[ICOM] Recording software-longer sndrec

[W5FKX - Don]

Although I agree that Audacity (which I have just begun to use) is a better 
option, it may be of some help to others to learn that it is possible to 
record longer than 1 minute using the Win98/XP/etc app known as Sound 
Recorder (sndrec32.exe). I used it for a long time before Audacity and here 
is how I got around the short recording time:

(1) Launch Sound Recorder (e.g., C:\WINNT\system32\sndrec32.exe) and 
"record" a blank sound file for the allowed 1min interval.

(2) Save the file as "Blank" in the same folder, C:\WINNT\system32\, as 
sndrec32 (make certain that it does). Meanwhile, the blank file remains as 
the active file in Sound Recorder.

(3) Now, select Edit => Insert File, then find the saved "Blank" file and 
insert it in the currently active file. You now have a 2-minute blank file. 
Repeat the "insert" process again and you will have a 3-min file, etc.

(4) Once you feel that you have a file of sufficient time-capacity, save it 
as "Blank5min", "Blank15min", or whatever.

(5) Create a desktop shortcut for sndrec32.exe (in XP, 
Start=>Accessories=>Entertainment; right-click on Sound Recorder and select 
"create shortcut", then drag & drop from menu onto desktop).

(6) Right-click on the desktop shortcut for sndrec32 and select 
"properties", click on the "Shortcut" tab, and in the "Target" box, append 
the name of your new blank multi-minute soundfile at the end. The target 
should look like this: C:\WINNT\system32\sndrec32.exe Blank5min.wav.  Now, 
click "OK".

You can now launch Sound Recorder from the desktop and it will automatically 
execute with the extended recording-time capability. Sndrec is VERY simple 
to use for off-the-air recording, especially if you have a soundcard 
interface from your rig-to-pc for digimodes.

73,
Don W5FKX
Delta DX Association
http://www.deltadx.net