free if possible that will allow me to play mini-discs or cassette tapes of radio programmes onto hard drive in Wav form so they then can be converted into mp3 at least at 192 bitrate or any programs that cut out the Wav recording in the first place saving having to convert. I think I tried audicity before but became confused trying to understand how to use the LAME file that is talked about and seems to go hand in hand with the main program.

I would like to have a program that might allow me to do similar tasks at the same time on two computers or if licenses are a problem have different programs(that are similar)on each machine. Free is better(or not too expensive to buy)

Also as I hope to go broadband soon any decent programs that could record an internet stream would be welcome. To do that at present I have to feed the audio into the recorder and loop it back into the computer or record the sound and then play it back onto the computer doubling up the time it takes.

I have tried to look around the web but the choice is confusing and I worry I may also go to a rogue site.

If it makes any difference one computer is running Windows XP and the other Windows Vista.

Many thanks

Gildy