Best way to get 24h/24 Japanese audio input?

CaLeDee Member

Registered: 2008-08-31 Posts: 170

I didn't want to start a new topic as it can be related to this audio topic. I was wondering if anyone knows where I could find some Japanese audio drama? I've only heard of them but never actually heard one for myself. I'd be interested in checking some of them out. Are there any sites that you can listen to them? or even buy them? Thanks.

mentat_kgs Member

From: Brasil Registered: 2008-04-18 Posts: 1671 Website

For anime, they are called "sound episode" in the internet. Code Geass has many.

Deborah New member

From: USA Registered: 2007-10-23 Posts: 9

Yes. There's a good weekly radio drama at this address. Also, accessible on itunes. Each episode about 10 min.

feed://www.tbsradio.jp/toyota/index.xml

The itunes link is on right hand side of page under "actions" heading.

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nac_est Member

From: Italy Registered: 2006-12-12 Posts: 617 Website

mentat_kgs wrote:
For anime, they are called "sound episode" in the internet. Code Geass has many.

I had't heard of that name before. I usually search for "drama cd", and a lot of anime have them. But they're not as long a real drama of course.

CaLeDee Member

Registered: 2008-08-31 Posts: 170

Thanks for the info. I also never knew about them being called sound episodes. I got the Code Geass episodes but I'm mostly looking for just talking without the music in the background. I tried the link you suggested Deborah, it's decent but the voice actors aren't really what I'm trying to find. I dunno if 櫻井孝宏 - Sakurai Takahiro has done any audio drama stuff but that's what I'd love to find if there are any.

nac_est Member

From: Italy Registered: 2006-12-12 Posts: 617 Website

CaLeDee,
That voice actor seems to have a lot of drama CD under his belt. See
here.

albion Member

From: England Registered: 2008-05-25 Posts: 383 Website

Are 'sound episodes' the ピクチャードラマ from the DVDs?

For that kind of stuff, drama CDs would be a good place to look. Lots of manga/anime/games get them, so it shouldn't be that hard to find one you find interesting (especially if you already happen to like a series which has drama CDs).

activeaero Member

From: Mobile-AL Registered: 2008-08-15 Posts: 500

Maybe it's already been posted but I didn't see it so I apologize in advance if it has been.

http://beelinetv.com/

9 Japanese channels, click and that's it. Not all of them stream perfectly but you can always find 3-4 that are working well. It's not a continuous live stream from what I can tell but simply a large block of programming from each channel that is up datedly daily (well most of them daily I think). Works well enough for how simple it is IMO.

Dragg Member

From: Sacramento, California Registered: 2007-09-21 Posts: 369

LADIOTOUCH: free streaming Japanese radio app for iPhone. Still a bit buggy but it should be awesome once all the kinks are worked out. (sorry for posting this in multiple threads, but this app could be useful enough for some to consider buying an iPhone.)

mr_hans_moleman Member

From: Toronto Registered: 2007-06-24 Posts: 179

CaLeDee wrote:
I didn't want to start a new topic as it can be related to this audio topic. I was wondering if anyone knows where I could find some Japanese audio drama? I've only heard of them but never actually heard one for myself. I'd be interested in checking some of them out. Are there any sites that you can listen to them? or even buy them? Thanks.

I think it's better to rip the audio off dramas. But something that might interest you is http://www.podcastjuice.jp/

Virtua_Leaf Member

From: UK Registered: 2007-09-07 Posts: 340

I've never had an iPod or anything like that.

With one, could I download various Japanese speech from the internet and essentially listen to it whenever I want? Is it free to do that? And will it work with any iPod?

My immersion system is currently limited to a bottle of sake on the shelf, so something like this would no doubt give me a boost (I guess I could also start listening in my sleep with it too).

albion Member

From: England Registered: 2008-05-25 Posts: 383 Website

Most podcasts from iTunes are free to download, and should work on any iPod (except if it's video). Music and audiobooks you'd have to pay for, and wouldn't be able to get unless you have a Japanese billing address. The files you imported yourself (not downloaded through iTunes) sometimes won't work on certain types of iPods, or at least in my experience. Maybe I was doing it wrong. Stuff I've imported from CDs with iTunes didn't always work on my iPods. But I think as long as it's in a format like mp3, it should work out fine.

http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~replica-blue/

Online サウンドドラマ called "Replica Blue". From the first episode, it sounds like a sci-fi mystery with some personal drama between a group of kids.

Last edited by albion (2008 October 27, 10:33 am)

Virtua_Leaf Member

From: UK Registered: 2007-09-07 Posts: 340

albion wrote:
Most podcasts from iTunes are free to download, and should work on any iPod

Excellent. I'll buy the cheapest one going then.

Just to verify, would an iPod Shuffle do? I hear it can only play your files in a random order which wouldn't be much good if I wanted to listen to a vertain dialogue amidst hundreds.

albion Member

From: England Registered: 2008-05-25 Posts: 383 Website

A Shuffle would work, but since it has no screen you can't easily pick what you want to listen to. It's either everything in a random order, or everything in a linear order. You'd have to keep clicking through until you get to where you want.

If you want to be able to select what you want to listen to more simply, I think you'd be better off getting one of the cheap screen versions like a Nano. (I think there was a price drop a while ago?)

mentat_kgs Member

From: Brasil Registered: 2008-04-18 Posts: 1671 Website

For ripping any kind of media: streams, dvd, avi, mkv, etc. I recomend mencoder that is included in the mplayer package:

http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/dload.html

Just a warning: It is for the command line. I tested on windows and linux, but I'd guess it works on the mac too.

Last edited by mentat_kgs (2008 October 27, 11:33 am)

wccrawford Member

From: FL US Registered: 2008-03-28 Posts: 1551

I just bought an 8gb Nano and I am impressed. It beats my old Sansa hands-down.

Plus, if you do podcasts like JapanesePod101 that have video, it's (obviously) quite a bit better than a shuffle.

Also, if you do multiple podcasts, the shuffle is going to be a nightmare to pick which one you want to listen to.

my $.02

Jarvik7 Member

From: 名古屋 Registered: 2007-03-05 Posts: 3946

You should have just spent the little bit extra to get a touch. Then you'd be able to do revtk & anki on the go.

CaLeDee Member

Registered: 2008-08-31 Posts: 170

albion wrote:
http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~replica-blue/

Online サウンドドラマ called "Replica Blue". From the first episode, it sounds like a sci-fi mystery with some personal drama between a group of kids.

This is what I wanted! Talking without overly done sound effects or music. Thanks for posting it. Nice stories/voice actors too.

Virtua_Leaf Member

From: UK Registered: 2007-09-07 Posts: 340

Thanks for the info everyone.

TBH I'm still virtually inept at listening to Japanese so I'm not picky about what to listen too, any piece of gibberish is good at the moment so a Shuffle will probably do.

Tobberoth Member

From: Sweden Registered: 2008-08-25 Posts: 3364

I personally think Japanesepod101 is the best unless you have a very good ear for Japanese. The Japanese is very natural (since natives are speaking) and it's very easy and clear to follow, at least up to upper intermediate level.

To listen to real Japanese radio, you have to have a crazy good ear for Japanese if you want to understand more than 20% of every sentence.

mentat_kgs Member

From: Brasil Registered: 2008-04-18 Posts: 1671 Website

But You'll never have good years if you never practice with crappy audio.

zodiac Member

Registered: 2008-04-01 Posts: 123

Erm does anyone know video podcasts with japanese subtitles (like the ones that they have on TV shows)

Virtua_Leaf Member

From: UK Registered: 2007-09-07 Posts: 340

Wooh got my Shuffle today!

Has anyone got any links I can follow to download some Japanese speech? Still a bit new to this (think I just deleted my sister's entire iTunes library )

stshores24 Member

From: Atlanta Registered: 2008-01-22 Posts: 71 Website

Thanks for the links to the audio dramas, guys. I appreciate it!

Virtua_Leaf Member

From: UK Registered: 2007-09-07 Posts: 340

Sorry, me again.

I managed to download a Yomiuri podcast and, bar the cheesy American dude that seems to pop up every now and then, seems like a good source for listening.

I think I'll follow the plan written inside this article: http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/bl … cess-story

This guy read news articles everyday, then listened to the corresponding podcasts everyday. This is great, but as I'm a complete n0O8 with this at the moment, is it really necessary to add anymore sound files other than this 20 minute shot?

Hopefully one day I'll just be able to read/listen up on the daily news but should I just practice with one short podcast?

PS: How's 13 pounds for an iPod shuffle delivered?

Edit -

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/ … from=main2

This article has perked my interest but is it possible to hear it in podcast? Is every story featured in a podcast or is it only as set few?

Last edited by Virtua_Leaf (2008 November 06, 1:35 pm)

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