Hi,
I think I’m doing something obviously wrong, because I cannot seem to record the music I’m playing on the computer. I’ve tried version 1.26 and 2.03. I’ve been using audacity for years, on several computers and this is the first time I have not been able to figure it out. By the ways this is a new (to me) computer using windows 7. I would appreciate some guidance. (The music is playing because I can hear it on my speakers.)
Thanks,
… john
#1 Download the most recent version of Audacity , 2.1.2
#2 Selecting “WASAPI” records what’s playing on the computer.
Hi,
Well, I’ve made some progress. There are two audio jacks on the back of my computer. On one I have the line going to my amp (and speakers). And I found out that by plugging a cable into the other one and running it to the ‘phono’ jack of the amp I can record what’s playing on the computer. So, I’m basically running a cable to the amp and back to the computer. But on my old computer I used to be able to record anything that was playing on the computer by just pressing Audacity’s record button. It seems odd to me that the newer computer will not do likewise. What am I missing?
Thanks,
… john
If you only have one audio input port on the computer it will be a “mic” port and not suitable for connecting a loopback cable.
So, please read the link Trebor showed you. Here it is again: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/tutorial_recording_computer_playback_on_windows.html#wasapi. Using this digital method, you don’t need analogue cables. This will work on your Windows 7 computer, if you use Audacity 2.1.2 from http://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows.
It won’t work on your Windows XP computer.
If you now only have Windows 7, let us know then we can update your profile to say Windows 7.
Gale
The newer computer’s audio-driver-software may be missing something called “StereoMix” aka “WaveOut”, which is the sound from the speakers, which was available on XP machines.
Or the newer computer may have "StereoMix"aka “WaveOut”, but it is disabled & hidden by default, which can be enabled …
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-enable-all-recording-devices-in-windows-7
If the newer computer doesn’t have “StereoMix” aka “WaveOut”, then you use WASAPI to record what is playing on the computer speakers.
Even if you have stereo mix/wave out and can enable it, WASAPI loopback can be considered preferable because it is a digital capture. Stereo mix/wave out involve conversion from digital to analogue (to play the sound) then back to digital (when Audacity captures the sound).
Gale
Hi Trebor/Gale,
That worked like a charm. Thank you very much.
… john