Stream It. Record It. Keep It.

Replay Media Catcher 5 User Guide

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Quick Start

Watch these videos to get up and running quickly with Replay Media Catcher:

Overview

Replay Media Catcher 5 is an easy, yet powerful way to capture video and audio files from thousands of web sites as they play in any web browser. These files can be transferred to phones or tablets, burned to a CD or DVD disc, or incorporated into other programs like PowerPoint or video editors.

Besides being a simple-to-use streaming media recorder, Replay Media Catcher 5 has some other handy features:

Tutorials

Replay Media Catcher includes handy tutorials that provide a graphical overview of how to perform most tasks.

You can open the tutorial screen at anytime via the Help > Tutorials menu.

tutorials

Library: Organizing your Downloaded Video, Music and Radio

When you start Replay Media Catcher 5 for the first time, the default view is the Library.

The Library displays all audio and video that you have downloaded or recorded.

library

The Library has two types of views: list view and thumbnail view. To change views, select the one you want from the toolbar. See letter F in the screenshot above.

Thumbnail View

The thumbnail view displays an icon for each download or recording. You can change the icon image in the item's Properties if you like.

The context menu button in the top right corner of each thumbnail displays action menu items that apply to that item. This menu can also be displayed by right clicking the item.

context menu

Double clicking an item will play it. If there is a progress bar across the item, double clicking the progress bar will display the Properties dialog.

Renaming an item is similar to renaming a file in Windows Explorer: To rename an item, click the name text once. Use the Escape key to cancel or Return key to confirm.

List View

The list view displays a row for each item with columns containing the date, name and status of the item. It also displays an icon indicating the status.

To display the context menu for an item select the item and right-click. You can do this with several items at once.

list view

Folders

There is a folder for each module that contains downloads and recordings for that particular module.

You can create your own folders via Library > Folders > New Folder in the Library menu.

Each module also has a default output folder and you can change this using the toolbar icon on the appropriate module.

You can drag both thumbnail and list view items to folders you create.

You can show or hide the folders via Library > Folders > Show folders in the Library menu.

You can import items into your library by drag and dropping them from Windows Explorer. The items will be moved into your Replay Media Catcher Media Folder. When viewing a folder you have created you can import all media in that folder by Library > Folders > Synchronize.

Library Settings

library settings

The Library > Settings menu will display the Settings dialog and automatically display the Library tab. You can change the following settings:

To reset to the default settings. Click the Defaults button.

Conversions

The Library module contains a drop down list of preset conversion settings in the toolbar. Selecting a preset from this drop down means that any download, recording or conversion started after the preset is changed will be converted to that format. If you don't wish for a conversion to occur, select Don't Convert.

To automatically import recorded, downloaded and converted media into iTunes, select an iTunes supported conversion settings and check the Import into iTunes item at the bottom of this menu. We recommend that you have iTunes setup to copy media files to its library when adding (found in the Preferences -> Advanced tab of iTunes).

conversions

You have full control over the preset conversion settings and can create, delete and modify them. However as new devices and formats are released, preset conversion settings will be updated, and these are automatically downloaded when you start the application.

To create, delete or edit existing preset conversion settings select the Configure menu item from the drop-down or use the Library > Conversions Settings menu item. The Conversion Settings dialog will appear.

conversion settings

To add a new format without deleting the default, simply click the copy button first, give your new format a name, then edit as you wish.

 

Tools: Convert

The Library > Convert menu allows you to select one or more media files from your file system to convert. These files can be outside of your library and will be imported if required.

Tools: Fix FLV

The Library > Fix FLV menu allows you to select one or more FLV files from your file system to fix. Use this if a downloaded file is unplayable or gives an error in your media player.

Tools: Meta Data/Tags

The Library > Meta Data/Tags menu allows you to select one or more media files from your file system so you can change the ID3 tags. Double-click a tag to change the value.

Properties

On each item's menu is a Properties option, accessed by right-clicking on an item or via the Library > Properties menu item:

Item Properties

Internet: Downloading and Recording Video and Audio from your Browser

Replay Media Catcher 5 will detect and download video and music from thousands of sites and streamed via many different protocols and in many different formats.

Click here for the full list of supported protocols.

Browser Independence

It does not matter what browser or other application (including in the applications guide) that you use to watch video or listen to music that is streamed from the internet. This is because Replay Media Catcher monitors the network stream for media, and once detected will download or record the stream.

What is the Difference Between Recording and Downloading Internet Streams?

When Replay Media Catcher detects a compatible stream it will try and create another connection to download it. When Replay Media Catcher is downloading there is no need to continue to play the video or music in your browser!

Sometimes it is not possible for Replay Media Catcher to download. In these instances, Replay Media Catcher will record the stream as it plays in your browser. When Replay Media Catcher is recording in this manner you must continue to play the video or music in your browser. If you stop playback, then Replay Media Catcher will also stop recording.

Replay Media Catcher displays Downloading or Recording in front of each stream's progress bar.

Monitoring For Internet Streams

You must start monitoring BEFORE you watch or listen to media that you want to capture. Click on the green START switch before browsing to the media you want to capture. Once clicked, the START switch will turn red and say STOP, but will be actively monitoring for media. The START switch can be accessed via the Library or Internet tab views. In the Library tab view, make sure Download from the Internet is selected in the pulldown.

internet screenshot

Small Interface

If you are capturing a lot of media from the internet (say a playlist of songs) then you may wish to use the Small Interface by clicking smallin the toolbar. The main interface will disappear and the Small Interface will appear in the top right hand corner of your screen. The Small interface can be dragged to different locations, and you can return to the Main Interface by clicking small.

When you switch to the Small Interface, Replay Media Catcher will appear on your screen like this:

small

Setting the Output Folder

At any time you can change the default output folder where recordings and downloads will be saved by clicking folder in the toolbar.

Internet Settings

The Internet > Settings menu will display the Settings dialog and automatically display the Internet tab. You can change the following settings:

Tools: Manual Download

You can perform manual downloads using the Internet > Manual Download menu.

The dialog lets you select the type of download to perform.

Audio: Recording What You're Hearing

Audio recording is a great way to capture music when downloading fails. Saving audio using this method is guaranteed to work, regardless of the format, protocol or web site of the media.

When Replay Media Catcher detects that downloading will fail during audio/video playback, it will prompt you to use the built in audio recorder.

Start recording by going to the Internet tab or Audio tab, and clicking the green START button. In the Library tab view, make sure Record Audio is selected in the pulldown. Once clicked, the START switch will turn red and say STOP, but will be actively monitoring for audio media. The Audio tab module will glow blue while recording.

audio recording

Small Interface

If you are capturing a lot of media from the internet (say a playlist of songs) then you may wish to use the Small Interface by clicking smallin the toolbar. The main interface will disappear and the Small Interface will appear in the top right hand corner of your screen. The Small interface can be dragged to different locations, and you can return to the Main Interface by clicking small.

When you switch to the Small Interface, Replay Media Catcher will appear on your screen like this:

small

Setting the Output Folder

At any time you can change the default output folder that files are saved in by clicking folder in the toolbar.

Audio Settings

The Audio > Settings menu will display the Settings dialog and automatically display the Audio tab. You can change the following settings:

settings-audio

Audio Settings: Capture Tab

Settings-Audio Capture

Audio Settings: Naming Tab

settings-audio-naming

History: Extracting Media From Your Browser Cache

The History module monitors the Adobe Flash player running in your browser and also the caches of Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. It is the only way to be able to capture videos that are streamed over HTTPS (SSL).

The History tool works best when used in conjunction with Internet Explorer.

history

History Settings

settings-history

The History > Settings menu will display the Settings dialog and automatically display the History tab. You can change the following settings:

Guides: Exploring the Media Guides

Various Guides are available to help you find Music, Video, Radio, Podcasts and Audio Books to download and record. We are adding new guides all the time so be sure to always use the latest version of Replay Media Catcher.

Some guides provide the ability to download and schedule downloads directly from within the guide itself. Others require Internet monitoring or audio recording to be switched on to capture media as it plays in the guide.

When you open a guide you may be prompted for the best method to download or record from that guide. If you are not prompted then the guide will allow you to directly download from within it.

Guides that allow direct downloads can have content scheduled for download or recording. Using the guide for Scheduling ensures correct information is entered into the scheduler.

guides

Schedule Recording

Replay Media Catcher contains a sophisticated scheduler, which allows you to schedule regular and unattended downloads and/or recordings. The scheduler takes into consideration the time zone of the source, and also handles changes in daylight savings between the source and you. This is particularly important for regular radio recordings.

Replay Media Catcher does not need to be running when a download or recording is scheduled. It will automatically start.

schedule

You can configure a scheduled download or recording as follows:

Converting

Please refer to the Conversions topic in the Library section of this guide.

Customizing the Interface

Some Replay Media Catcher customers prefer to see all the features available in the main interface. Some customers prefer a minimalist interface. You can customize the interface to your liking by showing/hiding the tabs, library folders, and thumbnails.

Advanced Settings