STREAMING video and music services are fantastic but what happens when you lose your wi-fi signal? When the internet goes dark, so does your screen.

Audials has long been the go-to software for folk who want to record their favourites to watch (or listen to) them later.

The legalities of this are somewhat hazy - the Netflix terms of use, for instance, stipulates that it should be viewed "on a streaming- only basis" - but Audials counters by saying its software is the modern-day equivalent of taping the Top 20 off the radio (if you don't know what this means, ask your dad). To be on the safe side, it's probably best to delete anything you have recorded after watching it.

I've tried real-time screen recorders before and they have all had significant drawbacks. My biggest gripe is that, unless you have a monster PC, the frame-rate drops. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference between a film and a flip book.

Audio 'grabbers' which use your PC's audio card also have their pitfalls - they record system sounds as well as music tracks and, unless your sound card is top notch, the resultant MP3s are muddy and indistinct.

I'm not sure how Audials manages to overcome this, but it does.

Video framerates are rock solid, even on a modest PC, and the software can record audio without capturing system sounds. It even cuts your recordings into individual tracks and tags them with name, artist, lyrics and album cover.

Naturally, you can listen to thousands of radio stations and podcasts. If you hear a song you like Audials can 'rewind' and record it. Depending on the station, the software caches the last ten songs and you just click the history button to see what's gone before. Audials also has PVR functionality built-in - you can set the software to record upcoming radio shows (naturally, your PC needs to be on and the software running in order for this to work).

One feature unique to Audials is the ability to create a music wishlist. Audials then searches its radio station database to find the song and records it for your collection.

The software doubles up as a media manager with music and video grouped together, tagged and ready to play. If you don't like the Audials interface it's a simple matter to transfer files to Windows Media Player or iTunes.

Finally it also converts files so you can transfer them to a smartphone or a tablet.

The 'Make DVD' option is disappointing, however. Audials doesn't convert files into the right format for playback on a domestic DVD player; you may as well just burn the MP4s onto a disc.

You can have all this functionality in Audials premium software Audials One which costs £40 from the firm's website (audials.com). If you only want the music functionality there's Tunebite 12 (£16.67) or Radiotracker (£26.72). Film fans are catered for with Moviebox 12 (£16.67).

If you're a media junkie who's travelling to a destination with iffy wi-fi, Audials is the best way to stock up on things to watch and listen to. Top notch.