Review: ADS Instant FM Music gadget

For many, listening to a radio show just the once is good enough. But what if you want to record a show and listen to it on a portable music player? This is where the ADS Instant FM Music fits in.

Combining a small FM radio tuner, which slots into a USB port, and recording software, the Instant FM Music turns any computer into a radio recording machine.

The actual tuner is a tad longer and wider than your average USB memory stick. It comes with an extendable antenna, USB lead and carrying pouch.

Installation is easy; plug in the tuner and load the Instant Radio software. Providing you're using Windows XP, the computer will automatically detect everything.

Through the virtual FM tuner we were able to pick up a number of FM based stations, including Magic, Kiss and Kerrang, not to mention some random FM podcasts. If you're in a built up area where signal strength is low, the extendable antenna will help to pick up broadcasts.

Despite its basic interface, the Instant Radio software is quite nifty. As well as recording broadcasts, it picks up RDS data, which displays text broadcasts of the latest headlines, station, and song name (if the radio station supports it). If not, the Snaptune One software comes in handy. Once associated with favourite radio stations, it can be set to record either specific broadcasts or constant radio. Recordings can then be transferred to a portable music device.

Snaptune One can also identify song names and the artist. However, it took three days for it to identify two songs, which is as ridiculous as it sounds. Also, your computer has to be left on during this period, which eats into internet bandwidth, slowing down other software programs that access the web.

Those looking for a quick and easy way of recording FM radio will find the InstantFM Music a handy computer gadget. However, the accompanying song-recognition software could be improved.

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