A blogger I follow was wondering how to capture streaming audio from the internet, and I told him I’d look into it for him.  (Hi Tim!)  I found many options for both Mac and Windows users, and thought I’d pass them along.

I also stumbled across some video-capture programs while I was searching, so I’ll probably be doing a post on those as well.

If you know of a good one that I’ve missed, please feel free to add it in the comments!

In no particular order, here’s what I found:

For both Mac and Windows:

Audacity (free!)

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:

• Record live audio.
• Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
• Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
• Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
• Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
• And more! See the complete list of features.

RecordPad ($55; $38.20 through Nov. 15, 2008)

• Record sound, voice, notes, music or any other audio.
• Save recordings to your hard drive in wav, mp3 or aiff format. (*Pocket PC version does not support saving to mp3 file format)
• Can be set to record only when you are speaking with voice activated recording.
• Recordings can be burnt directly to CD using Express Burn software to create an audio CD.
• System-wide hot keys allow keyboard control over recording while working in other programs.
• Option to automatically send recordings via email or upload to an FTP server.
• MPEG Layer-3 encoding offers content of variable bit rates from 8 to 320kbps with optional crc error checking and joint stereo modes.
• Wave encoding at sample rates between 6000 and 196000Hz in PCM or many other codecs and bits.
• Can be automated and integrated to run from other programs with powerful command line options.
• Fully integrates with WavePad Professional Audio Editing Software to edit recordings and add effects.
• Can be used in conjunction Express Scribe, Player for Typists to assist transcription of voice recordings.
• Designed to be simple and robust for professional and corporate recording applications.

For Mac Users:

Audio Hijack Pro ($32; free trial)

Depending on how you configure Audio Hijack Pro, it can record from one application at a time (just the audio from Safari), multiple separate applications into separate file (Safari and DVD Player), or all audio at once.

When you record from one application, Audio Hijack Pro will grab audio from only that application. With Audio Hijack Pro you won’t wind up with system alerts, iChat beeps, or any other audio you don’t want.

You can also set Audio Hijack Pro to grab audio from multiple individual sources at the same time. If you want to record a stream from DVD Player, and another stream from Safari, you can do it. Set up multiple sessions, one for each source, then hit record and you’ll be all set. When the recordings are done, you’ll have one file for each recording - your VCR can’t even do that!

Finally, you can use the System Audio input source to record all audio being played on your machine. If you want to record everything coming out of your speakers, use the System Audio input device and Audio Hijack Pro will save this all to one file.

WireTap ($69; free trial)

Using WireTap Studio, you can record the discrete audio output of any application, as well as all system audio, or record audio input from any microphone, line-in, or audio input hardware.

If you can hear it, WireTap Studio can record it.

Once you have recorded your audio, you can easily organize your recordings in the convenient Recording Library, and edit them with WireTap Studio’s integrated lossless audio editor.

WireTap Studio also boasts full Audio Unit effects support, for adding professional quality effects to your audio.

Sound Studio ($79.99/Mac OS X)

Sound Studio is an audio recording and editing application for the Mac OS. It allows you to take full advantage of your Mac’s built-in sound recording and playback capabilities (It uses Core Audio under Mac OS X). With Sound Studio you can digitize your collection of vinyl and tapes, do live recording of audio, edit new and pre-existing digital audio and save your audio in several file formats to be used in other audio apps.

AudioX ($19.95/Mac OS X)

AudioX was written for people who want an easy way to record sound from any input source under Mac OS X. ie. built-in microphone, USB microphone or even a firewire video camera.
AudioX is great for recording interviews, voice memos, sound FX and even old vinyl records. You can then convert them into MP3 using Apples free iTunes or the software or your choice.

For Windows Users:

Pistonsoft mp3 audio recorder (free)  (The download link is inside the blue box, at the bottom; I’m telling you because it took me half a minute to locate it. . . .)

Free download from Shareware Connection - Captures audio from any source, including line-in, microphone, or sounds that are played back on your computer by other applications, and save the recording into any sound format such as MP3 or OGG without the need to compress and re-compress

Alive WMA MP3 Recorder ($29.95; free trial)

Alive WMA MP3 Recorder records any audio source from your computer into MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, and VOX files. With Alive WMA MP3 Recorder you can record sound from microphone, line-in, streaming audio from the Internet, or music played by WinAMP, Windows Media Player, Quick Time, RealPlayer, Power DVD, VCD, Flash, Games, etc..

Alive WMA MP3 Recorder allows you to record sound without running out of memory as long as there’s enough disk space. Alive WMA MP3 Recorder have simple and intuitive interface. Sound quality of the recordings remains excellent. Alive WMA MP3 Recorder integrates the complete set of record volume control for your convenience.

In addition, Alive WMA MP3 Recorder includes an AudioPlayer, and enables you to play MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, VOX, MPC, AVI, MP1, MP2, MPA, g721, g726, g723 or RAW files.

Free Sound Recorder (free)

Free Sound Recorder is a perfect audio recorder to record your own voice, music or any other sound by working directly with your sound card. It supports the record input/source from a microphone, streaming audio from the Internet, external input devices (e.g. CDs, LP, music cassettes, phone line etc.) as well as other applications like Winamp, Media Player, etc.