Did you know that the fascinating multimedia files that you can watch and listen to online could be recorded to your hard drive using video and audio recording software?

Streaming is a technique to play these files online in real time from a web server, automatically downloaded to a local temporary files directory. The procedure involves data decompression in order to get the file played, usually involving a plug-in installed on your web browser.

Plug-ins are often free and downloaded automatically to your computer when you visit a web site offering streaming video and audio, otherwise, there is a link or button for manual downloading.

However, both the web server and the computer need a powerful processor and resources to process a multimedia request, in addition to a fast Internet connection. Streaming video and audio are not stored in the computer permanently, hence, the necessity of a streaming recorder to preserve a copy of these files.

Some of the most popular streaming media plug-ins includes: Adobe Flash, formerly Macromedia Flash is the standard plug-in to display audio and video in SWF format Adobe Shockwave, another former Macromedia development that also enables enhanced games capability Plugger, a streaming multimedia plug-in for UNIX systems MozPlugger, a Unix-Mozilla multimedia plug-in Quicktime, a multimedia plug-in developed by Apple Real Media, another popular multimedia plug-in developed by Real Networks Windows Media, embedded as part of the Windows Media software and automatically acquired as update.

Some popular software with recording capabilities may or may not have streaming media recording, as in example, Windows Media, capable to record CD and DVD files Real Player similar to the above Winamp, with extended capabilities through complementary add-ons Quicktime, with limited recording support using the paid version.

Some of the software capable to record streaming video and audio includes: WM Recorder, records streaming video and Audio automatically and supports most multimedia protocols and formats. Replay A/V, records streaming video and audio, but also reproduces and rips all types of multimedia files. Replay Media Catcher, a video stream ripper that grabs flash files. Get ASF Stream, this software only records Windows Media streaming video and audio. OpD2d, records streaming video and audio from Internet radio stations. Advanced MP3 WMA Recorder, this software supports recording of Windows Media Files. Easy Radio, records audio files in 3, wma, ogg, vox, au, aiff, mp4, and flac formats Freerecorder, free demo alternative to record streaming video and audio.

Some recording software comes with controls to choose the format of the output files, while others allow the adjustment of other settings to avoid distorted recordings. There are also sophisticated studio-like software with mixer capabilities and other recording utilities.

Video and audio from Podcasts and Shoutcasts can also be recorded to your hard drive with the adequate software, such as a program called Streamripper, available as a Winamp plug-in or as standalone software for Windows, Mac, and Unix systems.

Streaming video and audio include the files that you see embedded on web sites, but also those that you can watch and listen to in real time through popular services including Napster, Rhapsody, Yahoo Launch, and many others.