Audacity & Vista: stereo-mix gone

[ralphga]

I am trying to record Skype using headphones (jacks not USB), Vista and Audacity and experience the problem of not being able to see any input devices when selecting input device within Audacity. I have followed the various forums on the web that are related to this issue and I understand that this is a Vista issue not an audacity issue. However I have managed to in ‘Control panel’, ‘sound’:
“Click in the empty space in the central list pane (where the other recording devices appear) or right-click any of the devices listed. Make sure that “Show Disabled Devices” and “Show Disconnected Devices” are checked.” As a result of that Stereo Mix appeared as an option in windows Control panel, Skype Audio settings and Audacity Edit - preferences.
The dropdown menu with recording devices is still grayed out in Audacity after Edit > Preferences and selecting stereo-mix.
I have tried recording Skype with Audacity by mixing and matching the various sound card options including ‘stereo mix’ but have not had any success.
Is there actually a further step? For example - Might I need to reload drivers for my soundcard – ‘Realtek High Definition Audio’? Or are there other steps that I am “not getting”?

[steve]

The dropdown menu with recording devices is still grayed out in Audacity

Yes it will be. See "Mixer Toolbar selector is always greyed out on Vista" here: http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=12

Recording from Skype or other voip programs is rather tricky because the do some dirty things to your sound system to prevent feedback. Some voip applications contain there own utility for recording, but I don't think that Skype does. You could try using PrettyMay http://www.prettymay.net/ which I believe is free. I've not used it myself, so please let us know how you get on with it.

[ralphga]

Stevethefiddle - Many thanks for your input and the link to the previous forum and wiki posts. For others experiencing similar problems - the Audacity team article on the wiki suggests searching for any updated drivers. I did that but I have the latest for my sound card (Realtek High def). Pretty May has restrictions on length of recording for their free version (which commercially I have no problem with by the way). I am trying to record for podcasts which may be longer than the Pretty May time allowed. I may end up down this path but my preference is to keep everything within Audacity, so I am still interested to hear if there is any way to use stereo mix input with Audacity running on Vista. From your response and the earlier forum and Wiki post it looks like it just may not be doable. I will let you know the outcome if I try Pretty May. Thanks again.

[kozikowski]

Voice Over IP systems are odd ducks to begin with. First you have to trick the computer into being bi-directional and then to do it in a way that doesn't cause feedback, howling and odd echoes. In order to do that, the program completely takes over the computer sound services. So now here's Audacity (we keep reminding people, a very simple audio editing program) stepping on sound services that no longer exist.

Generally, third party software packages are the way to go--or first party; software that came from the people producing the phone call.

Koz