How to record from "speaker output"? Debian Buster 2.2.2

[markd89]

Hi,

I'm using Debian Buster and Audacity 2.2.2 installed from the Debian repository.

I'm trying to figure out how to have Audacity record from the signal going to the speakers rather than the signal from microphone.

I found this FAQ, that basically says to set microphone to "pulse". I have many options for the microphone device, but none is just pulse.

https://www.osradar.com/record-speaker-output-on-linux/

Any help on what I'm missing?

Thanks!
Mark

[DVDdoug]

I'm a Windows guy, so....

Did you try the suggestions from the Audacity Manual? There are a couple of other suggestions besides PluseAudio.

Your Debian distribution may not have come with PulseAudio. (I assume it can be installed.)

[steve]

Debian uses PulseAudio by default. If Pulse is not available in Audacity then there's something weird going on. Please post your "Audio Device Info" (see: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/hel ... stics.html)

[markd89]

Thanks!

Here's my Audio Device Info

Code: Select all

==============================
Default recording device number: 20
Default playback device number: 20
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: ALC3266 Analog (hw:0,0)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.005805
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: 0.034830
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    44100
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 0 (hw:0,3)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 1 (hw:0,7)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 2 (hw:0,8)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 3 (hw:0,9)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 4 (hw:0,10)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: C-Media USB Headphone Set: Audio (hw:1,0)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 1
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.008685
Low Playback Latency: 0.008685
High Recording Latency: 0.034830
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    44100
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: sysdefault
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 128
Playback channels: 128
Low Recording Latency: 0.021333
Low Playback Latency: 0.021333
High Recording Latency: 0.021333
High Playback Latency: 0.021333
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: front
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    44100
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: surround40
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    44100
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: surround51
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    44100
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 11
Device name: surround71
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    44100
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 12
Device name: hdmi
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 13
Device name: lavrate
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 128
Playback channels: 128
Low Recording Latency: 0.007755
Low Playback Latency: 0.007755
High Recording Latency: 0.023220
High Playback Latency: 0.023220
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 14
Device name: samplerate
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 128
Playback channels: 128
Low Recording Latency: 0.007755
Low Playback Latency: 0.007755
High Recording Latency: 0.023220
High Playback Latency: 0.023220
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 15
Device name: speexrate
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 128
Playback channels: 128
Low Recording Latency: 0.007755
Low Playback Latency: 0.007755
High Recording Latency: 0.023220
High Playback Latency: 0.023220
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 16
Device name: pulse
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 32
Playback channels: 32
Low Recording Latency: 0.008685
Low Playback Latency: 0.008685
High Recording Latency: 0.034807
High Playback Latency: 0.034807
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 17
Device name: upmix
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 8
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: 0.005805
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: 0.034830
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 18
Device name: vdownmix
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 6
Playback channels: 6
Low Recording Latency: 0.005805
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: 0.034830
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 19
Device name: dmix
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.021333
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.021333
Supported Rates:
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 20
Device name: default
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 32
Playback channels: 32
Low Recording Latency: 0.008685
Low Playback Latency: 0.008685
High Recording Latency: 0.034807
High Playback Latency: 0.034807
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Selected recording device: 16 - pulse
Selected playback device: 16 - pulse
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available recording sources:
0 - Headphone Mic:0
1 - Headset Mic:0
2 - Internal Mic:0
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - Master:0
1 - Headphone:0
2 - Headphone Mic:0
3 - Headphone Mic Boost:0
4 - Speaker:0
5 - PCM:0
6 - Headset Mic:0
7 - Headset Mic Boost:0
8 - Internal Mic Boost:0
==============================
Recording volume is native
Playback volume is native

[steve]

According to that, you have "Pulse" selected:

Code: Select all

...
Selected recording device: 16 - pulse
Selected playback device: 16 - pulse
...

As DVDdoug wrote, these instructions are what you need: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/tut ... linux.html

[markd89]

Thanks for the help!

I shut down Virtualbox which simplified the audio devices.

Code: Select all

==============================
Default recording device number: 7
Default playback device number: 7
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 0 (hw:0,3)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 1 (hw:0,7)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 2 (hw:0,8)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 3 (hw:0,9)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: HDA Intel PCH: HDMI 4 (hw:0,10)
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: hdmi
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: -1.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005805
High Recording Latency: -1.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.034830
Supported Rates:
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: pulse
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 32
Playback channels: 32
Low Recording Latency: 0.008685
Low Playback Latency: 0.008685
High Recording Latency: 0.034807
High Playback Latency: 0.034807
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: default
Host name: ALSA
Recording channels: 32
Playback channels: 32
Low Recording Latency: 0.008685
Low Playback Latency: 0.008685
High Recording Latency: 0.034807
High Playback Latency: 0.034807
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Selected recording device: 7 - default
Selected playback device: 6 - pulse
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available recording sources:
0 - Headphone Mic:0
1 - Headset Mic:0
2 - Internal Mic:0
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - Master:0
1 - Headphone:0
2 - Headphone Mic:0
3 - Headphone Mic Boost:0
4 - Speaker:0
5 - PCM:0
6 - Headset Mic:0
7 - Headset Mic Boost:0
8 - Internal Mic Boost:0
==============================
Recording volume is native
Playback volume is native

I'm getting stuck on step 2. I'm supposed to set the Microphone to Pulse or default, but those aren't in the list. Here's what it looks like:

7720208559.jpg (29.25 KiB) Viewed 222 times

[steve]

The names in the Device Toolbar look a bit strange and unhelpful, so you will need to experiment. What you are aiming for is for the Audio Device Info to say that both the "Default recording device number" and "Default playback device number" correspond to "Device name: pulse". The numbers will change depending on what devices (real and virtual) are present.

In you most recent post, the "Device name: pulse" is "Device ID: 6"

Once that is set, you should be able to use PulseAudio Volume Control as described in the manual.

[markd89]

Hi Steve,

Sorry to be dense.

What you are aiming for is for the Audio Device Info to say that both the "Default recording device number" and "Default playback device number" correspond to "Device name: pulse".

Is this something I'm doing in Audacity or somewhere else? If so, where?

[steve]

The exact details of what appears in the Device Toolbar depends on what devices are present, the operating system, and the device drivers. This is what the recording device selection looks like on my (Xubuntu) computer:

mic-settings.png (27.34 KiB) Viewed 203 times