StreamRipper allows you to download music from Internet Radio Stations. The application can be run as a Windows service using FireDaemon Pro, which allows you to have the application start automatically at boot prior to login, start multiple instances of the application and more. This HOWTO will show you how to set it up. You can also use FireDaemon Fusion to manage FireDaemon and other Windows services via a web browser.


StreamRipper requires special setup to run as a service. You cannot use the GUI because settings will not save. You must use the console application. In the installation directory of StreamRipper, look for a file named README. This contains every switch you can use in the console application. For most uses, use the parameters listed further in this HOWTO.


StreamRipper Setup Under FireDaemon Pro

Download the latest StreamRipper from here.


By default StreamRipper installs to C:\Program Files\StreamRipper (x86) so for the purposes of this HOWTO, we will use that directory. In 32-bit versions of Windows it will install to C:\Program Files\StreamRipper.


Download and install FireDaemon Pro into the directory of your choice, typically C:\Program Files\FireDaemon.


Next start the FireDaemon GUI from the desktop shortcut. Click on the "Create a new service definition" button in the toolbar (or type Ctrl+N) and enter the information into the fields as you see below. Adjust the paths to suit your installation.



Executable: The path to your streamripper.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the path is C:\Program Files\StreamRipper\streamripper.exe.


Working Directory: The directory containing your streamripper.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the path is C:\Program Files\StreamRipper.


The most important field on the tab is the Parameters. The Parameters define the initial setup of your server. Here’s the most basic parameters you should have. See README in StreamRipper program directory for more info.
http ://stream.example.com -d "C:\Internet Music" -q -u "FreeAmp/2.x"

  • "http ://stream.example.com” Makes StreamRipper connect to the station to download the music. Replace "http ://stream.example.com" with the URL to the stream you want to record (include the http://).
  • “-d "C:\Internet Music"” Makes StreamRipper save the music files to the "C:\Internet Music" folder. Change the file path if you want to use a different folder. If the folder has space in its name, make sure you add quotes around the path.
  • “-q” Makes Streamripper save files with 'prefixes' of 001_, 002_, 003_, up to 999_
  • “-u” Some stream-servers will not accept the default Streamripper UserAgent, the solution is using this parameter with the value "FreeAmp/2.x".


Now click on the Settings tab. If you DON'T want to see StreamRipper running, uncheck the Interact with Desktop check box & select “Hidden” from the “Show Window” dropdown. You can optionally run StreamRipper as the user you installed it as. In the Logon Account field type your username (e.g. Administrator) and then enter the user's password twice in the Password and Confirm fields. You can change the Process Priority to allocate more CPU time to StreamRipper or specify which CPU or core StreamRipper will run on (in the case of multi-processor, hyperthreaded or multi-core CPUs).



Now click on the Lifecycle tab. Uncheck Graceful Shutdown as Streamripper doesn't respond to it.


firedaemon-nograceful-noconsole-lifecycle3.png


Now click OK to install and start StreamRipper!