Stereo mix problems

[FruitSalad4225]

I'm trying to record streaming audio and sounds from my microphone at the same time. Stereo mix will record the streaming audio, but not my microphone. Why is this? Can someone help me out?

[kozikowski]

I think the current Windows will only let you record from one device at a time and each of those counts as a device. The Real Windows people will show up and flesh that out a little, but I believe that's the problem. You can't record your cassette machine via Line-In and Mic-In at the same time, either.

The early systems would let you do multiple pathways and nobody ever figured out how to use them. I had an early system that I got working once and I put roadside flares around the settings. "Don't ever change these because you'll never get them back where they were." I used it for years like that. The flare bill was terrific.

Koz

[steve]

It may be possible, but it depends on several factors.
Must be a conventional microphone - not a USB microphone.
Your sound card and drivers must support stereo mix.

If you've got those two you're in with a chance.

I'm hoping you're on Windows XP because it gets a lot harder in Vista and Windows 7.

You can only monitor the recording with headphones, speakers must be off.

This is the sound card mixer on my computer - depending on your sound card drivers yours may look different.
This is the "Playback" mixer - note that the sources that I want to enable for recording are not muted - I can hear them through my headphones.

playback-mixer.png (22.03 KiB) Viewed 2119 times

This is the Recording section of the mixer - if you have a similar mixer it is accessed through the "options" menu of the previous screen-shot. If your mixer is different the recording section may be somewhere else.
Note that "Stereo Mix" is selected.

record-mixer.png (18.93 KiB) Viewed 2116 times

With this set-up on my computer, Audacity will record a mix of "Wave, Software Synth, CD Audio and Microphone". It will not record anything from the "Line" input because that is muted in the playback screen.

[Thunderbolt1000T]

I know how to fix this in XP, but not in other versions of Windows.

1. In your system tray, right click Volume, and click Adjust Audio Properties. This can also be accessed in Device Manager.
2. Click on the Voice tab.
3. Click the Voice Recording Volume button.
4. A dialog box should come up entitled "Recording Control." This dialog box controls what is being recorded in programs like Sound Recorder and Audacity. Note: This is not the same dialog box you get when you're in the standard volume control, even though they look similar. What you do in one doesn't effect the other. This one is specifically for recording, while the other is for playback only.
5. Your options here are Mic, Line, and Stereo Mix. There's a "Select" checkbox by each. Check the one for Stereo Mix, then close the dialog box.

Your problem may be that your stereo mix is set to play through the speakers or headphones in the other dialog box, but it isn't set to record in this one. Once it is fixed, you can then go to the standard volume control, and mute the stereo mix, but the stereo mix will still record in Audacity, even though it's muted in your speakers. I found this whole thing out one day entirely through experimentation, and by accident.

Hope I was able to help someone, and I hope this helps people in the future.

[yanmac]

I have Vista and use the latest version of Audacity AND I have selected 2 (Stereo) in the Recording section of the Devices section and it STILL doesn't record in Stereo.

Anyone got any suggestions...?

[Thunderbolt1000T]

yanmac, have you tried creating a new stereo track before you record the stereo mix?

[steve]

I have Vista and use the latest version of Audacity AND I have selected 2 (Stereo) in the Recording section of the Devices section and it STILL doesn't record in Stereo.

Have you set Windows to record stereo in the Control Panel?
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel

[yanmac]

yanmac, have you tried creating a new stereo track before you record the stereo mix?

How is this done?

[yanmac]

I have Vista and use the latest version of Audacity AND I have selected 2 (Stereo) in the Recording section of the Devices section and it STILL doesn't record in Stereo.

Have you set Windows to record stereo in the Control Panel?
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel

Many thanks for this. Have taken all the steps. Will test tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

[waxcylinder]

yanmac, have you tried creating a new stereo track before you record the stereo mix?

How is this done?

Just use Tracks > Add New > Stereo Track

WC