Trying to Record Conversations

[Lancun]

A friend of mine and I have been talking via AOL Instant Messenger for a couple of weeks now (voice chat, mind you). Some of the things that he and I talk about are of some importance to me, he gives me some advice like for academics and speech (I suck at public speaking and some of his pointers are actually something I can take to heart).

Anyway, a question on a different forum led me to download Audacity thinking that it would help me record these conversations for further use. Now, at first glance, it looked like it would be the perfect software in order to accomplish this. The only problem was that now, I cannot record one of the two ends of conversation because my microphone headset automatically overwrites all record source options (Stereo mix, etc) and grays out the source bar. Meaning that I could only record one of the two ends (either mine, if I were to use the mic, or his if I were not and simply used text). This is an inconvenience to me, and I would like to record both ends of this conversation, mine and his.

Help on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Lancun]

Actually, I must now update you all on the situation I'm in. As of now, I CAN go into my Control Panel and Change the source for Sound Playback and I changed it to the speaker. Thus, I tested, and can now record what's playing on the speakers even with my headset on. The problem now is that the line doesn't seem to split, and I'm still in the situation where even if I were to speak during the conversation, Audacity still couldn't record my end and just would record his. While this is a little better than before, because now I can speak and he can respond, all the while I'm recording what he says, I still cannot record what I say...well, I could, but by changing Audacity's Record Source to my Microphone, I'm once again taking him out of the recording, which is even worse. Please tell me how I can record both.

Once again, your help is appreciated.

[kozikowski]

If you can't get the combination of mixer settings that work, you may be a candidate for Total Recorder (Windows). Even if it doesn't record everything, you can use that to catch one half while you're recording the other.

It's possible you may be able to use it to capture both.

Koz

[Lancun]

And using that, would it be probable for me to insert the things I say into the gaps between what he says using Audacity?

[kozikowski]

That's the hard way, but yes. I'm betting Total Recorder will solve all this. It's stock in trade is taking down everything going through your machine when you press Go.

Koz

[Lancun]

Actually, I just remembered something. Using Windows Movie Maker, I can record short MP3s of me saying things (and though it'd be kind of tedius, clicking and saving during the whole conversation, I could definitely make a series of short MP3s.) Using that, could I place each of those MP3s into the file of what I've recorded him saying, thus imitating it all being one file? Or can I not overlap what I say into the gaps of what he says?

[kozikowski]

You just stepped out of my area of expertise. Now you're actually editing and I'm not an editor.

I know I would not be trying to edit in MP3 land. Audacity has to decompress MP3 clips and tracks to WAV to edit them and then convert the whole thing back later. Major pain in the butt. Much better capture everything in WAV format, cut, mix, and edit as necessary and then output to whatever format you wish.

Also each trip through MP3 conversion damages the sound a little. MPEG1-Layer3 (its real name) is a destructive compressor.

MP3 is the last step before you put the show on your Zune to go jogging. Everything else should be WAV format--48000 if possible, 44100 if you have to. There are also iTunes problems with MP3, but you're not likely to have those.

Koz

[Lancun]

Oops, I just looked at Windows Movie Maker, and it actually records sound to WMA, not MP3. Is that a suitable enough audio file, or do I still need to convert?

[Lancun]

Well, nevermind, it wasn't a supported filetype. However, right now I've downloaded Total Recorder, and it seems like what I was looking for. Granted, it's just the unlicensed version, but if everything goes well and the only nuisance is the sound thing every minute, I'm in great shape, and I will buy it soon. I'll update you later if it's what I'm hoping for, though it seems that it is.

Thanks

[kozikowski]

Yes. In one sweep it solves all your capture problems. I use the paid version all the time--and WireTap Pro on the Mac.

Koz