Can't record "what I Hear"?

bwbeye · June 28, 2013, 2:32pm

Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit, newest version (2.0.3 obtained using the .exe installer) of Audacity installed.

Hi Everyone,

First off, sorry for posting what appears to be a silly question, I have had success in using Audacity to record and edit, but for some reason yesterday I discovered it wasn’t working. Please see the following:

At one point I was able to record stuff streaming off the internet, and able to edit large mp3 imported music tracks too. For some reason I’m not able to get any thing (internet streaming, iTunes, or a cd/dvd) playing through my computer to record?, or even see any indication of any signal showing up on the input/output meters? I’ve got a digital cable connection from my onboard realtek soundcard to my Yamaha 5.1 receiver (everything IS heard through speakers coming from this source), and the setting are for “Stero mix” for playback and recording, withs levels at 50%. I can open a file in Audacity and get the output meter to work, but can’t record what I hear (internet streaming, iTunes, or a cd/dvd) which I believe should be shown on the input meter? Oh, forgot to mention I updated my realteks driver in an effort to see if that would correct the problem, and it didn’t, but at least now I’ve got the current drivers.

It’s driving me nuts that I can’t figure it out, please help me, I’m a relative newbie and I’ve gone through the tutorials and searched the forums for a fix, but can’t find one, so I’m posting this.

Thank you!

Gale_Andrews · June 29, 2013, 3:27am

If your settings are correct and you are playing the audio on the realtek output device, it should work. If the red recording cursor is not moving, reboot the computer.

if the Yamaha is seen by Windows as an audio playback device and you are playing audio on that device, then Realtek Stereo Mix cannot record it.

Please post the contents of Help > Audio Device Info… in Audacity if there is still a problem not covered by the above.

Also note you can extract CD or DVD audio to audio files using appropriate tools without having to record them:
http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_opening_and_saving_files.html#fromcd .

Extracted DVD audio will usually be in AAC format. If so, you can download FFmpeg to import AAC:
http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#ffdown .

Gale

bwbeye · July 1, 2013, 3:36pm

I went to a suggested tutorial of sorts here on Audacity, read through it and noticed below:

Right-click specifically over the input device you want to record with (for example, line-in or “Stereo Mix”), and if visible, choose “Enable”
Right-click once again over the input device you want to record with, and choose “Set as Default Device”

“set as default device” is greyed out and unable to access???

Gale_Andrews · July 2, 2013, 10:09am

Might that be because you have not yet chosen “Enable”?

As suggested, please post the contents of Help > Audio Device Info… if you still need help. In that Audio Device Info window, right-click > Select All, right-click > Copy, then paste here.

Gale

bwbeye · July 2, 2013, 2:56pm

I’ve tried everything suggested with no success, very frustrating. When I upgraded to the newer audacity version, I uninstalled the old version and I received a popup indicating the all was not removed? Is it possible there’s some kind of conflict between the old and the new version? is there a utility to completly remove all and start from fresh?

Gale_Andrews · July 3, 2013, 11:33am

You didn’t try giving us the Audio Device Info I’ve asked for twice now. We cannot see your machine so rely on you entirely to provide information about it.

If you install the 2.0.3 version into the same directory as the one you uninstalled from, all the relevant program files are overwritten with the new.

I don’t believe it will make any difference but you can reinstall 2.0.3 and put a tick in the “Reset Preferences” box half way through the installation procedure. Then you start with “factory fresh” Audacity preferences.

You can also try SoundLeech from http://www.milosoftware.com/en/index.php?body=soundleech.php (it’s not our program) or at your own risk, you can try the latest Audacity “Nightly” development build which lets you record computer playback.

To try that Audacity build, choose the latest zip file from the top of this list . Quit Audacity, extract the downloaded zip file to any location on your computer then run “audacity.exe” from the folder you extracted to. To record computer playback, select the “Windows WASAPI” host in the first box of Device Toolbar . Then choose the “(loopback)” input in the third box of Device Toolbar.

This is experimental, so you may still get “Error Opening Sound Device” at times (for different reasons) and you may find the recording volume is low, but feedback is welcomed.

Gale

bwbeye · July 11, 2013, 6:07pm

I’m sorry, I’ve been out of town on business and taken some well deserved time off.

What “Audio Device Info” are you looking for specifically, and where do I find it?

Thank you.

Bart

Gale_Andrews · July 11, 2013, 7:27pm

Please see this earlier post https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/cant-record-what-i-hear/30073/4 . “Help” is in the menu bar at the top of the Audacity window.

Gale

bwbeye · July 13, 2013, 6:24pm

Here’s the audio information you requested, thank you for your help.

==============================
Default capture device number: 1
Default playback device number: 8
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Stereo Mix (Realtek High Defini
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(3))
Host name: MME
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(5))
Host name: MME
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(1))
Host name: MME
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(2))
Host name: MME
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(4))
Host name: MME
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Primary Sound Capture Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 11
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(3))
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 12
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(5))
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 13
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(1))
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 14
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(2))
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 15
Device name: MIDI (WsAudio_DeviceS(4))
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 16
Device name: Primary Sound Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 17
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Selected capture device: 1 - Stereo Mix (Realtek High Defini
Selected playback device: 8 - Realtek Digital Output (Realtek
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available capture sources:
0 - Master
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - PCM
==============================
Capture volume is native
Playback volume is native

Gale_Andrews · July 13, 2013, 7:47pm

I suggest you disconnect whatever device(s) Audacity is seeing as the five MIDI inputs. Audacity does not record MIDI.

For input choose “Stereo Mix (Realtek High Defini” in Audacity Device Toolbar .

You appear not to have a viable analogue playback device. The only playback device listed is “Realtek Digital Output (Realtek”. Is that an S/PDIF digital output going to the “Yamaha 5.1 receiver”? Normally if you want to record stereo mix you would need to set the output to an analogue output called something like “Speakers”. Then you can record audio playing from that analogue output using Stereo Mix.

If you need more help I suggest you go to Windows Sound ( http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=Mixer_Toolbar_Issues#vistacp ), show and enable every output and input, then attach screenshots of the “Playback” and “Recording” tabs. Please see here for how to attach files: https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/how-to-attach-files-to-forum-posts/24026/1 .

Gale

bwbeye · July 13, 2013, 11:53pm

I disabled everything except Realtek digital output in playback, and stereo mix in recording, and I’ve reposted the audio device info below. It’s been a while since I used audacity to record what you hear, and I think I’ve gotten mixed up and confused. Your previous reply shook my memory loose and I’m starting to remember what I think I need to do. You’re correct (of course) I have the digital out of my sound card connected (digital cable) to the digital input of my Yamaha receiver, which bypasses the stereo mixer and ability to record?. I believe last I used the “record what you hear” I had (and still have) a logitech 5.1 speaker setup pluged in between the audio out (output?) of the soundcard, to the audio in on the back of the logitech subwoofer/amplifier (output?) that sends the sound to the 5 speakers and the subwoofer. I hope I’ve explained it properly. So I believe I had to disable realtek digital output in “playback”, and stereo mixer in “recording”, to effectively disable the digital connection between the soundcard and my yamaha receiver.

Does that make sense so far?

Now to record what I hear I need to enable the audio connection between my sound card and logitech speakers? already plugged in and connected by enabling the speakers in playback? (disabling the realtek digital audio output connection) and leaving the stereo mix enabled to record?

Hope I didn’t confuse you, as much as I’m now somewhat confused, but think I’m on the right track?

==============================
Default capture device number: 1
Default playback device number: 3
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Stereo Mix (Realtek High Defini
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.200000
Low Output Latency: 0.200000
High Input Latency: 0.400000
High Output Latency: 0.400000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Primary Sound Capture Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Primary Sound Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Selected capture device: 0 - Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Selected playback device: 3 - Realtek Digital Output (Realtek
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available capture sources:
0 - Master
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - PCM
==============================
Capture volume is native
Playback volume is native

Gale_Andrews · July 14, 2013, 12:15am

I don’t have your system, but I still don’t see how you can record audio playing on the computer unless you are prepared to enable an analogue playback output in Windows. Stereo Mix cannot usually record from playback on the digital output - it needs to record from playback on the analogue output.

This is why I suggested enabling all the inputs and outputs in Windows and posting images so we can see all the potential devices you have available. It may shed some light on what those MIDI inputs are that Audacity sees.

It doesn’t matter if you connect 5.1 speakers, headphones or whatever to the analogue output.

It doesn’t matter if you leave the digital output enabled as long as you also enable the analogue output then play the audio you want to record on that output (that is, set the analogue output as default device on the “Playback” tab of Windows “Sound”).

Gale

bwbeye · July 14, 2013, 1:12am

Here’s the playback and record screenshots, thank you.
Playback and Record tabs.jpg

Gale_Andrews · July 14, 2013, 9:58am

Thanks for the screenshots.

As previously suggested, I think you will need to enable the “Speakers” playback device (right-click over it) then make it default (right-click over it a second time). Then songs you play in the browser will play through the speakers and be recordable by stereo mix if you turn up ALL of these:

the output level of “Speakers”
the output level of the Flash player in the browser
the input level of Stereo Mix.

You may also need to make Stereo Mix default recording device.

Is your issue that you want to record computer playback but listen to it on the Yamaha while it records? I think that will be difficult to achieve in high quality unless you connect the Speakers to the Yamaha rather than the digital out.

The “Ws” devices seem to be Wondershare or similar product of theirs. Are you sure that cannot record streaming audio as a standalone application? A few Forum users say it can do so, but I have no idea if Audacity can record from any of its virtual inputs. I suggest your read the Wondershare documentation if you have not already done so.

Gale

bwbeye · July 17, 2013, 3:52pm

Thanks for all your help, finally got it going per all your suggestions and it’s working like a champ!

Thanks again Gale!

Gale_Andrews · July 17, 2013, 8:53pm

Hooray

Were all those Ws devices Wondershare? Did you record computer playback without needing Wondershare? I don’t know what it does, but you “might” be able to use it to record from the digital out if you make digital out default playback device. But to record “stereo mix”, you’d have to set “Speakers” back to default playback device.

But if you are happy and it ain’t broken, it may be best not to fix it.

Gale