Recording From Fm Radio

[terryanddon]

I have very little experience at recording, but am generally pretty good at electronics. This one should be easy for you people. I would like to record a morning variety FM radio show at home each morning to listen to at work the next day. I used to listen to it at work, but can no longer receive it there, but still can at home. My FM tuner (Yamaha TX-492) has a low level output that I currently run into the amplifier of my home stereo. I have done it with a cassette tape, but only get about 2 hours of the 4-1/2 hour show, and its a hassle that way. I have to believe that with all the i-pod and digital voice recording devices on the market, there must be a better way. What is the best (cheapest) way to do this? By the way, the accuracy of the recording is not important like you people are used to (music). Thanks in advance and have a good day.

 

[radiorickm]

dont luagh

the cheapest and easiest thing i could suggest........

record it onto VHS

thats right, stereo home video tape

it has a built in timer, will stop and start it's self
it has excellent sonic quality, just short of CD quality audio
it can run up to 8 hrs easilyjwith standard tapes
you can just plug the vhs player ( **which are really cheap now** ) into an aux input of most stereo systems and listen away!!!!!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

record it onto VHS

...it has excellent sonic quality, just short of CD quality audio...

that's true only if it's a HIFI VHS unit.... non-HIFI VHS is a very low-grade audio recorder - worse than cassette.

But the suggestion of using a VCR is excellent for this purpose.

 

[terryanddon]

Thanks

Thanks a lot. That makes sense. I have a VCR right next to the FM tuner. I just checked and it has left and right audio inputs. A quick trip to Radio Shack for some wires and I'm recording. Then I buy another (cheap) VCR for work and I'm listening. That's a great idea. I'm glad I thought of it! (That's a combination compliment and joke. I'm a mechanical design engineer at work and use that line as the ultimate thank you to a co-worker that has given me a good idea and also as the ultimate put down for anyone who even considers stealing another's ideas as their own. It really makes for some raised eyebrows around people that have not seen it before, but a very obvious look at the donating person always puts things in the correct perspective.) Thanks again and have a good day.

 

[terryanddon]

Update

$50 for another VCR for work (listening) and $5 for a cord and I'm listening. It worked perfectly. Thanks again!

 

[borntoplease]

how are you running the audio out of the VCR? headphones or something?

 

[terryanddon]

Actually I have a cable with 2 (male) RCA jacks on one end (into the VCR) and a 1/8" streeo jack on the other end (available at Radio Shack) . Then I have a 1/8" coupler (also Radio Shack). Then I plugged in powered speakers and I'm listening tothe VCR. Or insted of the powered speakers, you could always plug in headphones.