problem recording streaming audio

[egglet]

I am new to audacity, but a month ago I installed it and was able to record audio streaming on my computer by connecting the line in to line out ports with a cable. It recorded in stereo without any problem. It would not record any sound if I did not have the cable connected (I am unable to add stereo mix / wave out even if I tried to allow disabled devices).

I am now trying to do the same thing but for some reason it is only recording the right channel when using the cable and in stereo mode. If I record in mono it records the left channel. I am using Windows 7 and have a realtek sound card. In audacity I have it set up with the speaker as input, microphone as output and in stereo mode. Software playthrough is NOT checked in preferences -> recording. The cable is securely connected and I have no reason to think it is the problem, but I have not gotten a new one yet.

The other thing that changed is if I leave the cable disconnected and having nothing playing on my computer, when I click on the input level meter it is detecting sound (the red bars in both channels move up and down). And if I play something on my computer audacity now records it (without the cable!), but there is an underlying buzz and echoing with very poor sound quality.

I cannot figure out what I changed in the last month that changed how it was working. I didn't get any new sound cards or update any drivers to the best of my knowledge (unless windows did it without me knowing - it is always installing some sort of update). I did update my itunes software - don't know if that can affect it. I also uninstalled and reinstalled audacity today without any improvement. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Gale Andrews]

You have posted to the 1.2 board, but it sounds as if you are using a Beta 1.3 version. Please check your version at Help > About Audacity then update if necessary to the current 1.3.13 Beta:
http://audacity.googlecode.com/files/au ... 1.3.13.exe

I have moved this topic to the 1.3 board.

It sounds as if you are currently recording computer playback through the internal microphone of the computer. Please set the Audacity playback or output device to your speakers, and the recording or input device to line-in. Microphone inputs are often mono so this would explain not being able to record in stereo.

If line-in does not record in stereo, right-click over the speaker icon by the clock > "Recording devices", right-click over the line-in > "Properties", then click the "Advanced" tab. Set the "Default Format" to stereo, 44100 Hz.


Gale

[egglet]

Thanks for your reply. I am using the Beta 1.3 version. I do have the output device set to my speakers. For the input device however my only options are microsoft sound mapper or microphone. There is no option for line in. If I go to the speaker icon and open the recording devices again I only see the microphone option. I have it set to show disabled devices and show disconnected devices but it still only shows the microphone.

If I go into recording devices, right click on microphone > "Properties", then "Advanced" then "Default format" there is no option for stereo. There are 6 options as follows - 2 channel, 16 bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality), 2 channel, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality), 2 channel, 16 bit, 96000 Hz (Studio Quality), 2 channel, 24 bit, 44100 Hz (Studio Quality), 2 channel, 24 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality), 2 channel, 24 bit, 96000 Hz (Studio Quality). I have tried each one of them, but it will still only record the right channel.

It is just frustrating because it worked a month ago and I cannot figure out what changed. Is there something else I am missing? Thanks again.

[Gale Andrews]

You have to have line-in both visible and enabled in "Sound" for Audacity to see it.

If you click the Windows globe and click "Control Panel" > "Hardware and Sound" and look in "Sound", is there any separate control panel for your sound device apart from the links that go the the Windows "Sound" panel?

If you are not sure then look in Audacity - what is the full name of the device that says "Microphone" ? It should name the maker of the device.

If there is no separate control panel for the device or it doesn't help, then you'll need to click the Windows globe, type "Device Manager" (without quotes) in the search box, then click the link to Device Manager when it appears. You can check the driver version for your sound device there, roll back to previous drivers if there has been an update, or use the Device Manager update driver facility which may provide a solution if it finds drivers made by the sound device or motherboard manufacturer. There are instructions here:
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Updat ... ows_Update

When you reinstate the line-in device, the "2 channel, 16 bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality)" option is the best one to choose in "Sound".


Gale