Audacity Forum

Good evening gentlemen. I have been an avid user of Audacity for a while, fantastic software by the way, but am using it now on my netbook, Windows XP. It was working completely fine until I installed Skype. The recording option for Stereo Mix is still there but when I choose it and then try to record it's just a flat line....no audio response whatsoever.

I realised Skype must've done something to cause this so I tried changing some of the audio settings in Skype. Nothing happened, so I uninstalled Skype from my computer. But my problem has not been fixed. I can record from my microphone but obviously the quality is no-where near as good.

Is it possible you could help me with this? If you wish for me to provide further details, including screenshots I will. Unfortunately I'm no real computer expert but I'm always ready to learn!

Thank you for your time.

Skype is a common culprit for this sort of thing. It is possible to have Skype on your computer and still use Audacity, but Skype must be completely closed when you want to use Audacity and you will probably need to reset your sound system each time.

Windows Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Audio tab.

Check that your sound card is listed as the default recording device and the default playback device.

Click on the "Volume" button in the "Recording Device" section. This will open the "Recording Control"

If you cannot see an option for "Stereo Mix" (may be called "Mix" or "What U Hear"), click on "Options" in the "Recording Control" menu and select "Properties", then put a tick by the "show the following volume controls > Stereo Mix" and click OK. If "Stereo Mix" is already listed in the Recording Control, skip this step.

Select "Stereo Mix" as the recording source in "Recording Control".

Close all open windows.

Open Audacity and in the first section of Preferences, set "Microsoft Sound Mapper" as the recording and playback devices.

I'm afraid I've done what you told me and still no sound is being recorded at stereo mix. The settings were already on what you specified. I honestly don't know what's up.

EDIT: Just restarted my computer and it now works! Thank you so much for helping me! I appreciate the fact you people here take out some of your free time in order to help the ignorant, instead of sitting back. Thank you sir!