The easiest way to record a radio broadcast is to play the station’s stream on your computer and capture what the computer is playing with the free editor Audacity. On Windows, set Audacity’s host to Windows WASAPI and choose the loopback input for your speakers or headphones. On a Mac there is no built-in way to capture playback, so you either add a virtual audio device or run a cable from the headphone output to the line input. To record an over-the-air radio instead, connect its headphone or line output to your computer’s line input and record that. Before you share any recording, check the copyright position: Audacity’s own manual warns that copyright or website restrictions may prevent you recording or distributing material.
With Christmas Eve services, Thanksgiving specials and New Year countdowns on the way, this is the season when people most often want to keep a broadcast. Here is how to do it cleanly.
Three ways to capture radio
| Method | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Record computer playback (loopback) | Internet streams, catch-up players, smart-speaker stations played in a browser | A Windows PC with Audacity, or a Mac with a virtual audio device |
| Cable from a radio’s output | FM, AM, DAB or shortwave received on a physical radio | A radio with a headphone or line-out socket, a cable, and a computer line input |
| Download the programme legitimately | Shows the broadcaster also publishes as a podcast or download | The broadcaster’s app or podcast feed |
Check the third option first. Many programmes are published as podcasts after broadcast, and a broadcaster’s own download will sound better than any recording you make. Our piece on radio versus podcasts explains how the two now overlap.
Method 1: Record a stream on Windows with Audacity
The steps below follow Audacity’s tutorial on recording computer playback on Windows:
- Turn off playthrough. In Audacity, open Transport > Transport Options and make sure Enable audible input monitoring is unchecked. If it stays on, you will hear and record echoes or distortion.
- Open Audio Settings from the Audio Setup button on the toolbar.
- Set the host to Windows WASAPI.
- Choose the loopback device. In the Recording Device box, pick the loopback entry for the output you are listening on, such as “Speakers (loopback)”.
- Start the stream first, then press Record in Audacity.
- Fix mono errors. If recording in mono gives an error, set recording channels to 2 (Stereo). You can mix down to mono later with Tracks > Mix > Stereo Down to Mono.
Three loopback quirks to know
- Silence pauses the recording. The manual says WASAPI loopback records only when there is an active signal. It pauses during silence and resumes when the sound returns. For a broadcast with long pauses, your file may be shorter than the clock time.
- System sounds get recorded. Notification chimes play through the same device and end up in the file. Turn them off before a long recording.
- Volume sliders can be linked. On many systems, changing the playback volume does not change the level you have already recorded. The manual lists workarounds.
Method 2: Record a stream on a Mac
Audacity’s Mac playback tutorial states plainly that “Mac computers have no built-in ability to record streaming audio playing on a sound device”. There are two ways round it:
- A virtual audio device. Software that creates an extra audio device lets Audacity record what the Mac is playing. The manual names Soundflower as one example and notes that other free and commercial apps record playback to a file you can import.
- A loopback cable. Connect the headphone output to the line input with a stereo mini-plug cable. In the Mac’s Sound settings, set output to Line Out and input to Line Input, then select the line input in Audacity. Adjust the input level so the meter’s loudest peaks do not reach the top. Uncheck audible input monitoring, as on Windows, and quit apps that make alert sounds.
Method 3: Record from a physical radio
For FM, AM, DAB or shortwave received on an actual radio, the cable method above is the way. Plug a cable from the radio’s headphone or line-out socket into the computer’s line input, select that input in Audacity, and set the level with the radio playing.
Get the reception right before you press Record. Hiss, fading and buzz recorded into the file are much harder to remove afterwards than to prevent. Our guide to audio hum causes and fixes covers the usual culprits, including ground loops when a radio and a computer are connected by cable.
Getting a clean recording
Set levels with headroom
Play the loudest part you can find, such as a station jingle or an advert, and set the level so the peaks stay comfortably below the top of Audacity’s meter. A clipped recording cannot be repaired. A recording that is a little quiet can be raised later.
Record a few minutes extra
Broadcasts rarely start and end exactly to the second. Start a few minutes early and run a few minutes late. You can trim the ends in seconds.
Edit and tidy afterwards
Once the recording is done, trim the ends, cut adverts if you only want the programme, and save in a format you can play anywhere. If you are new to the editor, MuteCow’s guide to getting started with Audacity walks through trimming, selection and exporting. A recording from a weak AM or shortwave signal may carry steady hiss; MuteCow also explains free techniques for removing background noise. Use noise reduction gently, because heavy settings make voices sound underwater.
Copyright and sharing
Recording and sharing are different questions. Audacity’s manual puts it simply: “Copyright or website restrictions may prevent you recording or distributing material. Check first.” Rules differ between countries, and a station’s or streaming service’s terms of use may also apply. Keeping a recording of a family-favourite broadcast for yourself is a very different matter from uploading it for others, so check the rules where you live before you share anything.
Ideas for what to keep
Radio has a long tradition of programmes that reward repeat listening. Seasonal services, holiday specials and audio drama are all good candidates, and so are local broadcasts that will never be published anywhere else, such as a community station’s coverage of a town event. If you enjoy stories told in sound, our guide to radio drama is a good place to find more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record internet radio for free?
Yes. Audacity is free, and on Windows its WASAPI loopback input can record whatever your computer is playing. On a Mac you need a virtual audio device or a loopback cable.
Why does my Audacity loopback recording stop during quiet parts?
Audacity’s manual says WASAPI loopback records only when there is an active signal, so it pauses during silence and resumes when sound returns.
How do I record FM radio onto my computer?
Connect the radio’s headphone or line output to your computer’s line input with a suitable cable, select the line input in Audacity, set the level and record.
Why does my recording have echoes?
Audible input monitoring is probably on. Turn off Enable audible input monitoring in Audacity’s Transport Options.
Is it legal to record radio broadcasts?
It depends on where you live and what you do with the recording. Audacity’s manual warns that copyright or website restrictions may prevent recording or distributing material, so check the rules in your country and the station’s terms before sharing.