Can't seem to record...

[Grimpy]

Alright, well, I've used Audacity for awhile now, mostly for making cool ringtones... The way I've done it is simple enough... I hit record on Audacity and it records whatever is coming out of my computer speakers. Not sure if that's the way its supposed to go, but it worked for me...

Now, a new phone and a new computer later, I downloaded the non-beat version of Audacity with hopes to make new ringtones. Problem is when I hit record, nothing happens. I've fiddled with the input setting in Preferences, but it still wont record anything... Do I have to record things with mics these days? Any suggestions?

[waxcylinder]

Your recording capabilities are entirely defined by the soundcard and its associated driver software in your PC - the new PC is not letting you record the sound that is passing through the computer (my desktop doesn't - but my wife's laptop does).

You may be able to work around this by feeding the audio output of your PC back to the audio input with a suitable cable - and then recording.

Alternatively you may be able to find updated versions of your soundcard driver on t'interweb - using updated drivers may, but only may, increase your input options.

WC

[Grimpy]

Hmm.. So it seems pretty hit and miss, eh?

Maybe I'll try it on other computers, you know, from friends, family etc.

Thanks a bunch

[kozikowski]

That used to be called "What You Hear" or "Mix Out." When Windows people shift into Mac Land, they are horrified to find that option missing. "How do you record stuff off the internet!?!"

Since that's a messy rights issue, Windows has been making that harder and harder to do.

Since Mac's don't do that at all, I use WireTap.

On PCs, if I just can't get it to work any other way, I drag out Total Recorder.

If you pay for licenses on both of those, they will allow you to record by a clock or calendar even when you're not home.

Koz