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There are thousands of applications out there that let you record audio. Some are swell for podcasting. Others can rip the audio right out of a YouTube video or suck the sound out of a Skype conversation so that you can listen to it at a later date. You could use any number of one-trick ponies to take care of the various audio chores in your life; or, if you're a savvy Mac user, you could whittle that number down to just one.
Rogue Amoeba's Audio Hijack Pro is a versatile recording application for OS X that allows you to rip and record audio from a number of devices and locations including Skype, DVDs, iChat, iTunes, QuickTime movies and audio, Safari, Griffin's Radio Shark--even multiple sources at the same time! If it makes a noise, this application has got you covered. Read on to learn how to rip your own audio from virtually any source using this versatile software.
Audio Hijack Pro comes in two basic flavors: a free version that overlays noise on any recording over ten minutes in length, and a full version of the application that will set you back $32. There's also multi-license packs and bundles that pair Audio Hijack Pro up with other Rogue Amoeba software as well. No matter what version you go with, the installation will be the same. Just download the archive file, unzip the program and drag it into your Applications folder.
You'll find that the program sports a simple interface that allows for a ridiculous number of recording options. If you've got an open application on your system, Audio Hijack Pro will give you the option of attempting to pull some sound out of it. You can also choose open inactive programs and record audio from that source as well.
To get started, choose an audio source from the Source Type drop-down list and then pick an application or device that you're keen on recording audio from.
In some cases, you may be prompted to install a plug-in or restart an open application before you can start recording. Follow Audio Hijack Pro's instructions and you'll be up and running in no time. By default, the recorded audio will be saved to your desktop as .aif files that can be opened up by iTunes and QuickTime, but the option to record MP3 audio can also be selected through the program's preference pane.
Aside from the wide variety of sources that the software allows you to hijack audio from, this gem of an application also provides users with the ability to add a few basic audio effects to their recordings, open files in iTunes, send audio files to the editor of your choice and burn multiple files created by the application to disc with one click.
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