for someone that really doesn't know what they are doing. lol I will be happy just to make discs(video dvds) of my lynda and grab some music here and there. (sirius & xm look tempting)

I will absolutely check things out and go for it. Thanks so much. Will give you an update soon.

[Stream Recorder]

Thanks to all & for all your advise for someone that really doesn't know what they are doing. lol I will be happy just to make discs(video dvds) of my lynda and grab some music here and there.
Replay Converter (http://all-streaming-media.com/convert-audio-video-files/Replay-Converter-Audio-video-conversion-software-Windows.htm) from the Replay Capture Suite (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Capture-Suite-Audio-video-streaming-capture-software-bundle.htm) allows to burn DVDs. But if you need DVD menus, you may prefer to use something else.

I've burnt 500+ DVDs and this was a big mistake. The cheap one that were sold as bundles became unreadable in 1-2 years. Plus the process of finding something that is on these DVDs is very tedious.

It is much better to store everything on a hard drive (and have a backup on another hard drive or using a raid array) and player everything using a network media player.

Replay Media Catcher (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Media-Catcher-HTTP-RTMP-FLV-MP3-ripper-recorder.htm) costs $39.95, while Replay Capture Suite (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/Replay-Capture-Suite-Audio-video-streaming-capture-software-bundle.htm) costs $79. If you really need multiple products from it, you will save a lot.

(sirius & xm look tempting)
Sirius and XM (http://forum.applian.com/showthread.php?6669-XM-or-Sirius-Login-issue-error-unable-to-connect-to-login-site) are switching to RTMPE streams, so not sure this will be possible in the nearest future.