On a scale of 1 to 10 my knowledge of audio recording software is probably .75. I can hit record, pause, and stop and export a file in the format I want…and that’s about it. I work on a PC with Windows 10. I am using Audacity 3.2.4 and my problem only started after I began using this version.
All I want to do is record audio from my computer and convert it to an MP3. Might be an audiobook, might be music, might be a CD or DVD that is playing, or a lecture I am listening to. The problem is that Audacity is removing ALL the pauses in sound. I can be 30 seconds into something but Audacity may only have 18 seconds of recording - it all runs together. If want I want to record involves multiple hours the end result may be 1-2 hours less than what I’m listening to. I’ve tried reading through other posts on this problem, but my lack of knowledge may be hampering how I’ve tried to apply other answers. It got bad enough that I uninstalled Audacity, re-installed it, and am back at the beginning of the problem.
I have attempted recording with Detect Dropouts selected and with it de-selected. The silence is not recorded with either selection.
If I try changing from WASAPI to Windows Direct or MME, the other options automatically change and I get confused while trying multiple configurations of switching the other options backward and forward.
I want the recording to start when it detects sound and stop recording after, say…1 full minute of silence. Can anyone give me a set of simple instructions for how to make that happen?
The problem is that Audacity is removing ALL the pauses in sound.
WASAPI loopback which is used for recording/capturing your soundcard’s output and usually only used to record streaming audio doesn’t work when there is no digital audio stream. A silent stream is OK but it can’t record “nothing”.
I didn’t think that’s a problem with “Stereo Mix” but maybe it’s the same as loopback.
Might be an audiobook, might be music, might be a CD or DVD
Most of those things you shouldn’t have to “record”. Audio CDs don’t have regular “computer files” but they can be [u]ripped[/u]. I use Exact Audio Copy or CUERipper, but Windows Media Player and iTunes, or other ripping applications can do it.
Commercial DVDS are copy protected but there are (illegal) DVD rippers and some of them are free. We don’t discuss illegal software here but you can try [u]Doom9.net[/u] or [u]VideoHelp.com[/u]. Once you get the unencrypted audio/video file on your computer you can open the audio in Audacity (as long as you have [u]FFmpeg[/u] installed). Then then you can export as MP3 or other audio format.
Or if you have a regular soundcard with line inputs (or a USB audio interface with line-inputs) you can record “normally” from your DVD player using the soundcard input (instead of using loopback or Stereo Mix) and silence won’t be a problem.
Some Audiobooks may be copy protected and you might have to record them.
It captures soundcard output similar to “What-U-Hear” or “Stereo Mix”. Most newer computers don’t have the other two options, but loopback is built-into Windows.
If none of those work for you [u]This page[/u] lists a few other applications that may work. Total Recorder has a good reputation for being able to “record anything” but it’s not free.
----I have good “ripping” software. But I’ve come across a few CDs (purchased from eBay) that just won’t ‘rip.’ So I’ve worked around that issue by playing them through the speaker and recording that. Is there a better way?
There is an OLD ripper called [u]Audiograbber[/u] that can record CDs while they are playing. Unfortunately, the free version is now adware (otherwise it’s $10 USD). Under settings there is an “analog” option. The install screens are in German but once installed it supports several languages and it seems to auto-detect your Windows settings because when I run it I’m seeing English.
-----Not really interested in illegal software. The DVDs are of lectures
If they are not encrypted you can open the VOB files in Audacity as long as FFmpeg is installed.
Or if you have a regular soundcard with line inputs (or a USB audio interface with line-inputs) you can record “normally” from your DVD player using the soundcard input (instead of using loopback or Stereo Mix) and silence won’t be a problem.
-----I don’t understand what that means. I don’t know what loopback is,
Loopback captures/records soundcard output which is not the normal way a soundcard works… Normally you record the soundcard’s analog input (a microphone or line input, etc.)
Desktop computers with regular soundcards have a line-input and a mic input. Most laptops only have a mic input so you need a USB audio interface to connect a DVD or CD player. The [u]Beringer UCA202[/u] is popular and inexpensive. (Don’t get a regular little “USB soundcard”. They are like laptops with only mic-in and headphone-out.)
When I was using the earlier version of Audacity, I did not have a problem with pauses.
You were probably using a different version of Windows or different drivers. Audacity can only record what it gets from Windows. Some other applications can work-around the Windows limitations.
If none of those work for you [u]This page[/u] lists a few other applications that may work. Total Recorder has a good reputation for being able to “record anything” but it’s not free.
^^^Thanks for the suggestion. If I can’t get this figured out, I may try that.
-----Not really interested in illegal software. The DVDs are of lectures
If they are not encrypted you can open the VOB files in Audacity as long as FFmpeg is installed.
^^^Okay, Cap’n Google has explained VOB files to me. I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.
-----I don’t understand what that means. I don’t know what loopback is,
[/quote]Loopback captures/records soundcard output which is not the normal way a soundcard works… Normally you record the soundcard’s analog input (a microphone or line input, etc.)
^^^That is an incredibly helpful explanation. Thank you so much!
When I was using the earlier version of Audacity, I did not have a problem with pauses.
You were probably using a different version of Windows or different drivers. Audacity can only record what it gets from Windows. Some other applications can work-around the Windows limitations.[/quote]
^^^Well, it’s the same computer and the same version of Windows. The only things that have changed are some updates to Windows 10 and the version of Audacity. That’s why I felt like something in the settings must not have been the same.
I de-selected Sound Activated Recording and that enabled the recording of pauses. However in the earlier version, once the sound being recorded had stopped for a few minutes, the recording would stop. Which is fine. Show’s over! But with my current settings (including de-selected Sound Activation, it just keeps on recording until I hit Stop.
Last but not least, I really appreciate the time you are taking to answer my questions. Thank you!