So if I am recording using Windows WASAPI in WIN 7 using Audacity 2.1.1 does it make a difference what sound card I have as far as the quality of the recording is concerned? If Windows WASAPI is digital is it even passing through the sound card? I can’t seem to find any info on how this Windows WASAPI works.
It’s not like Stereo-Mix which needed cooperation from the sound card and Windows drivers. When that fails, WASAPI is the Get-Out-Of-Jail software. Typically it’s a question of whichever you can get to work.
Koz
What are you recording?
Do you mean “WASAPI loopback” or are you using WASAPI to record from an external input (mic / line-in / something else)?
This article from the Audacity Wiki explains a bit: Missing features - Audacity Support
Microsoft provides a lot of detail: About WASAPI - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn
This 3rd party article has some insights too: The Well-Tempered Computer
WC
Assuming you are talking about WASAPI loopback, it is still playback-dependent on the sound card. If the audio plays with dropouts or crackles or with an Equalization you don’t like, it will be recorded like that.
Gale
The way I understand it I am using it for Loopback recording. It seems to sound pretty good no dropouts or crackles. I was just trying to figure if the sound could be improved by using a better sound card. Right now I have anASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 AM3+ AMD 760G + SB710 USB 3.0 HDMI uATX AMD Motherboard and this what it says about the on board sound
"Eight-Channel High Definition Audio
The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High Definition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output and jack-detect feature that automatically detects and identifies what types of peripherals are plugged into the audio I/O jacks and notifies users of inappropriate connection, which means there will be no more confusion of Line-in, Line-out, and Mic jacks."
I have a couple other cards I could try if I though it would improve the sound recording but if it doesn’t depend on the sound card then obviously it would be pointless.
If you are recording a stream on YouTube then download the video. If you are recording audio you may be able to download a stream that is being served from a file. Use your favourite search engine to find out how. Then you have the audio exactly as it is, without even any possible change of level that you may have with WASAPI loopback.
Gale