How to record from usb soundcard?

This section is now closed.
Forum rules
Audacity 1.2.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.

The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Locked
tonydsam
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:31 pm
Operating System: Please select

How to record from usb soundcard?

Post by tonydsam » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:35 pm

I am using a laptop that didnt seem to have a seperate soundcard so I have bought a usb soundcard, how do you record from this as recording device says Microphone usb but I get an error when I use this?

I dont actually want to record from the microphone of the usb soundcard but from the soundcard itself.

steve
Site Admin
Posts: 81653
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:43 am
Operating System: Linux *buntu

Re: How to record from usb soundcard?

Post by steve » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:40 pm

What USB sound card do you have? (make and model number).
tonydsam wrote:I dont actually want to record from the microphone of the usb soundcard but from the soundcard itself.
I'm not sure that I understand what you mean. Exactly what is it that you want to record? Where is the sound/audio signal coming from?
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

tonydsam
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:31 pm
Operating System: Please select

Re: How to record from usb soundcard?

Post by tonydsam » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:48 pm

I want to record what is playing on my pc. The make and model is Lead 3d sound 5.1.It has a mike and headphone port in the usb card which if I plug into is playing back the sound.

steve
Site Admin
Posts: 81653
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:43 am
Operating System: Linux *buntu

Re: How to record from usb soundcard?

Post by steve » Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:36 pm

I don't think the "Lead 3d sound 5.1" can do that directly.
You want to record sounds that are playing on your computer, but if you use the Lead 3d sound 5.1, they are not playing "on your computer", they are playing on the "Lead 3d sound 5.1"

There are some options that you can try:

1) Look at the settings for your internal sound card - most laptops have one built into the motherboard. The settings are usually found via an icon near the clock. You will need to remove the Lead 3d sound 5.1 to do this. Look for a recording input that says "Mix" or "Stereo Mix". See here for more information: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... e_computer

2) You could get an audio lead with suitable jack plugs on each end that allows you to plug the headphone output of your USB audio device into the input of the device. Note that using this method you will not be able to hear the audio at the same time, although you could perhaps use a "splitter lead" rather than a straight lead. Also, you will need to turn the playback volume down very low. This is important as the normal headphone volume is more than 1000 times too great for the microphone input and it could potentially blow up the microphone input. This method may only be able to record in mono (depending on whether the microphone input is mono or stereo).

3) Get a USB sound card that has a "Line input", a "Line output" and a "headphone output. You can then use a suitable audio lead to connect the "line output" to the "line input" and connect your headphones to the "headphone output". The Behringer UCA 202 is an inexpensive device that could do this - other suitable products are also available.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Locked