QUERY How to use liquidsoap on Linux to record a radio stream

[bobrathbone]

I am the author of the radiod software for the Raspberry Pi education computer running Bookworm 64-bit.
See https://www.bobrathbone.com/raspberrypi/pi_internet_radio.htm for further information.
One of the features of my software is the ability to record a radio station real time using streamripper.
However streamripper is old software and hasn't been maintained for at least 12 years and will not record more modern streaming formats.
I am looking to use liquidsoap as a drop in replacement for streamripper but I am struggling to implement the same functionality as streamripper with liquidsoap. I have successfully installed liquidsoap with your help. See #4470.

The following example is how I use streamripper
streamripper <URL> -u <user agent> -l <duration in minutes> -d <output directory>
streamripper http://25273.live.streamtheworld.com:80/CANDLELIGHT_SC -u WinampMPEG/5.0 -l 30 -d /home/pi/Recordings

I want to do the same with liquidsoap either from the command line or using a recipe.
Are you able to give me some guidance how best to approach this. Any help would be appreciated.
I apologise in advance if this query has been covered elsewhere but I am unable to find anything specific in either the forum or the various tutorials or cookbook on your site.

[smoralis]

You could use my script that I made as a streamripper alternative.

https://github.com/smoralis/liquidsoap-record

[bobrathbone]

Many thanks, that helped enormously. I have managed to record several radio stations including BBC stations using liquidsoap with liquidsoap-record .
I have two queries.

1. How can I stop the record process after a given time (The -l flag in streamripper )
2. Some URLs that are used as the file name of the recording are extremely long, for example BBC streams. I would like to be able to replace the station name (which uses the URL) with my own title. For example:
   Replace the top level file name
   http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/ms6/live/3441A116-B12E-4D2F-ACA8-C1984642FA4B/audio/simulcast/hls/nonuk/pc_hd_abr_v2/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8
   with
   BBC1
   Perhaps with a new parameter -station BBC1 or -title BBC1

[smoralis]

Both requests are added.

1. -timeout
2. -station

Checkout v.1.0.36 2025-05-01

Usage of the arguments are in the Readme

[bobrathbone]

Many thanks again. I successfully tested the above two new features in version v.1.0.36 and they worked perfectly. You now have a product which can be used as a drop-in replacement for the very out-of-date streamripper.

Test command

Below is the command to test the new -timeout and -station parameters.
liquidsoap record.liq -- -url http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/ms6/live/3441A116-B12E-4D2F-ACA8-C1984642FA4B/audio/simulcast/hls/nonuk/pc_hd_abr_v2/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8 -dir /home/pi/liquid -keep 1 -station "BBC Radio 1" -timeout 1200
The result

ls /home/pi/liquid/
'BBC Radio 1'
ls /home/pi/liquid/BBC\ Radio\ 1/
2025-05-02_15-57-31.m4a.rec#s

The only concern is the awkward file name 2025-05-02_15-57-31.m4a.rec#s. Can the file name reflect the currently playing stream title. My radio product displays Station name and the currently playing title on a screen.
Below is the metadata extracted from Music Player Daemon which was playing a title from Tannens on Radio Caroline.

file: http://sc3.radiocaroline.net:8030/listen.m3u8
title: Tannens - I Think It's Gonna Kick Off
name: Radio Caroline

I would like use the extracted title as the file name instead of the composite of date and file type. I appreciate that I may be pushing my luck here but it would be the icing on the cake!

[smoralis]

As for the first stream (HLS) http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/ms6/live/3441A116-B12E-4D2F-ACA8-C1984642FA4B/audio/simulcast/hls/nonuk/pc_hd_abr_v2/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8 there is no metadata in the stream to use as metadata separation.

The second stream http://sc3.radiocaroline.net:8030/listen.m3u8 transmits frequent metadata like "Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:39)" and messes up the separation.
Not much I can do about it.

You could add -log 3 to the command line for more verbose information.

http://sc3.radiocaroline.net:8030/played.html?sid=1

Played @ | Song Title -- | -- 17:45:42 | Bruce Springsteen - The Promised Land | Current Song 17:45:19 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:45) 17:40:29 | Alice Cooper - Black Mamba 17:39:52 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:39) 17:38:50 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:38) 17:37:51 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:37) 17:36:50 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:36) 17:35:48 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:35) 17:34:47 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:34) 17:33:45 | Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:33)

[bobrathbone]

Yes I understand. Those frequent Radio Caroline metadata (e.g. Radio Caroline - www.radiocaroline.co.uk (17:39)) are when the DJ is making conversation and they are not playing a track. I can filter these out when I create the playlist for Music Player Daemon (MPD). It is also strange that BBC stations don't transmit any meta-data. FYI streamripper can't record BBC radio stations so I was never able to test recording with it.
Again many thanks for your help. I will now be able to start integration with my own product. We can close this one.

[redimongo]

I'm concerned about the legality, more than the ethics, of recording online streams. Is it actually legal to record these streams? Specifically, when it comes to the music and other stations copyright material like their programs on these stations, isn't recording it technically piracy and copyright infringement?

While totally get you might be recording your own station.

We as a station block streamrippers as it inflates our numbers.

[smoralis]

It depends on specific countries laws.

Recording internet radio is generally legal for personal, non-commercial use in many jurisdictions.

In many countries, recording internet radio for personal use is often considered permissible under the "fair use" or "fair dealing" doctrines. These exceptions allow individuals to make copies of copyrighted material for personal enjoyment, such as creating offline playlists. However, this use must not be for commercial purposes or involve redistribution .

Using recorded internet radio content for commercial purposes, such as selling or publicly distributing the recordings, is typically prohibited without obtaining proper licenses from the copyright holders.

If you plan to use recorded content for purposes beyond personal enjoyment, it's advisable to consult with a legal professional to ensure compliance with copyright laws.