How to record what my iMac's speakers are playing?

[towny]

I used to use Audacity on a PC, it was superb - mostly I used it for recording directly from the PC's sound output. Now I'm trying to do the same with the Mac version and I find I can only choose the internal mic or the line in as my input sources. Is there any way I can record what my speakers are playing with the Mac version?

[kozikowski]

Yes, but a Mac will not do this voluntarily. It represents an instability point as you will find if you go read all the sound trouble Windows people have that Macs don't. ("How come I have echoes when I record my microphone...I get squeaky howling when I....")

I have a license for WireTap which will record anything on a Mac and do it with a scheduling tool. You can also download SoundFlower from Apple. That one's more manual and all it does is make the Mac output available as a Sound Device to record in Audacity.

Remember to turn it off......

Koz

[towny]

Thanks Koz, I'll look into soundflower.

I do have a trial copy of Wiretap, but my need to do this is so infrequent it didn't seem worth paying for the functionality. Hence why Audacity's such a perfect option for me, if I can get it to do what I want ...

I'll post back when I've tried it.

[kozikowski]

<<<I'll post back when I've tried it.>>>

Yes, please.

I personally have never used SoundFlower, but I understand what it does and it's pretty simple The controls may not be the best.

Koz

[towny]

No prob, will be tomorrow now though, it's v. late here in the UK and I need my bed ....