WMR11 and HiDownload FAIL to record .rm Real audio streaming from BBC radio

[ChrisJBrady]

Please can someone advise me. Thank you.

Recently I downloaded WMR 11 from the CNET website. It apparently installed OK. But then when I tried to run it in 'demo' mode it failed completely. Actually no dialogue window appeared and the app. just devolved to an icon on the tool bar. There was nothing in I.E. which said that this was trying to capture an audio stream. The Task Manager reported that the exe was 'Not Responding.' Now I have a top of the range multi-media laptop with MS WXP MCE. I had a ADSL connection open at the time. I have no problem receiving and playing streamed audio and video. Unfortunately I couldn't close WMR11 down, and also because it had 'hung' the OS I had to do a reboot - BUT I could not do this with a Close Down or Restart and I had to turn the laptop upside down and take the battery out. Then because XP had not terminated properly it then took an age to restart. Frankly I've had better luck with junk VB apps. from free magazine CDs.

The one streaming app. that I did manage to get working was HiDownload apparently from mainland China or HK. But this didn't come with any 'Help' feature or 'How to' tutorial files. I did eventually get it to capture an audio stream, once I'd copied and pasted a streaming URL into it, but the numerous files generated were given names with loads of '@' signs in and sans instructions I couldn't find any way of 'glueing' them together into a playable file.

Actually both HiDownload and WMR 11 installation files were downloaded with no security certificate available. Strange that they should charge money for the real non-demo versions - so presumably they do want people to purchase these - yet the exe's are unprotected by any form of certification or virus-free security guarantee.

The search continues for a professional streaming capture app.

CJB.

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

Recently I downloaded WMR11 from the CNET website. It apparently installed OK. But then when I tried to run it in 'demo' mode it failed completely. Actually no dialogue window appeared and the app. just devolved to an icon on the tool bar. There was nothing in I.E. which said that this was trying to capture an audio stream. The Task Manager reported that the exe was 'Not Responding.' Now I have a top of the range multi-media laptop with MS WXP MCE. I had a ADSL connection open at the time. I have no problem receiving and playing streamed audio and video. Unfortunately I couldn't close WMR11 down, and also because it had 'hung' the OS I had to do a reboot - BUT I could not do this with a Close Down or Restart and I had to turn the laptop upside down and take the battery out. Then because XP had not terminated properly it then took an age to restart. Frankly I've had better luck with junk VB apps. from free magazine CDs.

WMR is the best and the easiest media stream recorder. It is proved by hundreds of thousand users all over the world. I've been using it for more than 2 years and haven't seen a better stream recorder.

Please contact WMR support from their web-site and explain your problem. Their support stuff is very very good in my experience and this is the second reason to pay for the software (the first reason is that it is very easy to use and very powerful at the same time).

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

The one streaming app. that I did manage to get working was HiDownload apparently from mainland China or HK. But this didn't come with any 'Help' feature or 'How to' tutorial files. I did eventually get it to capture an audio stream, once I'd copied and pasted a streaming URL into it, but the numerous files generated were given names with loads of '@' signs in and sans instructions I couldn't find any way of 'glueing' them together into a playable file.

Click "System"->"Online help" and "System"->"FAQ" in the drop-down menu for help. They have better created Help item in the menu

Please also learn about getting stream URLs from our stream recording FAQ.

As for @ files you don't have to glue them. HD creates a media file (such as .wma, .wmv, .rm, .mov,...) after it finishes the recording process (or after you stop downloading manually). It may leave @ files for download resuming.

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

Actually both HiDownload and WMR11 installation files were downloaded with no security certificate available. Strange that they should charge money for the real non-demo versions - so presumably they do want people to purchase these - yet the exe's are unprotected by any form of certification or virus-free security guarantee.

The search continues for a professional streaming capture app.

Both WMR and HiDownload are very professional stream recorders (especially WMR). I dunno whether certificates are important or not, but I haven't really seen many of them even though I test lots of software.

You may always download software from official web-site or other respected sources to avoid viruses or other malware.
When downloading software from unknown sources make sure to check your downloads with a reliable antivirus software like Kaspersky Anti-Virus or Kaspersky Internet Security and update it regularly (Kaspersky Lab provides HOURLY updates).

[streamingstar]

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

Please can someone advise me. Thank you.

Recently I downloaded WMR 11 from the CNET website. It apparently installed OK. But then when I tried to run it in 'demo' mode it failed completely. Actually no dialogue window appeared and the app. just devolved to an icon on the tool bar. There was nothing in I.E. which said that this was trying to capture an audio stream. The Task Manager reported that the exe was 'Not Responding.' Now I have a top of the range multi-media laptop with MS WXP MCE. I had a ADSL connection open at the time. I have no problem receiving and playing streamed audio and video. Unfortunately I couldn't close WMR11 down, and also because it had 'hung' the OS I had to do a reboot - BUT I could not do this with a Close Down or Restart and I had to turn the laptop upside down and take the battery out. Then because XP had not terminated properly it then took an age to restart. Frankly I've had better luck with junk VB apps. from free magazine CDs.

The one streaming app. that I did manage to get working was HiDownload apparently from mainland China or HK. But this didn't come with any 'Help' feature or 'How to' tutorial files. I did eventually get it to capture an audio stream, once I'd copied and pasted a streaming URL into it, but the numerous files generated were given names with loads of '@' signs in and sans instructions I couldn't find any way of 'glueing' them together into a playable file.

Actually both HiDownload and WMR 11 installation files were downloaded with no security certificate available. Strange that they should charge money for the real non-demo versions - so presumably they do want people to purchase these - yet the exe's are unprotected by any form of certification or virus-free security guarantee.

The search continues for a professional streaming capture app.

CJB.

Can you tell us the URLs or website which you want to record? we will try them and solve your problem, thanks.
You can also sent your questions to webmaster@streamingstar.com

Thank your help!

streamingstar

[ChrisJBrady]

Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately I tried to dowload and install WMR11 twice. Twice this succeeded. But when I tried to run it in 'Demo' mode (I wont purchase anything unless it works) the small window 'Demo' disappeared. All that was left was the exe on Task Manager which was 'Not Responding' from where the exe refused to be closed down. And there was the small icon on the Task Bar which I did 'Right Mouse Click' / 'Close' on. But again it refused to close down. As I reported - having closed all other apps. down just leaving the errant exe - this then hung XP so that I couldn't close the laptop down properly. My laptop by the way is a Toshiba G63 - top of the range for multi-media work. I have an ADSL line via BT and Demon.

I am amazed that you say that this app. works. It certainly didn't for me - for no apparent reason.

Emails to CNET and Applian remain unanswered.

HiDownload is another matter. Whilst this succeeded in capturing an audio stream - actually a folk music programme by Archie Fusher on BBC Radio Scotland - being a 'live' stream there was no end to it. I monitored the files being created on the HD (whilst listening to the prog. so I know what was being transmitted) but none of these would play back due to them being in an 'Unknown Format.' Sans 'Help' or instructions I couldn't find any way of merging them. When I tried to stopped the capture (red 'X' icon) the app. seemed reluctant to cease. However eventually it stopped, but then when I looked there was no file(s) that could be played in any of the player s/w I have - RealPlayer, MS Medi Player, Quicktime, etc. It certainly didn't create any after I had clicked on the red 'X' for stop.

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

It certainly didn't create any after I had clicked on the red 'X' for stop.

Red "X" deletes files!!! The Pause button stops downloading!!! You may see the hint when the mouse cursor is above the button.

[streamingstar]

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

HiDownload is another matter. Whilst this succeeded in capturing an audio stream - actually a folk music programme by Archie Fusher on BBC Radio Scotland - being a 'live' stream there was no end to it. I monitored the files being created on the HD (whilst listening to the prog. so I know what was being transmitted) but none of these would play back due to them being in an 'Unknown Format.' Sans 'Help' or instructions I couldn't find any way of merging them. When I tried to stopped the capture (red 'X' icon) the app. seemed reluctant to cease. However eventually it stopped, but then when I looked there was no file(s) that could be played in any of the player s/w I have - RealPlayer, MS Medi Player, Quicktime, etc. It certainly didn't create any after I had clicked on the red 'X' for stop.

Thank your information, We will check the live stream, sorry for trouble.

streamingstar

[ChrisJBrady]

Here's the URL:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/netwo...and/travelfolk

or

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/linklaunc...and/travelfolk

As I said HiDownload worked up to a point - that is it seemed to capture the streams although didn't do anything else, and no playable file(s) resulted.

WM11 didn't get that far but hung not only itself but the OS XP requiring a battery disconnection to reboot the laptop.

CJB.

The update for WMR solving your problem is scheduled to be released.

As for HD, I've downloaded a part of the following stream using one thread only
rtsp://rmv8.bbc.net.uk:554/scotland/radioscotland/demand/travelfolk/rs_travellingfolk_thu.rm

After that I've renamed rs_travellingfolk_thu.rm.@@@1 to rs_travellingfolk_thu.rm and had no any problem playing it with Windows Media Player Classic (using Real Alternative)

[ChrisJBrady]

Ok - thank you very much for the info. and for researching the problem.

With HD you say you renamed rs_travellingfolk_thu.rm.@@@1 to rs_travellingfolk_thu.rm - and then this played in MS WMP-C. I didn't realise that after capturing a stream that you then had to rename an output file. I thought HD might have done this. Also when I first tried to capture this programme I ended up with lots of files like this: .@@@1 and .@@@2 and .@@@3 etc. and guessed that they were the captured streams, but I didn't know how to join them all together. I assume that there is a menu option that does this, although what this is is far from clear. Also at the time I didn't know how to tell when the original stream was going to end - it was over an hour long - and there seemed to be quite a lot of rather large files created.

With regards to WM11, Applian Tech. Service tell me that there is no problem and that the app. works well. However you tell me that there is an update expected soon that will 'cure my problem.' But what IS the problem please? Is it that the format of the stream is unrecognised (maybe I chose the wrong type of stream as a first attempt at capturing, but how do you tell one format from another), or is it my laptop (grrrr) perhaps a bad driver, or is it that there is a 'bug' in WM11? Whatever it is should not cause the XP OS to hang so as to require a cold reboot?

Thanks again for your help.

Chris Brady

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

With HD you say you renamed rs_travellingfolk_thu.rm.@@@1 to rs_travellingfolk_thu.rm - and then this played in MS WMP-C. I didn't realise that after capturing a stream that you then had to rename an output file. I thought HD might have done this. Also when I first tried to capture this programme I ended up with lots of files like this: .@@@1 and .@@@2 and .@@@3 etc. and guessed that they were the captured streams, but I didn't know how to join them all together. I assume that there is a menu option that does this, although what this is is far from clear. Also at the time I didn't know how to tell when the original stream was going to end - it was over an hour long - and there seemed to be quite a lot of rather large files created.

HD joins files and removes temporary .@@@# files when you fully download your stream. Otherwise it is expected that you resume downloading sometime in the future.

When you see say 3 temporary files like .@@@1 and .@@@2 and .@@@3 it usually means that your stream was divided into 3 equal parts and is downloaded by 3 threads (although for whatever reason some download managers create more temporary files). The first part starts in the beginning of the stream, the second one at 1/3 and the third one at 2/3. If you join these temporary files you will miss some parts of your stream. That is why it is quite reasonable not to use any function that can glue these files.

Note that only on-demand streams (and not live streams) can be downloaded using multiple threads. And if you have problems downloading using multiple threads, you should try to download using one thread mode.

Originally Posted by ChrisJBrady

With regards to WM11, Applian Tech. Service tell me that there is no problem and that the app. works well. However you tell me that there is an update expected soon that will 'cure my problem.' But what IS the problem please. Is it that the format of the stream is unrecognised (maybe I chose the wrong type of stream as a first attempt at capturing, but how do you tell one format from another), or is it my laptop (grrrr) perhaps a bad driver, or is it that there is a 'bug' in WM11? Whatever it is should not cause the XP OS to hang so as to require a cold reboot?

The app works well and your case is very unique. As for the cause of your problem, you may ask the developer directly via e-mail I've sent you via private message. I was told that I would be notified about the update.