Need Help and Recommendation on Phone Tools for Recording

Can anyone recommend a good "phone" recording program for recording telephone calls through my computer? I have a 56K internal modem. I don't know what kind. Belarc Advisor doesn't say, and I can't see it anywhere on the card. (I've taken the flashlight to it, but haven't taken it out since I haven't seen any labeling.) I want to record some teleclasses, perhaps edit the file in my Goldwave and share with fellow students. (It's being encouraged by the teacher, which is nice since all classes are required to be listened to for certification.) I'm thinking along the line of BVRP's Classic Phone tools or Impulse Technology's Phone Plus? I want to know if these will work for a possible sound levels problem (third paragraph) or is there something better?

I would also like to use it for recording my own conversations for self-feedback (I work on the phone out of my home.) I'm having a hard time translating my needs into understanding how the technologies would work for me. Free is nice and effective is even better. I also don't really understand whether using the modem this way is the most effective way to work with my problem, but I do want to be able to record incoming calls as needed. In that case, I would need to be able to use my phone line for the recording.

I also need to understand more clearly how to set it up, I can't find any recommendations for essential features or quality of software. Others have said it's very difficult to get the levels correct, that one's own voice is usually unbearably loud compared to the other party's! So any amount of back and forth can be a hassle when editing?

I've tried to google info on how to work on this, the setup and sound levels aspect, but haven't hit on the right word choices. Not sure what subject I would pick to find a book, "telephony" books go in a whole other direction.

I am using DSL for my internet connection, so that's another factor, since I use the phone to access the internet as well as for phone calls and for faxing (at least, the modem is supposed to be usable for faxes and for voice. I understand Windows XP has a dialer? But I don't know if it would be enough to give me the setup I need. Anyway, I've not used it for faxing either, so don't know how it works yet.)

I'm accessing DSL through an ethernet connection, rather than USB. It seems much more reliable, but someone told me it's harder to use a line using ethernet for voice recording through the computer? I couldn't understand why, and the phone company tech didn't see the problem either. He recommended the ethernet connection.

Thanks so, so much. I've been gnawing at this one for a while, but really need to resolve it soon.

Here's the info on my system:
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
System Model: MSI MS-6712 1.0
Processor: 1.85 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP, 128 kilobyte primary memory cache, 256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Main Circuit Board: MSI MS-6712 1.0
Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. Version 07.00T 04/02/01
Memory Modules: 1024 Megabytes Installed Memory
Sound Card: Creative SB Audigy LS

Generic 56K HCF Data Fax Modem
56X CD-ROM
OPTORITE DVD RW DD0405 [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
two 250 MB hard drives
VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller

1394 Net Adapter
VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter

 

You could google: record phone calls via MODEM
and you'll get several refers for Modem Spy @
http://www.modemspy.com/en/index.php
"Recording from data modem is possible (you will need to physically connect your modem and sound card). ". Does the modem you have currently have any 'mono' RCA plugs on it?
Here is an example - see the red & green jacks for audio & mic.
I believe if you have a voice/data/fax modem your good to go.

 

Hi, Thanks. The modem spy site looks very interesting. I'm going to study it more closely, especially the part about the telephone adapter choices and will probably have more to ask later. I wanted to let you know that the image has been shown as moved. Got the 404 Not Found when I clicked on the link of the jpg. Do you have the picture in your archives?

I really appreciate your help on this.

 

Thanks, foogoo.
Got this installed now and it's working perfectly. Very nice program which I would never have tried or even noticed without your advice. It took me a while to get my drivers loaded on the modem. I rooted around in the CPU to find out what "generic" I had. Turns out it was the Sound Blaster V.92 PCI that I thought had died and gone to modem heaven. (Good thing I was holding onto the CD-Rom.) I finally got Windows to accept Creative's unsigned drivers (what is it between those two? Windows kept calling it "generic", but too late, I'd already see the card. I can only be fooled so far... )... Anyway, that was definitely the worst part of the story. The Modem Spy is an excellent, easy to work with program. Just got it in tonight, but have already been busy! Thanks again.