Author Topic: recording phone conversations from a PC (skype, voip). What I have tried (Read 46,227 times)

urlwolf · « **on:** October 05, 2006, 08:57 AM »

This is the current landscape to Record Skype/voIP Conversations.
They all ask you to pay $20-$30 and most of them didn't even work on my system. Most offer lots of other features that I don’t need, like sharing music, answering machines, or the superpower of making funny noises to your otherwise perfectly normal conversation.

Powergamo http://www.powergramo.com/
Didn't work at all

HCM express talk 27$ https://www.nch.com.au/cgi-bin/register.exe?software=talk
The only one that successfully records voip protocol (!)
Seems to do skype through plugin. Didn't work for me.
Doesn’t record to wav, but pcm
Doesn't do two channels
Can do searches on recorded conversations (using dragon). I haven't tried this
Waiting music that runs as you boot, and has to be deactivated by hand.
Documentation sucks, you have to pay extra for support
It installs 4 programs, plus a plug in needed. Install only if you cannot live without it, as it bugs you so much that you would want to burn your computer. A terrorist attack to your OS.
It is a mess, it hangs when using the skype plugin

HotRecorder http://www.hotrecorder.com/
Crap interface, buttons don't fit the non-resizable screen. Didn’t test much more

Total recorder http://www.highcriteria.com/
Msg saying that it is known not to work with voip
When recording from skype, only one channel is kept ! (e.g., only one person!)
useless

Pamela http://www.pamela-systems.com/products/
Expensive $24
Skype only
Supports skype 2.6
Hard to unistall (leaves a track of virtual cables)

Prettymay $20 www.prettymay.net/
Does two channels, skype only
Saves to wav
Shares music
Ok, but when wav is played back in reaper, it is slow motion (!)

SAM $29 http://www.kishkish.com/sam/
Didn't work at all

So, all in all, I still don't have a good solution to record a phone conversation! And I'm not going to try more software. Apart from the several hours wasted already, I have vowed not to install anything new for a month.

Any ideas? what works for you?
(also see http://www.labnol.blogspot.com/2006/06/how-to-record-skype-conversations.html where I got most of the links)

urlwolf · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2006, 09:00 AM »

Oh, and also, if anyone knows what affects the quality of skype/voip calls to landline phones, please let me know. When I tested everything seemed to work fine, but when I had to 'go live' the quality just wasn't there at all. Minor variations of hardware/phone area/time of the day/phase of the moon seem to affect the quality of the call. I hate this because it is impossible to troubleshoot well (random factors?)

sri · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2006, 09:10 AM »

Try this: http://www.voiceemotion.com/.

urlwolf · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2006, 10:28 AM »

Thanks Sri

I tried vmotion before, I just didn't remember the results.

It records voip fine.
What I don't like:
(1) It only records the call after it is finished. What if the program crashes? Also, I don't like that you cannot see a file increasing in size to make sure it is recording fine.

It can be solved like this: (from help file)

Save a record before finishing a call

When you are recording a call, select menu command "Recorder | Save Recorded Up to Now" to save the already recorded data into a new record file. This does not mean stopping recording. The call is still being recorded, and another record will be produced when you finish the call or select the menu command "Recorder | Save Recorded Up to Now" again.

But it is still a hack.

(2) bad documentation, lots of things missing.
(3) reaper cannot play the wav files generated (?). The VPs are moving, but no sound is produced. Weird.

Since it's $20 or 3min recording time, I'd have to buy it to actually see how reliable it is.

Is there any reason you recommend this partular one?
Thanks

urlwolf · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2006, 10:51 AM »

also, testing skype, I get a popup saying that 'At present, vemotion cannot record skype calls.' Even though the advertise it all over the place...

urlwolf · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2006, 10:59 AM »

In their forums: "
I've passed Vemotion on to my professional colleagues.

All of which have asked about Skype.

If it doesn't work then could you please REMOVE any mention of skype from the application.

Specifically the Options dialog where my professional colleagues can set Skype to Enable."

How do I hate testing sub-standard software that wastes my time. And this particular area (voip/skype recording) is full of it...

Lenare · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2009, 10:12 AM »

Nowadays free good quality programs start to overtake the market. My favorite one is Skype call recorder

mediaguycouk · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2009, 05:57 PM »

Powergramo didn't work? I've been using it for months and think it's brilliant!

floop · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2009, 12:37 PM »

i use skype + SkypeCap for recording.

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2009, 12:54 AM »

Quote from: Lenare on January 06, 2009, 10:12 AM

Nowadays free good quality programs start to overtake the market. My favorite one is Skype call recorder

This thread *is* over 2 years old - you might have gotten a better, more updated version.

Also, now Skype can record conversations on its own I believe (scannie was driving me nuts doing this)

scancode · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2009, 01:03 AM »

Quote from: wreckedcarzz on January 22, 2009, 12:54 AM

Quote from: Lenare on January 06, 2009, 10:12 AM
Nowadays free good quality programs start to overtake the market. My favorite one is Skype call recorder

This thread *is* over 2 years old - you might have gotten a better, more updated version.

Also, now Skype can record conversations on its own I believe (scannie was driving me nuts doing this)

Not really. Pamela Pro for Skype.

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2009, 01:10 AM »

Quote from: scancode on January 22, 2009, 01:03 AM

Quote from: wreckedcarzz on January 22, 2009, 12:54 AM
Quote from: Lenare on January 06, 2009, 10:12 AM
Nowadays free good quality programs start to overtake the market. My favorite one is Skype call recorder

This thread *is* over 2 years old - you might have gotten a better, more updated version.

Also, now Skype can record conversations on its own I believe (scannie was driving me nuts doing this)

Not really. Pamela Pro for Skype.

O_o my end told me about it? Whatever, I'm a Skype noob

scancode · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2009, 01:13 AM »

Quote from: wreckedcarzz on January 22, 2009, 01:10 AM

Quote from: scancode on January 22, 2009, 01:03 AM
Quote from: wreckedcarzz on January 22, 2009, 12:54 AM
Quote from: Lenare on January 06, 2009, 10:12 AM
Nowadays free good quality programs start to overtake the market. My favorite one is Skype call recorder

This thread *is* over 2 years old - you might have gotten a better, more updated version.

Also, now Skype can record conversations on its own I believe (scannie was driving me nuts doing this)

Not really. Pamela Pro for Skype.

O_o my end told me about it? Whatever, I'm a Skype noob

It plays a warning when I start recording and a beep when I stop.

mikeyk · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2009, 01:18 AM »

I am new to skype. Can someone walk me through how to record your calls using the software already built into skype. Or suggest another?

mikey k
Residential Voip
Voip Provider List

jimm1909 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2009, 11:51 PM »

Quote from: mikeyk on February 18, 2009, 01:18 AM

I am new to skype. Can someone walk me through how to record your calls using the software already built into skype. Or suggest another?

mikey k
Business Telephone System
Voip Provider List

Mikeyk:
I would recommend checking out skype's website. There is a ton of useful information that can answer your questions.

jimm1909 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2009, 11:52 PM »

Quote from: jimm1909 on May 03, 2009, 11:51 PM

Quote from: mikeyk on February 18, 2009, 01:18 AM
I am new to skype. Can someone walk me through how to record your calls using the software already built into skype. Or suggest another?

mikey k
Business Telephone System
Voip Provider List

Mikeyk:
I would recommend checking out skype's website. There is a ton of useful information that can answer your questions.

Also, dont forget to just search google there is a bunch of resources out there

Jaan Tamm · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2009, 10:19 AM »

agree with floop:)
I use Skypecap ( skypecap.com) for recording too...

mouser · « **Reply #17 on:** August 20, 2011, 11:54 PM »

What are people using to record skype lately? Any new good software? Or any recommendations based on using these for a while?

brotherS · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2011, 06:28 AM »

Hi mouser,

I'm very happy with MP3 Skype Recorder from http://voipcallrecording.com/ - it's free and they fixed the bugs, so now it's always working for me when I need it.

mouser · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2011, 06:38 AM »

Thanks brotherS

Renegade · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2011, 04:16 PM »

If TotalRecorder isn't working for you, you're likely doing something wrong -- there are now version for Skype. It's been THE best for complete recording for years before anyone else could do it at all - they were the first. (Unless something has gone horribly wrong... I used it years ago, and it worked perfectly.)

CONVOLUTED METHOD I USE

For The Doc Report, we use Skype. I use Samplitude (Producer Version 11.5) on my Windows box and Audacity on my Mac for only myself, and then everyone else on the other end records their audio on their own computer. Later, everyone sends me their audio, I load it all into Samplitude, sync it, and clean it up before starting post production. That's not really practical for end-user use though. (It's the same method as I used on the old .NET Preacher Show.)

However, that's for a podcast, and not casual data recording.

I'll see about testing Total Recorder sometime.