[SOLVED] HOWTO: StreamTuner + StreamRipper, another way to get music

Written by Nano

I don't know how many music albums I have but it's never enough! I always need new music and I'm sure many of you need it too!

So here I want to give you some tips (for whoever didn't already know) about how to get some good quality music, and legally, as it's legal to record a TV program and then watch it when you come home.

Let's start with Streamtuner.
"streamtuner is a stream directory browser. Through the use of a plugin system, it offers an intuitive GTK+ 2.0 interface to Internet radio directories such as SHOUTcast and Live365."
In addition it can catalogue all your local music files for a fast access to them.

Ok, let's install it.

sudo apt-get install streamtuner

Ok, it should create an entry in your meny under Applications -> Sound & Video.
Since you have it installed let's teach it to open your favorite music player everytime you want to listen one of the listed radios.
In streamtuner open Edit -> Preferences. In the Application tab you will see a table. In the right column you will see "xmms %q" (I think it's the default setting), replace "xmms" with your favorite player but don't forget "%q" at the end of the string. In my case it is set to "beep-media-player %q".

Now you can listen to a lot of radio stations, many of them broadcasting at a very good bitrate.

Now, wouldn't it be cool to record your favorite ones in your hard disk?
Let's go.

To rip streaming radios we'll use "streamripper".

sudo apt-get install streamripper

Now, let's tell Streamtuner how to use Streamripper properly.
Again, open Edit -> Preferences.

In the same table as before we'll edit the last row of the table, where it says "Record a stream".
Here we will delete the right column cell and replace it with this:

x-terminal-emulator -e streamripper %q -d /mnt/Data01/Ripped -r -q

Where "/mnt/Data01/Ripped" is the location where you want all the mp3s to be stored.

The "-r" option means Streamripper will create a relay server. In other words, if you don't do it you will be downloading the ripped version twice, once by streamripper and once by your media player. You might not care if you have broadband but you will otherwise.
The "-r" option, as we said, will create the relay using by default the 8000 port but, in case it's busy (video streaming, others) it will continue serching for the next open port. Usually, if 8000 is busy 8001 won't.

Example. You found a nice radio. You tune it, your player opens it and you hear it. You like it and decide to start ripping it. You press the Record button. A console will open and streamtuner will start doing its job.
Now, you can listen at whatever you want with your media player (other streaming radios, local files, etc) that streamripper will keep doing it's job. But if you want to listen what is being ripped, instead of connecting to the streaming radio you can connect to the relay created by streamripper.
To do so, just open with your media player http://localhost:8000/ (or http://localhost:8001/, etc).

Hope you will get some cool music with this combo.
At least I do.

Cheers!

[Jenda]

So here I want to give you some tips (for whoever didn't already know) about how to get some good quality music, and legally, as it's legal to record a TV program and then watch it when you come home.

Are you absolutely sure about this? It seems to me that this would be included in "unauthorized replication".

Originally Posted by Jenda Are you absolutely sure about this? It seems to me that this would be included in "unauthorized replication".

ask nano

[mtron]

Originally Posted by Jenda Are you absolutely sure about this?

As we both live in the EU (that's all i can say), this is totally ok for private use, however you are not allowed to "share" them, use them at a public preformance, sell them ect.

So, no stress (till now) Let's hope it says like this.

[Jenda]

Indeed. That makes sense. Not that I really care. As long as I don't feel like I'm robbing the author, then I'll do anything.

[Nano]

In theory it is legal since the radio station already paid the rights to broadcast the tracks.
Of course, you cannot distribute/sell any of the songs.

[renebs]

Originally Posted by arnieboy Written by Nano I Hope you will get some cool music with this combo. At least I do. Cheers!

Just have to say one thing: Thanks for Arnieboy and all the people involved on these softwares (streamripper, Streamtuner, xmms, etc.)

[dejitarob]

The station I am attempting to do this on apparently prevents you from ripping songs. It has a delay between each track for a few seconds and when I try to use streamripper it just cycles through 'bufferring..' then 're-connecting...' It just loads a blank track '-.mp3' instead of the actual streaming content so it never actually rips anything.

Edit: Apparently, 'meta interval -1' signifies that it is plain HTTP not shoutcast. Thus I can just open up the .m3u to get the actual song locations.

[Harry_Sack]

Does anyone know how I could make the terminal open new tabs instead of a new terminal window for every stream?
I like to record several streams at the same time, but then I have to have like ten terminal windows open at the same time.

Thanks for the howto!
Found lots of good music previously unknown to me.

[billdd]

Hey Arnie, Thanks for the info. I just installed ubuntu today and love it. Followed your instructions and got streamtuner installed in seconds. Thanks.
Bill