Recording through AudioBox One

Hello, I was hoping someone might be able to help in me being able to record through AudioBox One.

I’m using Win 8.1 and just downloaded 2.4.2 Audacity.

In Win Control Panel I have under recording tab I have active - Line (AudioBox USB iOne Default Device).

In Audacity:

Windows WASAP (I’ve tried also tried Windows Direct Sound and MME)
Line(AudioBox USB iOne)
1(Mono Recording)

I have the recording volume set to max too.

But when I play any source then start to record nothing shows up on the track and the ‘meter’ is flatlined to 0.

“Click to start monitoring” doesn’t show up anything either.

However - if I change “Line(AudioBox USB iOne)” to “Speakers (Audio USB iOne) (loopback)”

Then I can record.

I’m just wondering what’s going on here in that one is able to record while the other is not.

Is there likely to be some ‘quality’ loss in the signal if just use the 'Speakers" option?

Insight is appreciated - Thanks

If you are using the instrument input, try stereo recording (if it works, the instrument will probably come-out on the right).

And if stereo works you might have to dig through the Windows Control Panel to make sure the Windows mono/stereo settings for the AudioBox match the Audacity mono/stereo settings.

Or if stereo works, you can delete the silent channel after recording to make a true-mono file (which will play from both speakers).

Is there likely to be some ‘quality’ loss in the signal if just use the 'Speakers" option?

Technically it may not be as good but there may no audible degradation. You’ll be recording a “mix” with any other sounds your computer is making and also any optional sound “enhancement” adjustments that your computer might have (bass boost or other E, etc.).

Hey DVDdoug…thanks for the reply.

Stereo recording doesn’t work either. Also, I’m not trying to record an instrument.

Trying to get whatever sound that is playing through the computer like from a streaming source where I can’t download the file.

There was a difference between the device sampling and what Audacity has as default, but even changing that to match made no difference.

Trying to get whatever sound that is playing through the computer like from a streaming source where I can’t download the file.

In that case WASAPI loopback is CORRECT and you don’t need an external audio interface.

[u]Tutorial - Recording audio playing on the computer[/u]

The Audiobox interface is for recording from an analog source (a microphone or guitar/instrument). It’s essentially a high-quality “soundcard” with analog-to-digital (recording) and digital-to-analog (playback) converters. If you ever want to use a microphone, note that audio interfaces only work with stage/studio microphones. They don’t work with “computer mics”.

Thank you for the clarifications DVDdoug.