I am using Windows 8.1 (64 bit) and Audacity 2.4.2. The only recording device settings I am presented are Microphone and Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input. I want to record from YouTube. No matter which recording device I select, my internal microphone is the only source recorded. I very seldom do voiceovers, so I 99.9% of the time want only YouTube - not my voice or breathing - to be the source. What am I doing wrong? A recent Microsoft Update destroyed my Audacity that worked like a breeze for years. I didn’t have any sound whatsoever après Update. I fixed that, now I upgraded Audacity and have this selectivity problem.
What is your playback device? How do you listen to sound from your computer?
Thanks for getting back. Is this the right way of answering? I open Device Manager and expand “Sound, video and game controllers” and get HIGH DEFINITION AUDIO DEVICE, AND INTEL (R) DISPLAY AUDIO. Presently Audacity only presents MICROPHONE, and MICROSOFT SOUND MAPPER.
Please reply to what steve asked.
Years ago, it seemed these loopback capabilites used to go in and out with every OS update. I eventually got a loopback cable, then when they took away the line-in port, I got a small USB device and used my cable with it.
OK, here is a long shot, but it might work. For Windows 8.1, go to Settings > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Recording. OK, so here is where you might get lucky: Right-click on the big white mostly empty panel. See if there is an option to “Show disabled or disconnected devices”. Select those options. If Stereo Mix or a loopback device is one of those disabled devices, see if you can’t enable it. If not, well, I said it was a long shot…
I hope this helps. 
Thanks. I tried that, but didn’t work. I’ve attached a screenshot of the only input devices listed. Note one is not connected, and the other one is. Unfortunately no stereo mix or anything like that.
I think that is why they make those cables. 
Don’t discount steve.
I don’t discount Steve. In fact I tried to answer his question, but he hasn’t gotten back yet. I am not familiar with the cables you spoke of. Where could I go to familiarize myself with them? Thanks again.
Tom Zsenyuk
Laguna Beach, Calif.
In Audacity, select WASAPI as your [u]Audio Host[/u] then check the Recording Device drop-down options for something that says “(loopback)”. If you have multiple choices select the one you’re actually listening to. (Loopback is not on option with MME or Direct Sound.)
How do you listen to sound from your computer?
Example: “I use SENNHEISER HD 350BT headphones connected to my laptop via bluetooth.”
I don’t discount Steve. In fact I tried to answer his question, but he hasn’t gotten back yet. I am not familiar with the cables you spoke of. Where could I go to familiarize myself with them? Thanks again.
Tom Zsenyuk
Laguna Beach, Calif.
My bad. I think our posts crossed originally, and then I didn’t see it later.
So in the old days, when PC’s had headphone and line-in jacks, this would be a simple 1/8" male-to-male stereo audio cable.
If you are using something like the Behringer UCA202 or 222 (still $19 at Sweetwater) you would need a a RCA male-to-male stereo cable.
I hope this helps.