So I've found a very nice library of old-time radio shows, but they're all in .ra. I want them on my Zune, so that means they need to be in .mp3. Any converters out there that actually work?
Most of these have a trial period http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/ra-files-to-mp3.html also http://www.boilsoft.com/download.html
The first link, I didn't see any actual .ra to .mp3 converters, just miscellaneous audio converters. I tried the Boilsoft one, and a trial would be fine except that it's feature-limited rather than time-limited. I wouldn't get a full convert from their trial for xx days, instead I'd get xx seconds of converted audio.
Never mind, I discovered why the files weren't converting with the programs that should have been doing the job -- they weren't actual audio tracks, just .ram "link" files to online tracks. Damn it.
You could end up having a problem actually 'downloading' the realaudio-files, most likely they won't be downloadable as files, but can only be streamed. In that case I'd suggest a program like total recorder($18) or, better:tunebite ($25) Tunebite can even handle DRM-files and gets rid of the protection (completely legal). Maybe there are other programs out there that do the same thing. I used total recorder for the same purpose as you intend: an online library of somewhat older realaudio files. Beware though: for these programs to be able to record the files as they are streamed, you need software that can play them - and current copies of realaudio players (realone) can't handle old realaudio files, so you may need to dig up an old realaudio player.
nope, at least it didn't for me, got some error about not being to decode the file or something. You need an old version of realplayer - that is, IF they won't play, better try it first. This site offers old realplayer programs. Realplayer 8 worked for me.
If all else fails, you can do a realtime re-recording using Audacity (free open source). Audacity basically just monitors whatever audio lines you tell it to and allows you to record them as .wav files. It takes a bit of doing as you have to manually stop/start, make sure no other sounds are playing on your PC, and then convert it to mp3 afterwards. However, this method is probably going to yield a higher quality sound than lossy-to-lossy conversion (since many software and hardware peices out there "improve" the compressed audio, and you capture the same exact analog output that your speakers are receiving). Works pretty well with a SB Audigy 2, might not be so hot (or even work) with an integrated sound codec or with a crappier card. Supposedly it works very will with the mp3 "crystallizer" on X-fi cards.
Yeah, the computer I'm using right now is some kitbuilt POS with a no-name sound card, so that's not going to be an option in the immediate future.
