Downloading the Radio

February 2, 2012 8:12 PM

I want to automate a VLC stream/encode of an internet radio station. Help?

I would love to be able to us the command line version of VLC to automatically grab 10 minute chunks of streaming web radio so that I have an automatic mix for when I'm driving. (No good radio stations around.)

If I could get my hands on a command line script to stream internet radio to a file, I would be able to automate it into awesomeness. :)

Thanks!

posted by 47triple2 to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

I use linux for this. The program I use is "icecream". It works really great. Then I take the downloaded programs and use "escpod" to make a podcast RSS file for me and the stuff gets automatically downloaded to my phone.
posted by RustyBrooks at 8:30 PM on February 2, 2012

Best answer: Streamripper worked for me. I have used it in the past to do exactly what you want (and, indeed, turn the downloaded chunks into a RSS Podcast feed). The commandline reference indicates that it can rip for a specified number of seconds, for example.

Streamripper, however, is only really happy with MP3 streams. If you want to rip / convert Windows Media, for example, then ffmpeg can do anything, although it's probably a bit more complicated to use.
posted by Jimbob at 8:31 PM on February 2, 2012

Best answer: Found a solution!

Streamripper has a Mac port called XStreamRipper. Which, doesn't do what I want.

BUT! that page links to the very cool FStream.

FStream is both AppleScriptable and of quality build.

So, combine FStream with this applescript:


property timeDelay : 60 * 10 --10 minutes

tell application "FStream"
openStreamWithURL "http://..." andName "Radio Station"
end tell

repeat 10 times
tell application "FStream"
startRecording
end tell

delay timeDelay

tell application "FStream"
stopRecording
startRecording
end tell
end repeat
delay timeDelay
tell application "FStream"
stopRecording
end tell



FStream will record almost seamless 10 minutes bits of radio.
posted by 47triple2 at 9:13 PM on February 2, 2012

(It probably would have been useful to say you have a mac)
posted by RustyBrooks at 6:14 AM on February 3, 2012

Came here to say streamripper and that this is a great idea. I make approximately 5h mp3 CDs for the car. Each song is an MP3 and correctly tagged.

One of the best uses is SomaFM's Mission Control, light music with space program communication recordings on the background. It just goes amazingly well with driving.

If you find yourself with a folder of named MP3s that you can't burn in the order they were broadcast, I can give you a little script I made that will rename the files so that sorting them by name also sorts them by broadcast time, allowing you to keep the order and transitions of the radio station.
posted by CautionToTheWind at 9:54 AM on February 3, 2012