- AudFree Audio Capture (Mac/Windows) If you are looking for a paid yet professional streaming.
- To capture streaming audio on your Mac, you can take advantage of Apple's QuickTime Player available on every Mac. Yes, it's is not just a video player. With the assistance of it, you can even record yourself through the FaceTime camera, record the screen, and most notably, record internet audio.
Although there are a lot of audio recording programs out there claiming to record almost any sound play on computer, the fact you should always keep in mind is that only a few of them promise capturing high quality audio. Therefore, if you care much about the quality of your recordings, choosing a proper high-powered audio recorder could really matter. Are you just looking for such recording tool but with a low budget? Luckily, among the numerous audio recording software available on internet, we are glad to see most of them are offered for free. To help you quickly pick up the best free audio recorder online, we complied a list of top 5 most popular free audio recording software that can record streaming music, radios, in-game sound, music in videos, and any other sound play on Mac and Windows with high quality.
Top 1. Audacity (Mac & Windows)
As a well known open source audio recorder, Audacity is capable of recording and editing anything you throw at it, including audio through microphone and sound card all in a few clicks thanks to the clean interface. It also allows users adjust pitch, bass, and treble, or normalize noise and add effects like reverb and phasing to the recordings. In addition, it supports multi-track capturing to save a lot of time for you. And unlike most other free audio recorders which are free for a limited time or free with locked features, Audacity is a real free of charge audio recording application offered in full free version. Overall, Audacity offers one of the most robust packages available among free recording programs.
Aiseesoft Screen Recorder (Windows, Mac) Aiseesoft Screen Recorder is the professional but easy screen recording software without watermark for Windows and Mac computer. It is smooth to record 4K UHD and 1080p HD games, movies, and streaming videos with the audio narration.
Pros:
1. Totally free and extremely easy to use;
2. Support recording any sound on computer;
3. Edit recorded audio's quality with many effects;
4. Support multi-track recording.
Cons:
1. Require plugins to accomplish optimal functionality;
2. Can't export audio recordings to MP3;
3. Effect editing is destructive to original audio track.
Top 2. Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder
Differing from Audacity or other desktop audio recording tools, Apowersoft Audio Recorder is a free online recording solution that needs no plug-in on Windows or Mac. It allows you record any sound from system sound card and microphone in high quality within 3 steps only. It fully supports capturing streaming music, radio stations, music in games, voice chats, etc. playing via devices like Windows Media Player, QuickTime, iTunes, Tablets, Chromebook, Android smartphones, iPhone, Windows Phone and more. Besides, it offers additional recording functions like converting audio records to MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, OGG, adding ID3 tags, sharing recorded audios online, playing recordings in real time, etc.
Pros:
1. Free and no need to install setup file on computer;
2. Support any sound sources;
3. Save recordings in multiple popular formats;
4. Support extensional functions for recording.
Cons:
1. Can't edit output audio quality;
2. Multi-track recording not supported.
Top 3. Ardour (Mac & Windows)
Ardour DAW is another great open-source audio recorder with professional music recording features and no cost. Developed by Paul Davis, Ardour is aiming at providing powerful recorder for studios who are at low budgets. Featuring highly versatile multi-track audio recording, Ardour can record and edit audios non-destructively or destructively. Its use of Jack, an underlying sound server, makes it compatible with a number of outside applications as well. With the release of third edition, Ardour is supposed to import video for film scoring purpose and record, edit MIDI without a hassle. However, unlike most of other free DAWs, Ardour comes with a confusing graphical user interface which is inaccessible for beginners. It's more like a professional tool developed for musicians or audio engineers.
Pros:
1. Free and professional;
2. Support multi-track recording;
3. Edit recorded tracks non-destructively.
Cons:
1. It's complex and difficult for newbie;
2. No built-in effects or instruments.
Top 4. Aktiv MP3 Recorder (Windows)
If you are looking for a free streaming music recorder that can convey CD, tape, DVD, live performance, TV, Internet radio, streaming music, video games and any other sound source into popular audio formats like MP3, WMA, OGG, VOX, AU, AIFF, then you can't miss Aktiv MP3 Recorder. As a full-featured audio recorder, the big difference between Aktiv and other free recording tools is that it comes with recording scheduler which provides you the ability to record streaming audio at certain times according to your requirements.
Pros:
1. Free streaming audio recorder;
2. Support most popular output formats;
3. Provide schedule recording tasks.
Cons:
1. Available for Windows only;
2. Installer contains some extra software.
Top 5. Traverso DAW (Mac & Windows)
Traverso DAW is another cross-platform free multitrack audio recording and audio editing suite with support for CD mastering and non-linear processing. Traverso is different with other in UI as it offers a unique user interface using both the mouse and the keyboard together for precision and speed. In addition, Traverso includes non-destructive editing, the ability to use plugins and make edits without changing the actual recorded sample. Also it is offering full support for ALSA, Jack and PortAudio, and lockless real-time audio processing.
Pros:
1. Fullfeatured free recording app;
2. Innovative keyboard and mouse shortcuts;
3. Support non-destructive audio editing.
Cons:
1. Take some time for users to get used to the shortcuts;
2. Need plugins to edit audio non-destructively.
Conclusion & Suggestion
As you can see, all the above recording tools are free of charge to meet most of your recording needs with options of recording audio, adding effects, and cutting waveforms, as well as other basic recording tasks. To conclude, if you are referring an all-in-one application that combines easy operation and high performance, Audacity and Aktiv MP3 Recorder could be the best options. But if you concern more about the professionalism and quality, you are suggested to go for Ardour or Traverso DAW that are more professional oriented. Or alternatively, Apowersoft Audio Recorder could be a great choice if you don't want to install any software on your computer. If you still have no idea which one to choose, simply try them out one by one and decide which works best for you.
More Professional Audio Recorder for Low Budget
Of course, no piece of free software is without its shortcomings. So do those free audio recorders. They are not as advanced as other paid software in functionality. In case you are searching for such paid recording products with reasonable price, we highly recommend a quick alternative solution to you. The renowned program is called TunesKit Audio Capture. It's available for both Mac and Windows platforms. It costs $19.95 but with more powerful features, including multi-track lossless recording, automatically fulfilling ID3 tags, editing output quality, splitting or merging recorded tracks, etc. You can download the free trial versions as below to test it out by yourself. For complete tutorial, visit this user guide.
Nick Orin is a review writer, software geek and Mac OS enthusiast. He spends all his free time in searching useful software and gadgets to share with others.
Ever thought how you can record music or a podcast you listen to on your Computer? I am sure you must have, but then you also would have considered that it is almost impossible to download as most of the services stream audio without an option to download. While one can record any audio using a microphone and speaker, you will never get the original quality. In this post, we will share the top seven free audio recorders for Mac and Windows.
Here is the list of the top free streaming audio recorder which can be used on Windows, Mac, and Online.
Main Content：
Some of the tools offer full package by including advanced editor while others only allow you to save as an MP3 file. Make your selection based on your need.
1. EaseUS RecExperts (Recommend)
It's a professional screen recording software that is capable of recording system sound, Microphone, and both. Primarily the software is built for screen recording along with webcam. Since here the streaming audio has to be recorded, you can use the software to record without using the speaker.
If you are wondering how it works, then it's simple. Anything that you stream from the internet passes through the Computer to the speakers. That is where the software can capture the sound, and that at its best audio quality.
Features:
- System sound recording make sure the quality of streaming audio is precise as the original
- The output format can be MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA, WAV, and FLAC
- The maximum Supported Bit Rat is 256 KBPS
- Post recording, audio can be edited by cropping part of the sound
- Record Desktop and mouse actions along with voice
- Built-in editor to remove parts of the video
- Built-in task scheduler to record audio and video at a set time and date
If those features can be helpful for you, don't hesitate to download it!
How to record streaming audio on the Computer:
Before we go ahead, make sure the audio you want to record is either playing or is ready to play. It will help you quickly start recording with less post-editing work. Also, make sure to click on the settings icon and select the best audio quality configuration.
Step 1. Launch the software and select the Record Audio option.
Step 2. The default selection of source for audio recording is the System and Mic option. Click on it, and switch to System sound. Unless you are planning to Karaoke, you don't need the Microphone.
Step 3. Click on the big red Rec button to start recording. The default mode gives you 3 seconds if the audio is on pause, and you want to start playing it.
Step 4. When you are sure that's what you needed to record, click on the stop button to complete the recording. The recorded audio is available on the video list.
Platform: Windows
2. SoundTap Streaming Audio Recorder
It's a professional streaming audio capture that records streaming audio by using s special kernel driver, which makes sure the quality is preserved. Along with audio streaming recording, you can also choose to record a microphone if you plan Karaoke or voice over. It also works with third-party software and messenger system, which is used in Business meetings. When setting up VRS, make sure to check the configuration to set up the code. You can also choose the audio output type and quality. Other than that, if you are using any specialized hardware, make sure to change the input device.
Features:
- Record internet radio webcasts, audio conferences, podcasts, and more
- Convert audio from uncommon formats to WAV or MP3
- It can also record streaming audio directly to the VRS Recording System for enterprise database system use
- Create a podcast with audio recorded from Skype calls
Pros:
- Multiple ways to share recorded audio file
- Convert and Burn audio files into USB drive or DVD
- Built-in backup of files into a network folder
Cons:
- No option of basic audio editing available
- Most of the additional features showcased on the software work with another tool that has to be downloaded
- Outdated interface
3. Audacity
Audacity is a versatile video audio editor which also comes with recording feature which can record both system audio and using a microphone. It is especially useful if you do not have a Stereo Mix option in your Computer. That said, you will have to configure the software to record if you use it for other purposes. If all you want to do is record streaming audio, then you can set it and forget.
To record, you will have to change Host to WASAPI host, and loopback device. Once done, make sure to monitor sound, and then start recording with the red button.
Pros:
- Configurable host to record quality audio
- Powerful editor to remove anything extra from the audio
- Pure digital recording
Cons:
- Not easy to configure for the beginners
- Overly complex user interface
- Editing can be overwhelming because of too many options
Platform: Windows, macOS
Stream Recording For Mac Os
4. StreamSour
My Photo Stream Mac
If you are looking for a portable audio recorder that can record anything from the internet without using the internet, then StreamSour is a perfect solution for you. It's a non-nonsense audio recorder that can record any streaming audio from your PC and save it as a WAV or MP3 file. It can also Microphone, input lines from the external mixer, audiotape, and more. The software used directly to disk, which allows it to record unlimited broadcast or streaming in WAV file format or mp3. If you want to record in MP3, you will need to use Lame Mp3 Encoder.
Pros:
- Automatic detection of input and out to record audio
- Wav file recording makes it easy to play it on almost any platform
- Completely free to use for both personal and commercial usage
Cons:
- Third-party encoder required for Mp3 recording
- No editing tools
- No way to set up the audio quality
Platform: Windows
5. Movavi Screen Recorder
It's a pure screen recorder with no option to record only audio, but it can record system sound. So when it comes to recording audio streaming, you will have to choose an area, and then record the whole thing. It will finally save it as an MP4 file from which you need to extract the audio. That said, the software is free to use, and you can edit the audio files once the video is recorded. That said, you can also capture separate streams i.e., record screen and audio simultaneously or separately. It supports the following output format MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, GIF, and other images.
Pro:
- Option to choose the best audio quality
- Can use Microphone while recording audio
- The timer can be set to automatically start recording
Cons:
- No Option to save as MP3 file
- MP4 file should be converted to MP3 using third-party software
- Limited free version
Platform: Windows
6. Chrome Audio Capture
It's a free extension for Chrome, which allows you to capture audio playing on a particular tab. If the streaming audio can be played on the browser, the extension can capture twenty minutes of sound in the MP3 format. That said, using the extension is very simple. Once you have installed it, open any streaming service, and then click on the extension, and then click on the Start Capture button. It will instantly start recording. Once done, click on the stop, and it will encode the audio. You can then save it as an MP3 file.
Pros:
- Supports keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + S/ Ctrl + Shift + X) to start capture on current tab or stop it
- Encoding is high-speed, keeping in mind it's a browser-based tool
- No need to install additional software
Cons:
- No audio editor is available
- Cannot record system audio
- It only saves in the MP3 file
Platform: Windows, macOS, and any OS where Chrome is available.
7. Cinch Audio Recorder
If you love to record music from online streaming services, then it is the perfect streaming audio recorder to use. The software can record not only high-quality audio but also captures all the information about the music, including the title, artist, and the album name. That said, since it uses system-level recording, you can record silently without connecting to the speaker or even with volume down. The software is also capable of removing any advertisement delivering a perfect audio recording tool.
You can also use this as your audio player as all metadata is available, and you can also add album cover.
Pros:
- Create Ringtone from recorded audio files
- Finds metadata i.e., ID3 tags for the audio file which you can also manually edit
- Built-in search to find any audio you recorded earlier
- Auto Split large audio files
Cons:
- No audio trimmer available
- Only Mp3 format is supported
- No Audio convertor
Conclusion
Now that you know about so many streaming audio recorders, I am sure you have understood the power of a tool that offers both audio and video. EaseUS RecExperts provide an excellent combination of audio and video recording. You can choose to only record audio, which is not available in every screen recorder tool. Along with that, you can also trim audio files or use their Advanced Video Editor to further amplify it.
Streaming audio recorder FAQs
1. Can you record a streaming audio?
Yes, you can record any streaming audio using any audio recording tool. As long as the software can intercept system sound, any podcast, music streaming, and even video recording software can be used.
2. How do I record streaming audio on Android?
Any screen recording tool should be able to record streaming audio as part of the internal sound. The concept is the same, and hence quality should be equally good.
3. How can I record save records or download streaming audio for free?
You can use any recording tool to first record the streaming audio file, and then choose to save it as MP3 files. There are many free audio streaming recorders available, such as EaseUS RecExperts, which can record or download them on the Computer.