Recording Desktop Audio With USB Headset Error

[Gilgamesh5]

So some basic details first, I'm using a USB headset as my only sound device, so "stereo mix" is not an option as the sound card doesn't actually process anything. Using latest drivers for the headset as well as Audacity 2.1.0

In Audacity I've switched to WASAPI recording and set the input to "speakers (logitech G35 headset) (loopback)" which is what the tutorial mentions for such a situation. The problem however is i get an error popup when trying to record "Error while opening sound device. Please check the recording device settings and the project sample rate." I used open broadcaster to verify that it can access the desktop audio and sure enough it worked fine, so unless the 2 programs hook differently I'm at a loss for what to do.

[Gilgamesh5]

I'm guessing it has something to do with this, the device info page acts like it has no supported Rates, it's saying device 11 is my recording (the one shown). So is this an issue I can fix?

device info.jpg (67.91 KiB) Viewed 1720 times

[kozikowski]

It's always shaky when you involve WASAPI, Stereo-Mix or other Loopback application. You tend to lose control of the sound pathways or even understand where they are most of the time.

That can leave you with: "How come I get an echo" complaints.

Sometimes you can't get a headset to work. If the only way to tame a headset is to use custom ASIO drivers, for example, you may be out of luck because Audacity doesn't directly support ASIO.

Anything from the headset maker?

As a first pass, I think I would reset Audacity Preferences for Mono, 44100, 16-bit. I have two usb devices that insist on a setting like that to work.

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Devices and then Quality.

Also remember to start Audacity after you plug the headset in. Audacity goes looking for devices when it starts. You can also use Transport > Rescan...

Koz

[Gilgamesh5]

As a first pass, I think I would reset Audacity Preferences for Mono, 44100, 16-bit. I have two usb devices that insist on a setting like that to work.

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Devices and then Quality.

Also remember to start Audacity after you plug the headset in. Audacity goes looking for devices when it starts. You can also use Transport > Rescan...

Koz

Tried the settings you suggested and still having the issue. The biggest issue I'm having is logitech bundles all the drivers together for their "gaming products" so the same program you'd use for their fancy keyboards and mice are what you can (very poorly) control the headset with. I may just go pick up a cheap headset to plugin so i can use stereo mix, because at this point I dont even know how OBS is actually managing to get the loopback to work since I cant get it to work in any other programs.

[kozikowski]

If you plug in a cheap analog headset, you won't need stereo mix. Just straight recording the mono Mic-In.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/PCHeadset.jpg

You only need Stereo Mix when the computer is originating the show as in YouTube or on-line content. Not if you're making the show yourself, externally to the machine, such as a microphone.

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

You could try turning off Transport > Overdub... and Transport > Software Playthrough in the Audacity menus (the latter should never be on when recording computer playback).

Have you looked in the settings in Windows Sound http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... es#vistacp? Right-click over the speaker icon by the system clock, then choose "Recording Devices". Right-click over the Logitech headset then choose "Properties". Then click the "Advanced" tab. Try unchecking the "Exclusive Mode" boxes then set "Default format" to 1 channel, 16-bit 44100 Hz.

Alternatively put checkmarks in the "Exclusive Mode" boxes (whence the "Default Format" choice should in theory be ignored) but ensure you choose 44100 Hz project rate and mono recording in Audacity.


Gale

[Gilgamesh5]

If you plug in a cheap analog headset, you won't need stereo mix. Just straight recording the mono Mic-In.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/PCHeadset.jpg

You only need Stereo Mix when the computer is originating the show as in YouTube or on-line content. Not if you're making the show yourself, externally to the machine, such as a microphone.

Koz

The mic itself works fine, sorry for any confusion. What I'm having issues with is trying to record the loopback to capture desktop sound as well. Basically how I've got it setup is 1 track is voice commentary, 1 is audio from the desktop (or game in this case) so I can edit them independently for levels and removing protected music from the game's audio.

[Gale Andrews]

The mic itself works fine, sorry for any confusion. What I'm having issues with is trying to record the loopback to capture desktop sound as well. Basically how I've got it setup is 1 track is voice commentary, 1 is audio from the desktop (or game in this case) so I can edit them independently for levels and removing protected music from the game's audio.

So what application is currently recording the mic?

Gale

[Gilgamesh5]

The mic itself works fine, sorry for any confusion. What I'm having issues with is trying to record the loopback to capture desktop sound as well. Basically how I've got it setup is 1 track is voice commentary, 1 is audio from the desktop (or game in this case) so I can edit them independently for levels and removing protected music from the game's audio.

So what application is currently recording the mic?

Gale

I use audacity for the mic recording, but I do it after the initial recording as a commentary type thing, so it's done by itself and is working fine, it's just getting the loopback to work that I'm struggling with

[kozikowski]

You could put the original sound track in Audacity and record the commentary as an Overdubbing session. That gives you two different but linked tracks that you can use for post production later any way you wish. The original plays in your ear as you comment, similar to adding the guitar track live while the rest of the song is playing in your ears.

I don't know that recording two different things in Audacity is going to be an easy lift. It isn't so far.

Koz