VIDBOX Audio Recorder Review

Vidbox have their easy to follow software which will ask you Are you recording from a video source or an audio source? In this review, I’m going to cover the second question by reviewing the VIDBOX Audio Recorder.

In case you haven’t read what I think of the VIDBOX, I have a review explaining my likes and dislikes on the product.

In short I like it.

The video recording features that are available are in short – top notch.

The audio options – not so good.

Unless of course you are a Mac user, then you’re fine.

What Can The VIDBOX Audio Recorder Do?

The VIDBOX allows the function for recording audio signals from external devices (such as an old stereo for playing LPs or even a USB source) through their Honestech software.

The software is very easy to use (compared to Audacity which is free but certainly not user friendly).

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

So why would I say that audio recording is not so good?

The VIDBOX offers you a kind of limited audio recording experience which we will get into further.

VIDBOX Analogue Connection

If you were using an old turntable, you could simply use the RCA cables to connect to the VIDBOX device.

The above example is a basic (and I mean basic) USB record player that I used for the tests.

A standard analogue signal is simply RED and WHITE for left and right audio.

Connection into the left and right audio on the VIDBOX  

In the example above the USB is connected to the PC to transfer the audio signal.

VIDBOX Audio Recorder Software

The audio recording software is packaged with the Honestech video recording software.

Taking a closer look at the audio software, you will notice grey spaces for left and right, implying a graphic equalizer area.

But this isn’t for an equalizer, it’s just a bar graphic that is controlled by a volume control.

Below  below that there is your notice the words WMA. This stands for Windows Media Audio. My tests are conducted on a PC

When recording, the time and file size will continuously update.

 Set Recording Timer – Allows you to record for a set length of time.

Audio Device – this needs to be chosen whether you’re using the USB AV capture (which is the analogue RCA signal) or there is a drop down option for a USB connection (for my test it was a USB microphone).

Below that is Save Location – you can choose which folder on your PC to save

Over to the right is the large Record Button.

There is a window storing all the recordings you have made, showing how large they are and how long they go for.

Each track can be played individually with further options to save each file as a WMA (on PC) or MP3 (for Mac).

Finally you have the option to Burn an Audio CD.

There is the option to record a 4GB DVD disc of music that you could play through a DVD player. A lot of models still play back WMA, but that’s strictly DVD players, not other more modern devices.

Second test was with an USB device which was simply a microphone.

Now the audio suddenly comes alive. You can raise or lower the volume and that’s it. Right clicking on the graphic does nothing.

You can look but not touch. I know of places that have those same rules!

There is a cog settings, which open a new window.

Inside the settings there is a simple noise reduction level and an option for audio feedback which actually does a great job.

Audio Device Properties – which device you’ have plugged in and using.

 So having a closer look at the WMA file, I have to say is baffling.

Here comes a rant.

Why on earth did VIDBOX choose WMA for PC and MP3 for Macs?

It makes no sense! Why not MP3 for both?

WMA files cannot be played or edited in Audacity.

You need to convert it if you want to play it on a more modern device, like I don’t know, a phone!

Windows Media Audio cannot be played on an iPhone or on an Android phone.

Yes I know you can download apps that will be able to play it. But let’s be honest, you’d expect companies to update their products to keep up with the times.

VLC can play the audio tracks if you intend to keep the WMA files on your PC.

Here are two (somewhat absurd) options for a PC user to transfer Windows Media Audio into an MP3 format.

• Copy the album, then burn the disc as an Audio Disc. Download a Free MP3 ripper and convert the files. (That’s a lot of wasted discs in the end!)
• You could record an album in the VIDBOX video recording option and have it saved as an MP4 format – upload that to YouTube – then use a YouTube downloader (changing it to MP3 format) .

They’re just theoretical ideas if you were desperate.

Conclusion

Let me make something clear. I really do like the VIDBOX for transferring old videos to MP4. But when it comes to the music side of things?

It’s such a mixed result. On a Mac computer, you have no worries.

Old records to MP3, it will work.

If you have albums to convert on a PC, unfortunately this product is not the best choice for converting music into a digital file.

There’s a lot of hoops to jump through to get to the end result.

I didn’t know I had to join Cirque du Soleil just to transfer a record into an MP3 on a PC using the VIDBOX Audio Recorder.

Just use Audacity and save yourself the headache.