How 2 make WinAmp not WMP play streaming audio?

Hi,

I am trying to play (and record) streaming audio from a radio station using WinAmp Pro v 5.111. The piece I want to play gives me 2 choices when I click on the "Listen" button - Real Player and Windows Media Player (WMP). I tried setting all my file associations (except skins and playlists)I could find from WMP to WinAmp using Control Panel>Folders>File Types, and also selecting ALL files under the WinAmp Tools options, and I run the WinAmp agent in my sys tray. Still, WMP comes up instead of WinAmp when I click on the Listen Button and select WMP. Any way to get WinAmp to come up instead of WMP?

Thanks

 

use the stream ripper plugin for winamp to capture streams

http://streamripper.sourceforge.net/

 

about getting winamp to play the file, just copy the url link, then click open on winamp, and the ctrl v to paste. that should work

 

Hi DJScoop,

Thanks. I tried copying the URL into Winamp, but I get error messages like "Error Syncing to MPEG" and no file. It even occaionally shuts down Winamp and wants to send a message to Microsoft (thought I had that turned off.)

The URL on the web page that shows the piece I want to record does not work. I just get an error message. When I hit the "listen" button on that web page, I get a pop-up window with no URL info. However, when it starts playing in Windows Media Player, I can highlight the piece in "Now Playing" look at Properties, and copy the URL shown there. But, Winamp will neither play nor record anthing from that URL, though it looks like it is trying.

Any Ideas?

Much obliged. This is a great Forum.

 

what does winamp do when you open the URL in it?

 

Hi,

With the URL I type in, WinAmp first displays the message "Syncing to MPEG" and then an error message "Error Syncing to.." Trying to record with Stream Ripper produces ongoing cycles of "Re-con..." and leaves my with a folder named "Incomplete" sometimes containing several zero byte MP3 files.

I get the URL from Windows Media Player by highlighting the piece that is playing, rightclicking, and then looking under "Properties." I couldn't see any other way to get the URL. It is not displayed in any way I could recognize.

Since the error message mentioned "MPEG," I searched for an MPEG plug in, but found none (though I'm not certain I would recognize it unless plainly labelled.) I thought WinAmp already decoded MPEG files, but maybe these are different.

Here is a link to a piece on NPR like the ones I want. Perhaps that will tell you far more than I can.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5028273

I really appreciate your help.

 

I get the same problem and error, I don't think winamp can play the WMP file for some reason. You might try net transport. It is able to capture all types of streams.

 

Hi,

Thanks again. While tinkering a bit more, on the website I clicked on Real Player instead of Windows Media Player to listen to the file. Real Player is not installed on my computer (I use Real Alternative,) and I got an option to play or to save the file. I saved it, and it does play in Real Alternative. It is a .smil file, which I expect must be a Real Player Format.

Now, is there any way to convert this file to MP3? I could not find a way do so in Real Alternative, and I tried the ImToo Audio encoder utility. Neither worked.

Any ideas? Meanwhile, I'm exploring the Net Transport route, though I would prefer to use the [programs I have if possible.

 

Hi DJ SCoop,

Here's an update that might help. I came across a neat Freeware Audio editor/recorder called Audacity.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I thought it was supposed to allow one to copy any audio that comes out of your speakers, and to do so without the need for a jumper between line-out and line-in. Without the jumper, it sort of worked. I heard audio, but it was very low volume and tinny - probably feed through from another circuit. With a jumper in place, and volume levels adjusted, it works great, and it's very easy to use. I can edit streams and save them in WAV or MP3 Format.

There is one small problem: the audio must go from digital to analog and back to digital. So, I would like to pursue ways to avoid the analog step. I thought Stream Ripper would exactly that, but I can't get it to work on any thing except files I already have. These are digital files, and I have no need to copy them.

I haven't tried SreamRipper on many other websites. Perhaps my NPR site is an oddball. An ideas?

Thanks