Recording audio from MSN and Skype chat videos

[Mr Wolf]

Hi to all!
So, I've used Camtasia Studio and MSN Recorder Max to try to record video chats from MSN and Skype
The problem is with audio: in fact, I can register my voice from my microphone, but the problem is if I want to save the audio of the person I'm chatting with; the only solution I found is to record the audio through my microphone directly from my computer speakers together with my voice

I also tried using a splitter with two jacks and plugging it in the microphone jack: in one jack I plugged in the microphone, and in the other one a cable connected to the headphone jack, but it didn't work

I was suggested to use Audacity (which I already use to make records from my microphone), but I have no idea how to do

Can anyone suggest me a better way?

Thanks!

[kozikowski]

The only good way to do this on one computer is Pamela.

http://www.pamela.biz/

I believe only the paid version actually does what most people want.

Koz

[steve]

Total Recorder 5.2 and later should also work. Again it's not free.

[Mr Wolf]

Thanks! I'll give them a look

However, how is it is possible they do what I need?
I mean, can they somehow record the audio stream which goes to the speakers (that is, in this case, the voice of the person I'm talking with)?

I wonder why it's not easy and recording programs can't do that
I mean, that stream audio goes directly to the speakers? It's not "elaborated" in some way by the computer?

[kozikowski]

It's painfully elaborate.

In order to guarantee communication success -- remember the software is simulating a telephone, not a ratty computer -- Skype has to grab the computer sound services by the huevos and not let go for the duration of the call. It has to manage sound correctly, clearly, with no echoes, and with absolute stability both directions at the same time. There's no such thing as "turning one channel around" in order to record one or the other. There's nothing left. Skype is using everything.

Nobody has yet to argue successfully against a very good, very stable sound package needed to do this. I'm surprised Total Recorder can do it. I'm waiting for the person who actually got it to work. I know Pamela people. That thing works very well.

And again, that's assuming one computer. If you have two, it's a snap. I believe almost any sound package can record the outgoing sound, and the second computer can record the receive audio from the far end without violating any pathway management.

Koz

[steve]

I checked this out when I was installing Skype for a computer illiterate friend on Windows.

The problem is that to record both your microphone and the other person, you must set the recording input to "Stereo Mix".
With the recording source set to Stereo Mix, Audacity would be able to record both sides of the conversation.

However, Skype will automatically set the recording source to "Mic" (microphone), and if you manually change it from microphone to Stereo Mix, Skype stops working. Skype will only work with the recording input set to Microphone.

It's a choice, Microphone or Stereo Mix, but not both at the same time. Either Skype works or Audacity works, but not both at the same time.


The way that Pamela, Total Recorder and the others get round the problem is by hijacking the sound system and routing all audio through a virtual sound card.
Skype then thinks that it is connected to the microphone, but it is really connected to the microphone input of a virtual sound card.
The virtual sound card sits between your other software (Skype) and the real sound card.

I've not tried this, but if you have Total Recorder installed, you could probably use Audacity to record Skype, by setting Audacity to record from Total Recorders virtual sound card (though there probably would not be much point as Total Recorder has recording built in).

[Mr Wolf]

Many thanks for your explanations!

I'll give a look both to Pamela and Total Recorder

However, the simplest (even if very rough!) way is the one I found, that is, to record my voice through the microphone and the other person's voice always through the microphone from the speakers

[kozikowski]

<<<However, the simplest (even if very rough!) way is the one I found, that is, to record my voice through the microphone and the other person's voice always through the microphone from the speakers>>>

Which would make the person at the other end crazy. This setup sends their own voice back to them late -- delayed by the computer, latency,and internet delays. If you play your cards right, it will do it more than once once once once.

There's no graceful way to do this other than add a computer, either physically or virtually (Pamela). Also remember, nobody has posted that they personally, actually, really got Total Recorder to work.

Koz

[Mr Wolf]

Hi again!
So... I'm trying Total Recorder, I installed it in my computer with Windows XP Professional SP3
I have to say it works great with MSN: I can record both video and audio!
But... I have a problem recording audio from Skype (I have version 4): if in the Skype audio settings I set as output "Total Recorder virtual device", when I speak, the volume of the voice of the person I'm talking with goes compleately down, I can't hear it anymore! That's a very strange problem!
And then, when I stop recording, Total Recorder often crashes!

Could anyone confirm me these problems?

Thanks!

[kozikowski]

<<<Could anyone confirm me these problems?>>>

Wouldn't surprise me. Whatever software you use to capture both sides needs to know exactly what Skype did to the pathways. The setup is highly abnormal and Skype does not Play Well With Others.

http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 27&t=12251

Koz