[foot-loose]

* getting rid of the songs. Just fast forward through them.

[nade]

Mr Ladbroke - or anyone else that knows.

What's the best thing for converting a ".ra" file to an mp3? I tried something I got off the net but it just produced an empty mp3. Anyone got any good suggestions?

Andy, you could try a free program called SUPER. It should allow you to convert a .ra file to mp3.

The program is really sluggish to start but works for loads of different file types/formats.

EDIT: Got a link here: http://www.erightsoft.com/S6Kg1.html (The actual download link is right near the bottom of this webpage)

[MK Chris]

I use Easy CD-DA Extractor for audio file conversion as well as CD ripping and burning... it's the best I've ever seen, although I did pay a tenner for it... shows how much I like it, I rarely pay for software.

[Andy B]

Foots I've done it now, takes no time at all, I've already got the software so it's not difficult for me at all.

EDIT: Actually listening back to it, on occasion it does go a bit garbled but I think that's probably more to do with the converting than anything else.

[JonathanEx]

Here, let me save you all some time.

A programme from http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/ can download the entire show from iPlayer as an mp3. Basically, scroll down to "Pre-built Windows GUI" and download that programme.

[Yudster]

Oooh, JonathanEx might have a willy to rival Console's!

[ladbroke]

Mr Ladbroke - or anyone else that knows.

What's the best thing for converting a ".ra" file to an mp3? I tried something I got off the net but it just produced an empty mp3. Anyone got any good suggestions?

I use NCH switch, use Mr Google I'm too lazy to link it! Must be catching Andy! Also thanks Jonathon Ex I'll give that software a try later to download from iPlayer.

[ladbroke]

Balls I just noticed that's what foots suggested! Think I need more coffee, or maybe just going back to bed would help.

[richardtomlinson]

Jonathan Ex's method intrigued me, so I had a go. Pretty simple - you get a handy 210-minute 128kbps mp3 file.

The only leg work you need to do is locate each show's unique eight-digit iPlayer programme code from somewhere (eg. "b00ff278" for today's show - 11/11/2008). I suggest visiting here and extracting the required code from the links (you know, right-click, copy shortcut).

No format conversions are needed, but as the mp3 is exactly 210-minutes long it does end on the stroke of 10am so if the show ends late or you want to hear the handover you'll need to download Jo's/Sarah's show as well.

[JonathanEx]

Yeah, it's a bit of a bugger with handovers... but it's the exact thing that'll play if you listen again on iPlayer in the flash interface.

[Console]

I was under the impression that the MP3 streams (technically, they're downloads) were only for the iPhone, as it doesn't have Flash capabilities - I thought everyone else got the Real Audio streams.

[richardtomlinson]

Yes, the iPlayer Downloader JonathanEx linked to does indeed access the material that is ordinarily used for streaming to an iPhone (and iPod Touch, I think).

[JonathanEx]

I was under the impression that the MP3 streams (technically, they're downloads) were only for the iPhone, as it doesn't have Flash capabilities - I thought everyone else got the Real Audio streams.

Possible. However, you're only forced to use Real Audio/WMV for live content on iPlayer Radio. Listening again to things has a flash player, which I would have assumed is using mp3, and not .ra - could be wrong though.

[Andy B]

Just tried the iphone style download thingy. It IS a lot quicker and a lot less hassle although how long it lasts until the beeb make it too difficult to bugger about with is another story?

I had a few problems with converting it which produced quite a few garbled bits but hopefully this will sort everything out. It's a flippin huge file compared to the .ra file. Why can't they make something smaller than mp3. Stupid computer techy people. After cutting out all the music and news I'm still left with an mp3 that's 124MB. It's too big dammit.

Incidently Monday's show left me with 2hr15m of audio. Given the news is about 20-25 minutes of that it means they have a higher speech/music output than local BBC radio whcih HAVE to have a higher speech output.

[br0ther_bruce]

so after all of that I guess the answer to my original question which started this thread, is you can't download the program anywhere, if i want to listen to it I need to record it at home.......

[Console]

Actually, there have been numerous ways to download the show suggested. Of course, recording it at home yourself is an alternative.

[JonathanEx]

I had a few problems with converting it which produced quite a few garbled bits but hopefully this will sort everything out. It's a flippin huge file compared to the .ra file. Why can't they make something smaller than mp3. Stupid computer techy people. After cutting out all the music and news I'm still left with an mp3 that's 124MB. It's too big dammit.

You can get the mp3 to be smaller, but you lower the quality - it all depends on bitrate. If you're cutting bits the music out, it's safe to cut down the quality on export to something like 64kbs, which is easy to do in Audacity. Remember though you've got a very long file, so, yes - it's going to be big.


Also, there's no real worries about the Beeb blocking that method, as they've tried various ways in the past to block it and it rarely lasted more than a day.

[Console]

Somewhat amusingly, only their first attempt to block non-iPhone players broke my script and all I needed to do then was to use the correct UA strings for the iPhone and Quicktime. Their more recent attempts had no effect what-so-ever on my script, which was apparently due to my using a parallel downloading set-up (which I did to theoretically increase the download speed). I only noticed the problems when I attempted to serialise my downloading again.

[Johnny Karate]

hee hee

[Andy B]

Actually, there have been numerous ways to download the show suggested. Of course, recording it at home yourself is an alternative.

Will any of the ways we suggested though, work abroad? Don't the beeb restrict the listen again feature? They restrict the rest of iPlayer so foreigners can't watch it don't they?

[richardtomlinson]

Will any of the ways we suggested though, work abroad? Don't the beeb restrict the listen again feature? They restrict the rest of iPlayer so foreigners can't watch it don't they?

Perhaps one of our overseas members may like to try out the iPlayer Downloader as JonathanEx suggested and let us all know ...

A programme from http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/ can download the entire show from iPlayer as an mp3. Basically, scroll down to "Pre-built Windows GUI" and download that programme.

The only leg work you need to do is locate each show's unique eight-digit iPlayer programme code from somewhere (eg. "b00ff278" for today's show - 11/11/2008). I suggest visiting here and extracting the required code from the links (you know, right-click, copy shortcut).

[Andy B]

I was thinking more of the flashget thingy as it sort of cirumvents the whole iplayer thingy at all doesn't it? As long as they've got Real Player it should work?

[Console]

Downloading the real-audio streams should work fine, as I don't think there's any Geo-IP restrictions on it. As for the mp3 downloads, those probably will be restricted (although certainly worth trying).

[Andy B]

Seee that's what I said but just not in techy terms........

[easy_to_please]

I just tried the iplayer thing and it didn't work; however, I'm at work and I think it's being blocked by the filter. I'll try again at home.