Hey guys, I need to record only the audio of an online video. I downloaded, installed an ran Audacity and trying to follow the tutorial I found here:
file:///C:/Program%20Files/Audacity/help/manual/man/tutorial_recording_audio_playing_on_the_computer.html
When I open audacity, first problem is a female voice is saying every few seconds what sounds like the word “trial”, what gives?
Uninstall the fake Audacity you have now and run a scan for viruses.
Only download Audacity from the links on this page: http://audacityteam.org/download/windows. Click the link that says “Audacity 2.0.6 installer”. You will go to one of our trusted download partners to download Audacity.
Do not click blue or green download buttons for anything other than Audacity.
Gale
If you have Audacity 2.0.6, that should be the same as this on-line version:
http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/tutorial_recording_audio_playing_on_the_computer.html
Audacity does not do that.
You may have a fake version of Audacity, in which case please follow the advice given by Gale.
Assuming that you have the genuine version of Audacity (download from: http://audacityteam.org/download/) I’d guess that the “trial” nag is from a trial version of a plugin on your computer.
When does the “trial” audio occur?
AVS Audio Editor is well known for the female “trial” voice. Did you download AVS as well as the real Audacity but are opening AVS?
Gale
I uninstalled the version I had and followed the instructions given but same deal, when I click the Record button that’s when I get the “trial” voice every 5 seconds or so. I don’t think it’s a virus issue as I have a good protection system and no other issues with anything else on my pc?
No, I only downloaded installed Audacity
As previously explained, Audacity supplied by us does not do that. So if you really downloaded Audacity from us, something else on your system is doing that.
Have you installed Virtual Audio Cable and are trying to record from one of its devices? Virtual Audio Cable inserts a voice that says “Trial”. What are your settings in Device Toolbar? What version of Windows are you using? If you are on Vista or later:
There is no need for you to even use Audacity to record the audio of the video. Download the audio, assuming you have permission to record it in the first place. Use your favourite search engine to find out how.
Gale
Yes, I had installed VAC a while back. I am running win7 and have followed your instructions, please see first screenshot which shows the settings you are inquiring about. The 2nd screenshot shows the error message I am getting when I hit the Record button?
Do not use the VAC device to record from unless you are prepared to buy it. Audacity cannot suppress VAC’s insertion of “Trial”.
If you want a free alternative to VAC, try http://vb-audio.pagesperso-orange.fr/Cable/VirtualCables.htm.
If you wish to record using Windows WASAPI with how you currently have Windows Sound set up, choose the Headphones (High Definition Audio) as the Playback device and the Headphones (High Definition Audio) (loopback) as the Recording device.
If you don’t want to use headphones, right-click over the speaker icon by the system clock, then choose “Playback Devices”. Right-click over empty space and ensure “Show Disabled Devices” has a checkmark. Right-click over your computer speakers and choose “Enable” if that item is active. Right-click over your computer speakers again and choose “Set as Default Device”.
OK all the dialogues and restart Audacity. Then in Device Toolbar, still using Windows WASAPI host, choose the computer speakers as playback device, and computer speakers (loopback) as recording device.
Or download the video or the audio.
Gale
Thanks for the VAC alternative, I had only downloaded that to try out a compressor/limiter software so don’t need it right now.
Almost there, it’s recording now but the input signal is through the roof as the attached screenshot shows, I dropped the pc’s audio volume all the way down and also the volume levels in Audacity but still too much input, any ideas please?
I don’t know how you managed that. WASAPI recording level is normally moderate and can’t be overdriven. I assume that VAC or something else you installed is the cause, perhaps the compressor you mention. I would uninstall VAC and other extras, and turn off sound effects in your sound card.
If you have stereo mix available you can also record using that, choosing MME or Windows DirectSound host in Audacity. You would have to go the Recording tab of Windows Sound to see if you could enable stereo mix - see http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer_Toolbar_Issues#vistacp.
Gale
I uninstalled both VAC and Stereo Tool softwares, can’t think of anything else which may be interfering, I have Goldwave and DJ softwares installed but none of them are open so should not be interfering with this. I am not seeing Stereo mix in the Sound->Recording Properties.
Almost there, it’s recording now but the input signal is through the roof as the attached screenshot shows,
There might be nothing wrong… To me, it just looks like a loud-compressed original recording. The waves are not “jammed hard” at 1.0.
Does the recording sound any different from the original streamed audio (when listening at the same volume)?
It did not record, only an extremely loud noise comes across when I hit the record button but now pressing the record button only produces the error message mentioned.
Ensure that “software playthrough” is off (not selected) in the Transport menu.
Yes, that works now, thanks. Only issue I am seeing now is that their are 2 level bars and only the one on the right is working, is this normal as the screenshot show? Also, is there a to control the input level as I am not seeing a way to do this?
Your screenshot shows a stereo recording working as expected in both channels. There is not much difference between the channels perhaps, but that may be how the audio is.
Not usually with WASAPI loopback. The only adjustment you can make is by adjusting the level of the web player in your browser and you won’t get the achieved recorded level much above +/- 0.5.
You could have saved yours and everyone else’s time by downloading the audio. That way, when your e-mail comes in, you won’t record that ding sound with the online video!
Gale
Got it done, appreciate the help.