Windows 7 listen while recording

[Shine512]

I was using Audacity before on XP. My mother board fried so now I'm using a new computer with windows 7.
I'm using the beta version it seems to be recording in stereo now through the input level meter, however on the output level meter I see nothing and hear nothing during the recording process.

I can hear on playback, but it would be nice to be able to listen while recording.

[steve]

I'm using the beta version

You've posted to the Audacity 1.2.x board - I'll move it.

on the output level meter I see nothing and hear nothing during the recording process.

Does it play back correctly after you have recorded it?

What are you recording, with what, and how?

[kozikowski]

<<<What are you recording, with what, and how?>>>

We ask people if they're recording "live" and they say yes, live from the internet. Those two are very different and have different problems. It's also way different again if you're trying to record a Skype interview, so be specific.

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

I was using Audacity before on XP. My mother board fried so now I'm using a new computer with windows 7.
I'm using the beta version it seems to be recording in stereo now through the input level meter, however on the output level meter I see nothing and hear nothing during the recording process.

I can hear on playback, but it would be nice to be able to listen while recording.

Assuming you are not recording computer playback, try the obvious answer - Transport > Software Playthrough in Audacity. That sends a copy of the input to the output. The output will be delayed because of the time it takes to process through the computer. If you don't like the delay, try unmuting the input on the Playback tab of Sound in the Windows Control Panel (which is called "hardware playthrough").

You must not enable software playthrough while recording computer playback, because it creates a series of feedback echoes.

The Audacity playback VU meters will be active when recording in these cases:

* Transport > Software Playthrough checked (you can also turn it on/off in the Recording Preferences)
* Transport > Software Playthrough unchecked, but Transport > Overdub checked and there is already a track on screen when you record

"Overdub" plays the tracks already on screen while you record. This still lets you choose to listen to what you are recording or not, according to the "Software Playthrough" setting.

Windows Vista and 7 (but not XP and earlier) do have what amounts to a software playthrough option in "Sound" in the Windows Control Panel. It will almost certainly be there providing the sound device can play and record simultaneously. Click the "Recording" tab, right-click over the input device > Properties, then click the "Listen" tab and check "Listen to this device". If you don't see the "Listen" tab it probably means the device is disabled, in which case right-click again over it > Enable, then try again.



Gale

[wadermusic]

Hey you probably get this question a lot... when i try to record over another track while listening to the other track whatever im recording gets played in my headphones with a half a second delay... if anybody knows how to solve this problem it would be much appreciated:)
thanks a lot
kev

[steve]

Hey you probably get this question a lot... when i try to record over another track while listening to the other track whatever im recording gets played in my headphones with a half a second delay... if anybody knows how to solve this problem it would be much appreciated:)
thanks a lot
kev

Please don't double post.
I've replied here: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 73#p115174

[load_nikon]

I was using Audacity before on XP. My mother board fried so now I'm using a new computer with windows 7.
I'm using the beta version it seems to be recording in stereo now through the input level meter, however on the output level meter I see nothing and hear nothing during the recording process.

I can hear on playback, but it would be nice to be able to listen while recording.

I am posting here because this is the first hit in the Google search "hardware playthrough windows 7". If this works for you or if you have any comments, I'd like to hear. My experience is similar but solution was different. The following worked for Win7 (64bit) with Realtek audio on a Gigabyte EP45T motherboard.

Control Panel > Sound > Recording
Right click within window inset and click "Show Disabled Devices"
Double click "Stereo Mix" and at the bottom of the General tab, change Device usage to "Use this device (enable)"
Click "OK", right click "Stereo Mix", click "Set as default device", click "OK" in sound window.
Disable software playthrough in Audacity.

[Gale Andrews]

I was using Audacity before on XP. My mother board fried so now I'm using a new computer with windows 7.
I'm using the beta version it seems to be recording in stereo now through the input level meter, however on the output level meter I see nothing and hear nothing during the recording process.

I can hear on playback, but it would be nice to be able to listen while recording.

I am posting here because this is the first hit in the Google search "hardware playthrough windows 7". If this works for you or if you have any comments, I'd like to hear. My experience is similar but solution was different. The following worked for Win7 (64bit) with Realtek audio on a Gigabyte EP45T motherboard.

Control Panel > Sound > Recording
Right click within window inset and click "Show Disabled Devices"
Double click "Stereo Mix" and at the bottom of the General tab, change Device usage to "Use this device (enable)"
Click "OK", right click "Stereo Mix", click "Set as default device", click "OK" in sound window.
Disable software playthrough in Audacity.

What input source are you recording in Audacity? Enabling stereo mix recording should not be relevant unless you are recording "stereo mix". If the physical input you want to record is say microphone, then recording from stereo mix won't record from the microphone unless the microphone is playing back to the speakers. If that's happening, then you already have (some kind of) playthrough and you can record from the microphone input source.

The expected way to enable hardware playthrough (which means you have less delay hearing the input and less processing load) is to go to the Playback section and unmute the input you want to record. This rarely works on Windows 7 and there may not even be a level and mute control in Playback for the inputs where you can set it.


Gale

[load_nikon]

What input source are you recording in Audacity? Enabling stereo mix recording should not be relevant unless you are recording "stereo mix". If the physical input you want to record is say microphone, then recording from stereo mix won't record from the microphone unless the microphone is playing back to the speakers. If that's happening, then you already have (some kind of) playthrough and you can record from the microphone input source.

The expected way to enable hardware playthrough (which means you have less delay hearing the input and less processing load) is to go to the Playback section and unmute the input you want to record. This rarely works on Windows 7 and there may not even be a level and mute control in Playback for the inputs where you can set it.


Gale

Hm, good point. I was trying to record the audio output of the sound card from a browser window. I suppose this is indeed a different thing completely. However, I have had external audio hooked up to the PC's line in and have not been able to hear it over the speakers previously. I'll try that again and see if this did anything but like you said, it's different. I'll post back...

[Gale Andrews]

I have had external audio hooked up to the PC's line in and have not been able to hear it over the speakers previously.

It there was a mute/unmute for line-in, you would go to the "Playback" tab of Sound, right-click over Speakers > Properties then click "Levels". Otherwise you can use Transport > Software Playthrough in Audacity (which should work).

Or if you want to hear the audio without opening Audacity, go to the "Recording" tab of "Sound", right-click over line-in > Properties, click "Listen", check "Listen to this device" then set the playback device to your speakers. It sounds delayed, just like Audacity's software playthrough, but it's a feature that Windows XP and before don't have.


Gale