I downloaded Audacity and successfully recorded half a dozen tracks from YouTube music videos by connecting my computer to my amplifier Aux input, and my computer to my amp headphone socket. (There was no sound, of course, but I didn’t find that a great issue since I was able to judge the end of the recording by watching the video.) For a while, as I say, this worked just fine. But then, all of a sudden, I began to get some odd noise coming from somewhere (see screenshot). can anybody tell me what’ve I’ve done wrong here? Thanks. (W10 A2.3)
Just FYI, this is generally a copyright violation… That’s why there is no “download” button on YouTube… They don’t want you downloading/copying.
With WASAPI loopback as your recording device you can [u]record what you’re listening to[/u] on the computer without any external connections. And, as long as there are no “glitches” you’ll get a clean digital capture with no added noise or distortion.
by connecting my computer to my amplifier Aux input, and my computer to my amp headphone socket. (There was no sound, of course, but I didn’t find that a great issue since I was able to judge the end of the recording by watching the video.)
Like I said, you shouldn’t have to do that. And if you do, you shouldn’t need an amplifier. You can plug line-out/headphone-out from your soundcard to line-in on your soundcard. But, you do need a desktop computer with a regular soundcard. The mic input on a laptop is too sensitive. And with a [u]Y-splitter[/u] you can plug-in headphones/speakers at the same time.
That sounds bad. Could be a component breaking down.
The recommended way to record sounds playing on the computer is, as DVDdoug suggested, using “WASAPI loopback”. Give that a go and let us know how you get on.