Can't get Conexant soundcard to record

[CJS]

I first read through the "FAQ: How to record the speaker output (YouTube)"; my soundcard is a Conexant High Definition SmartAudio 221, and it's on a laptop running Vista Home Premium SP1. If I go to Start > Control Panel > Sound and click on the "Recording" tab, I only have the option to select "Microphone"--there's no options for "Line In" or anything else. So I did what the FAQ suggested and downloaded a newer driver for the soundcard that I found at http://www.download.com (http://download.cnet.com/Conexant-High- ... ?tag=mncol), but upon running the "setup.exe" program that comes in that downloaded package, it gives me an error "Driver Installation Failed: Could not find the MEDIA device for this driver." I assume my only hope of getting Audacity to record through my soundcard (and not the microphone) is to update the soundcard driver, but can anyone give me some idea what I'm doing wrong to update the driver? I have no idea what to do from here. Thanks in advance for any help.

[kozikowski]

Let's do basics. Close Audacity. Can you make a recording in Windows Sound Recorder?

Windows Sound Recorder
Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Entertainment

Koz

[CJS]

Let's do basics. Close Audacity. Can you make a recording in Windows Sound Recorder?

Unfortunately no; the sound files that I record with the Windows sound recorder are all silence, even though the sound I'm playing is coming across loud and clear over the speakers. So I would suppose we can conclude that the Windows sound recorder on my laptop can't record through either the soundcard nor the microphone. Any ideas of where to go from here? Thanks for your help so far.

[kozikowski]

<<<So I would suppose we can conclude that the Windows sound recorder on my laptop can't record through either the soundcard nor the microphone. Any ideas of where to go from here?>>>

I would conclude that Windows Sound Services is failing to provide recordable sound to anybody. If Windows is working correctly, then the sound card is badly mismatched or broken. Record and playback are separate pathways. It's perfectly possible to have one without the other.

Audacity is a complete slave to whatever the computer decides to do with its sound services.

Have you dredged around in the Windows Control Panel?

Windows Control Panel
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... trol_Panel

Koz

[CJS]

After more fiddling around, I was able to get the Windows Sound Recorder to record with the laptop's built-in microphone, which is the only option shown under the mixer recording window. Thanks for the link to the article about the Control Panel, and in fact I had all ready seen it. As I mentioned in my first post, I only have "microphone" as an option under my mixer's recording window, not "stereo mix", "line in" or anything else. That's why I thought my only hope might be to upgrade the driver for my sound card, but I ran into problems trying to do that (as mentioned in my first post). Any ideas of the best course of action now?

[thesamhill]

Maybe too obv but- in the recording window, did you check "show disabled devices?" Go to the sound control panel and under the recording tab, right click on the mic and check "show disabled devices"

[CJS]

Maybe too obv but- in the recording window, did you check "show disabled devices?" Go to the sound control panel and under the recording tab, right click on the mic and check "show disabled devices"

Thanks, thesamhill, but yes, I've tried doing the "show disabled devices" trick too; still only the microphone is listed.

[mgrando]

Hi CJS,

I'd like to know if you solve your problem. I'm having the same. My notebook is a HP DV2000 and I use Conexant High Definition SmartAudio 221.
A doubt....we can install othe kind of drive, for example, Realtek ou other??

Thanks in advance.
Marcelo Grando

[jacobbarnett]

PRECISELY the same problem: NO "LINE IN" option available for recording streaming audio, etc. I DID upgrade drivers for Conexant 20585 "Smart" Audio HD to most current version as well as attempting above resolutions. No joy.

WORKAROUND: See Total Recorder - Standard Edition: http://www.totalrecorder.com/

This application works very well, for $17.95 it's a great deal, considering the hours I've spent researching and trying other things.