Trying to record from sound card

[theslider]

Hi,
I have successfully recorded the sound from my PC's sound card a few times in the past, although not for a while. I am trying to do it again today but nothing is happening. What I mean is that I can open Audacity but when I play the audio I want to record there is no activity in the Audacity window. Normally there are two "squiggly lines" (wave forms?) that go across the screen indicating the sound levels but now I don't have that. If I open a sound file from my hard drive with Audacity those two things are there and the file plays perfectly.

Can anyone suggest what I am doing wrong? I expect there is something very easy I have forgotten to do!

Any help would be gratefully received.

[steve]

The exact steps depend on what sort of sound card and what operating system, but basically what you are wanting to do is to record from "Stereo Mix".
Find the Control Panel/Mixer/Configuration for your sound card (may be as a loudspeaker icon near the Time/Date, otherwise look in the "Sounds" section of the Windows Control Panel) and then find the Recording Settings. You need to set the Recording source to Stereo Mix (may be called "Mix" or "What U Hear").

Here's a couple of links that may help:
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Recor ... e_computer
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel

[theslider]

Thanks, Steve!
Well, it's now working again. I didn't change anything in the Control Panel and I was sure I tried all the options (Stereo Mix, Mic Volume, Line Volume, CD Volume) - but maybe I didn't after all!

Anyway, thanks so much for replying - it's much appreciated.