Freecorder 5 Printable User

User Guide

Download YouTube YouTube Converter FLV Player Media Converter Video Downloader Audio Recorder Skype Recorder Stream Recording Links At Large Recorder User Guide

Overview
Setting up Freecorder
How to Download from YouTube and Other Sites
How to Save a Web Video
How to Save a Video to MP3
How to Record Web Audio
How to Play Your Recordings
How to Convert Video and Audio Files
Watching Online TV Stations
Listening to Radio

Other Links

Download Page
Freecorder Information Page
Support

Overview

Freecorder is a great way to capture and convert many kinds of audio and video from the internet. It also includes some optional search enhancements, a radio player, a TV player, and the Replay Media Guide. Freecorder is 100% free.

 

Freecorder works within your Internet Explorer or Firefox browser. The buttons on the toolbar let you do these cool things:

toolbar

 

Important Legal note: The audio and video you record for your personal use may be copyrighted. Under the current laws of most countries, you are allowed to save these recordings and watch them yourself, but any redistribution or rebroadcast of these programs to others constitutes illegal use. Please respect the rights of the content owners when recording.

Setting up Freecorder

Use the Settings Tool.

Before using Freecorder, we recommend you check out the program settings.

Click the Settings button . The Settings screen appears:

settings window

Storage Directory

This is where your saved video and audio files are placed.

Video Capture Settings

Temporary Storage Size: This allows you to set a limit on how much disk space you want for saving streaming video or audio files. In many cases, a separate (temporary) copy of the streaming media file needs to be saved to your PC. If this size limit is exceeded, older files are automatically deleted.

Monitor Internet Explorer's temporary directory: If you are getting two of every video file when recording from Internet Explorer, uncheck this option. If you change the User Account Control option on your PC, then you may need to change this option as well. This is configured to the proper setting the first time you use Freecorder.

Audio Capture Settings

MP3 Audio Bit rate: This specifies the quality and size of recorded audio files. The larger the number, the better the quality, and the larger the file. Most Web audio is not streamed at a quality higher than 128 Kbps, so increasing this setting won't make lousy audio files sound any better.

Freecorder has two different audio recording technologies. If you get multiple copies of an audio file when recording, you can enable or disable them using these settings:

Record using Windows Vista Audio Technology: Specific to Windows Vista, this method is most reliable for Vista users. This has no effect on XP machines.

Record using Applian Audio Driver Technology: This method will work on 99% of machines. If the other method isn't always working, or if you are using Window XP or 2000, make sure this method is selected.

 

How to Download from YouTube and Other Sites

Use the YouTube Downloader Tool

If you're watching a YouTube video, you can easily save it in several formats by using the Download YouTube Video tool. Here's how:

  1. Play the video.
  2. Click the YouTube tool: . The various video files available for your video will appear in a pop-up window:



  3. Click a download link, and choose Save As to save the file to your PC.

 

How to Save a Web Video

save video button Use the Video History Tool

Freecorder watches your "video cache" and privately keeps track of every video you've watched. If you've just viewed something you'd like to save on your PC, here's how to save it:

  1. Click Video History save video button . You'll be presented with the following screen:

  2. save video window

  3. Click the file to save, then press the Save button save button. The Save dialog appears:



  4. You can rename your file here. Click Save to save it to disk in your Storage Directory.

 

Hint: To save a video, it needs to be fully downloaded to your PC. Normally if you've watched it already, then it's ready to save.


Other things you can do from this screen after selecting a media file:

play button Play the selected file.

remove button Remove the selected file from the list.

Delete all entries from the list.


Cool Trick: Video History works with many audio files too.

 

Product Tip

Download YouTube Videos with Replay Media Catcher

To capture more kinds of streaming video, try Replay Media Catcher.


How to Save a Video to MP3

Saving a video file as an MP3 is easy. You can do it in two ways:

  1. When saving a video file, choose the Save as MP3 option:



    or

  2. Use the Converter tool to convert a video file to MP3.

 

How to Record Web Audio

Record Audio button Use the Record Audio Tool

The Record Audio feature acts just like a tape recorder. Anything you are listening to can be captured in real time - as you listen.

Here's how to record audio using Freecorder:

  1. Click the Record Audio button Record Audio button. The Audio Recording window appears:

    Record Audio Window

  2. Play your audio. You'll see the wavy lines in the audio recording window move. This indicates that Freecorder is able to "hear" the audio you want saved.
  3. When you're finished, hover over the recording window and click the Stop Recording button.



  4. The Recorded Audio window appears showing your recording:

    Recorded Audio Window

  5. In many cases, you'll get two copies of a recording, depending upon how you've configured the Audio Capture Settings. (See Settings for details on configuring this in the best way.)
  6. Check the recording you'd like to save, and click Close. The MP3 file is saved to your Storage Directory.

 

Hint: Right-click on any recording to see more options:

Recorded Audio Window

 

Product Tip

Download MP3's with Replay Music

If you're recording songs, try Replay Music. This advanced audio recorder will automatically split songs into individual tracks, and identify and tag your MP3 files with artist, album, title and genre information.

 

 

How to Play Your Recordings

Play Button Use the Play Tool

To play your saved media files, Freecorder makes it easy to open your storage directory and see your audio and video files.

  1. Click the Play button Play Button .
  2. The folder with your media files opens (looking something like this):

    Media Folder

  3. Double click on any file to play it.

 

How to Convert Video and Audio Files

Convert Button Use the Convert Tool.

Freecorder not only saves files, but includes a simple convert function to let you "transcode" your video and audio files to other formats. Here's how it works:

  1. Click the Convert button Convert Button. The Convert window appears:

    Converter Tool Window

  2. A list of your recorded files appears. Click the check box next to each file you want to convert.
  3. Pick the target format from the Select New Format list.
  4. If you'd like the converted file to be automatically added to iTunes, select the Add to iTunes Library option.
  5. You can change the folder where your converted files are saved by changing the Select Directory option.
  6. Click Begin to start the conversion process. You'll see your conversion status:

    Converter Tool Progress Window

  7. When your conversions are finished, you'll see a window like this.

    Converter Tool Progress Window - Finished


Product Tip

Convert FLV files with Replay Converter

For faster, more advanced conversions, including DVD burning, try Replay Converter.

 

 

Watching Online TV Stations

Use the TV Channels Tool.

Freecorder has a built-in TV Player, so you can watch popular web television channels from all over the world.

  1. Click the button.
  2. Choose a channel from the menu.



 

Listening to Radio

Use the Radio Player

Freecorder also has a handy radio player. To use it:

  1. Click the down arrow on the radio player.
  2. Pick a station from the menu.