Technical Context:
Audacity 3.0.2
Windows 10 Pro (10.0.19042 Build 19042)
Situational Context:
I recently replaced a failing desktop PC with a new shiny one, a Dell Precision 3640 Tower.
I’ve gotten into using OBS to upgrade my Zoom presentations. That’s included downloading virtual VB-Cables and adding a second camera.
When I’m recording audio from what’s playing through my system, I don’t use my mic as an input device because I don’t want to record the ambient sound.
The Problem:
I mostly use Audacity to record audio being played on my system. Typical use is when I want to learn from a video presentation. Because I’m not going to sit still for very many videos (TED talks, etc.), I use Audacity to grab the audio so I can either listen to it while on a walk or while driving.
With my old desktop, the process was super straightforward. I’d set the recording device to be my system’s speakers and it worked. I may be wrong, but it seemed to me, the volume of my speakers had nothing to do with the recorded volume.
With my new rig, my options for recording devices have grown and lots of them include “loopback” in their name. Those loopbacks trigger an error code (9996). The only one that works is "Stereo Mix (Realtek(R) Audio). I activated the “Stereo Mix” via my Sound settings where I saw a post on-line somewhere suggesting my problem could be fixed by changing the Stereo Mix options to not allow enhanced settings. Frankly, I can’t find where I made that setting.
Anyway, the only device I can record with is the Stereo Mix (Realtek(R) Audio). While that’s fine, it records at such a low input level that, at first, I didn’t think it was recording anything. I now use SoundForge 15 to books the volume by the max, 1000%.
My Questions:
First, what’s the proper place in this forum to look for help?
Second, where did all the loopbacks come from?
Third, is my set-up messed up? If so, what should I do?
Finally, since I can get this to work, if I’m not messed up, is there a way to boost the input gain in Audacity OR should I just live with having to do the Sound Forge step?
Note the attached screen prints from Device Manager, Audacity’s list of recording devices, and Audacity’s error message.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Jim