I tend to record audiobooks. So I sometimes need to record a track that is 20-30 minutes long. However, while I look at the track, it is recording, I hit stop and the recording cuts off at usually 25 minutes. Or 13 minutes on a 15 minute track. It's always "near" the end, but never actually at the end. What should I do?

which version of Music Creator are you using?  older versions did not use the sony wave protocol - they used windows wave protocol which has a limit on the file size.

also, what settings are you using?  sampling rate and bit rate will determine the file size.

MC6... Sampling 44100 Bit depth 16 After some experimentation, I've realized that it's recording for a given length of time, and while it makes advancements on the Time Ruler, those don't always line up with the actual audio after it's finished. BUT, the finished recording will be the exact length as measured by the time ruler. Implying that while it's recording that long, the actual duration of the audio file is much larger and the excess is simply being cut off. Why would it do that, do you suppose?

what soundcard and mic are you using?

time differences like that are often caused by mismatched clock rates such as using a USB mic and your onboard soundcard.  they don't have the same clocks

That's what I was thinking too.... soundcard/USB mic..... 

The longer the recording time the more the clocks will be out of sync and this could very well be the result.

Not a USB mic... going into a mixer and then to the Line in on the onboard Soundcard. I've had success with the last few tracks by letting it record silence for about five minutes after I finish a chapter before turning off the recording.

That's a work around.... but I'd be looking for the cause of the issue. 

If you used a different recorder....say Audacity.... does it still do the same thing?

I'd also try a different driver mode.  if you're using your onboard soundcard - which driver mode are you using?  MME or WDM?

my guess would be the default which is WDM - and I'd suggest trying MME and if that doesn't work, I'd suggest downloading and installing ASIO4ALL and then trying ASIO driver mode.

I'm using MME, I tried the Asio4all thing a while back but found that it didn't want to record from my line-in. Most of the other drivers can't seem to reconcile my soundcard at all, which is why I use MME in the first place. Just wanted to thank everyone for helping so much already.

That on board sound card.... man, those things are horrible. 

My Dell lappy has one. I have NEVER been able to get it to give me sound with any cake product no matter the driver I use including ASIO4ALL.... nothing. 

I'll bet if you get a real sound card/interface, that time not matching up thing would be a thing of the past..... just saying....and you'd be getting to use ASIO drivers too....