Audacity Forum

I recorded from streaming music on the internet. Recorded graphics are normal and everything looks normal. When I try to play back, it scrolls along but no sound. The little stereo "speaker bands at the top are working but the microphone bands do not. (Upon recording they both work).
I have Windows 8 and Aud 2.0.2 but don't remember which way I downloaded it.

If you record with "Playthrough" selected, then both red and green sound meters will work. You will get a recording whether or not Playthrough is selected. That just lets you hear what's going on if you have speakers selected.

Use the little speaker pulldown to see where Audacity is trying to send the sound. Also, go into the Windows Control Panels and see if a valid sound device is selected for playback. If you use a USB microphone, it's possible Windows is trying to send sound to the microphone. Some simple hardware drivers don't specify whether or not they're bidirectional.

Koz

I'll fool around a bit BUT ------

I took the tune I "recorded" and exported as a WAV file. I then opened it with WavePad and it PLAYED!
Doesn't it indicate that the problem may lay with my installation of Audacity?
I appreciate your further thoughts.

Doesn't it indicate that the problem may lay with my installation of Audacity?

Right. See: pull down the speaker selector. Audacity could be trying to send the sound anywhere.

You can also get there with Edit > Preferences > Devices > Recording and Playback.

Like I said, it's extraordinarily common to get this pathway thing scrambled if you use a USB microphone or other sound device.

Koz

I "fooled around"
a: The speaker pulldown was set for " Digital Output (S/PDIF) The OTHER two choices were:
Microsoft Sound Manager and Speakers/Headphones IDT

I have another question: The "playthrough" preferences section says "uncheck when recording stereo mix' I don't understand that.
I record in Stereo so should I unchek that?

Thank you

braxx20 wrote:The "playthrough" preferences section says "uncheck when recording stereo mix' I don't understand that.

"Stereo Mix" is a special recording input setting that is available on some (but not all) Windows computers. The purpose of "Stereo Mix" (if available) is to provide an easy way to record sounds that are playing in other programs on the same computer.

"Stereo Mix" is not the same as "recording stereo".

If you are using "Stereo Mix" as the recording input device in the Device Toolbar then "Software Playthrough" in the Transport menu should be disabled otherwise it can cause echoes or worse (feedback) effects.

Audacity thought you wanted it to send the sound to your Sony/Philips Digital Interface. S/PDIF. If you don't have one of those, then pick one of the Windows selections.
Koz

Stereo-Mix will make your head hurt. The computer has to run the Record and Play parts of the computer at the same time for you to record YouTube. It's a delicate act and if you mess up a setting, it's the same as getting your rock band microphone too close to the speakers. .....eeeeEEEEEE.

It's more entertaining if your computer has natural delay. Then you can get thumping and screaming sounds, too.

Koz

You need to remember to turn those settings off if you want to do plain recording -- like reading Goethe into a microphone. Or at least remember you did that before you write back complaining your microphone is broken.

Koz

I really appreciate the time and effort you are exerting in offering me help. But please look at my initial comments. I stated that I was recording streaming music from the internet, not a microphone or anything else.
I am an old hand at using Audacity in the past, love it, and never had a problem. This is just not working. PLEASE try to give me some initial settings that will work - I have tried all kinds of combinations - get terrible feedback on some and when it does record properly, there is no sound on playback. Aren't there some default settings that I can use?
also my remark that I can play back from WavePad but not Audacity was not addressed.
Again, thank you so much for your tireless effort! I AM NOT A TECHIE! (and need simple explanations)