Recording headphones and mic at the same time

[redrooster29]

I need to record some interviews for my work and I'm trying to figure out how to record what's going through my headphone speakers and what I'm saying into the mic at the same time.

My laptop only has one input for a headset with a mic and headphones, so I can't just record the speaker output and my voice with a mic.

Thanks for any help.

[kozikowski]

You left out a Reeeealy import piece.

"I need to record some interviews" ...on Skype.

Your choices are Total Recorder...

http://www.highcriteria.com/

Or the two top versions of Palmela -- Professional and Business. The two lesser software packages are intentionally crippled.

http://www.pamela.biz/en/download/

Koz

[redrooster29]

do these programs allow for google voice recording?

[steve]

I think Pamela is specific to Skype and Total Recorder is a more general program that can also handle Google voice, but Koz has posted the links and I'm sure that you are just as capable of clicking on them as I am.

[redrooster29]

ya, I had posted before I clicked on the links.

Also, I assume that since you're posting external links that audacity is not able to handle this kind of recording?

[steve]

On some machines it is possible to record Skype on Audacity, but either both sides of the conversation are mixed in together, or it only records one side. Some computers completely refuse to record Skype with Audacity. At best it is tricky to set up and the result is not ideal. At worst it doesn't work at all. I've not seen any definitive instruction for how to get it to work, though I have had it working on my computer (Linux). So no, it's not impossible, but it's probably not worth all the time and effort for something that probably won't work. (I've seen plenty of instructions on the Internet for how to record Skype using Audacity on Windows, but I've not found any that actually work).

I believe that Pamela is able to record the two sides of the conversation on different tracks, which means that if one voice is louder than the other, you can import the recording into Audacity and adjust the levels of each voice. Total Recorder may also be able to do this... yes, looks like it does: http://www.totalrecorder.com/recording_ ... ations.htm

We regularly get spam on the forum for "free" programs that record Skype, but invariably they are either not free, or they're riddled with malware. If you're interested in trying out a few programs to find which one suits you best, I'd recommend that you ensure that your anti-virus is fully up to date, and take care with what you download and install. Pamela and Total Recorder tend to get recommended here because they've been around for years and are known to be reputable products.

[kozikowski]

I have a license for Total Recorder. It's been around for a while.

If you do get something to work, do post back and say so. The forum is a dialog.

Koz

[kozikowski]

These products gain value by being reliable and on a Windows machine that can take some doing. Skype works by viciously taking over the sound services while it's working. I have to assume Google does, too.

Is there anything wrong with the Google Voice Recorder?

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Another interesting feature of Google Voice is call recording. During an incoming call, the user can press a single button to start/stop the device’s recorder. This can be done in any type of phone device and the recording can later be exported as an MP3 file. In addition to that, the user can get conference calls for free with a maximum of four people.
====================

Koz

[redrooster29]

the google voice recorder only records incoming calls.

I'll try total recorder and see how it works

[kozikowski]

If you have access to two computers, you can make one the recorder and join a conference between all three. Google Voice Recorder will record two and three -- two being you and three being the guest. Mute number one's microphone.

Koz