RealNetworks RealJukebox 1.0 A CD Ripper Built In? Ben Durbin
This is where the fun begins. While you're either playing a song or listening to one from the Internet, RealJukebox can simultaneously rip the song from the CD where it can be converted into MP3 format to play from your hard drive. By default, song files will only play on the system on which they were recorded, meaning that you can't pass that MP3 along to a friend. For the newbie, recording a MP3 from the Internet or a CD is very easy.
Even though RealJukebox is a great ripper for a newbie to MP3s, experienced users will not be happy with it. When you record or rip the songs, you will notice that you can do it from 56kbps, to 64kbps, or to even 96kbps, but that’s about it. There is no support to record to 128kbps. For newbies this wouldn't make a difference, but for the experienced user, you will be able to notice the difference in the MP3's quality. But, if you do record at lower qualities, it makes the MP3s smaller and gives you more room on your hard drive to save even more. RealJukebox will even calculate how many MP3s you can record at 96kbps.
How long will it take me to record an MP3? Well, it does depend on your processing power. If you have a fast CPU, you can record at up to five times the song's play speed! But if you have a slower CPU it will usually keep up with the normal speed of the song. If you get tired of listening to MP3s, you can quietly record them in the background as you work.
