recording mic and a wave file in one file

grammjr · 23 Sep 2010

Realtec on my HP pavilion m8417c has had some issues that are published in most forums, if it did I had it, but I have worked around most of them and my configuration works. Now my question, I can record from the mic or from a youtube, or even a wave file that is playing, BUT how do I record the wave file playing on media player or winamp AND my mic at the same time.. resulting in as music file with voice. This I could do in XP, but have not found how I can do this in WIN 7, either the mixer is default or the mic is default.
Thanks,
Jim

fireberd · 24 Sep 2010

You need the System Mixer function and a recording program, such as the free Audacity. With these you should be able to record the streaming audio and mic at the same time.

grammjr · 24 Sep 2010

Sorry I did not use the word "System" mixer, I have the System mixer up and running, I have Goldwave up and running, what I need is to be able to configure the System mixer to have the mic as an input, I cannot do that. You can click the listen to mic button and hear the mic in the speakers with the music, but it will only record either the mic or the System mixer whichever is the default. With XP you could do this. What has happened is it seems we have lost this functionality.
How do I get the mic to be an input to the System mixer?

fireberd · 24 Sep 2010

I've got Goldwave (paid full latest version) but I don't think Goldwave has the option for two different sources. But you could, for example, record the streaming audio from some source and then go back and add voice to that with a second channel. Audacity looks like it would be a better program to do what I suggest.

The system mixer (SoundBlaster calls it "what you hear") is what you hear from the PC's speakers. Can you hear your mic in the PC's speakers? If not, it sounds like it may be a driver issue in your sound module. XP handled some of these sound functions differently than XP, thus the reason XP drivers will not work or work properly.

grammjr · 24 Sep 2010

Yes, I can hear both the music and the mic through the speakers IF I have the mic clicked to listen and it does not matter if it is in default or not, it will always come through the speaker if the listen box is checked.
I have both, GoldWave purchased and Audacity and BOTH have the same issue, I know this is a feature dropped by WIN7 and am looking for a work around to have the MIC as an INPUT to the System mixer or as it is properly labeled in WIN 7 Stereo mixer, no System mixer in my Record tab.
In my mind as probably with most folks a MIXER should allow you to choose inputs and outputs which the MIXER did in XP, but no, not in WIN 7. Makes it a real hassle to talk and then play music on PalTalk and other communication programs. With XP you could just shut-up and play the music and then start talking again, with WIN 7 you have to switch back and forth between the default select of Stereo Mixer and Mic to play music and talk, same as with the recording programs, you CANNOT have both outputs as in XP. Big, Big bummer.
Jim

fireberd · 25 Sep 2010

Oh, now I see, it's not reall a "recording" issue but has to do with applications such as your Paltalk, etc.

I wonder if an external USB connected audio interface would work? You could run your mic from that and your music playback from the PC's sound card. That would separate them for use?

grammjr · 25 Sep 2010

No, actually it is a recording issue as well, the communications aps and recording aps use the same computer output as their input and in WIN7 that is not the speaker output. It would be very inconvenient to have a separate external device, but even then with NO Stereo mixer controls I am not sure I could even get this device to play through the mixer. Actually even calling this a MIXER is bogus, MIXES have controls, that let you choose.
Fireberd, I really do appreciate you having this discussion with me. I do not think I will spend money on an external device to do what a very simple software module should do and has done in the past. If you or anyone comes across a 3rd party true mixer please post it here. I am sure someone will eventually write that module, I would do it myself, but I ain't no programmer.

To those many, many folks that have written of this issue lets hope that MS or Realtec or Conexant will finally hear the complaint and fix what they (whomever) broke in what was suppose to be really great upgrade.
I will say thank heavens for WIN7 cause VISTA for me was a complete waste and WIN7 IS faster than XP.
Jim

Update: I did remember I has a USB headset, I plugged that in and it only gave me another default MIC to use so that did not work.
Cheers.

Aphelion · 25 Sep 2010

grammjr said:

Sorry I did not use the word "System" mixer, I have the System mixer up and running, I have Goldwave up and running, what I need is to be able to configure the System mixer to have the mic as an input, I cannot do that. You can click the listen to mic button and hear the mic in the speakers with the music, but it will only record either the mic or the System mixer whichever is the default. With XP you could do this. What has happened is it seems we have lost this functionality.
How do I get the mic to be an input to the System mixer?

I haven't tried it but if you right click on the MS speaker icon in the task bar and select recording devices you will see all of the inputs, if you right click on the Mic can you set it to "Default communications Device" and if you do, does it activate it as another input? I'm not sure but it might be worth a try.

Ap

Aphelion · 26 Sep 2010

grammjr said:

BUT how do I record the wave file playing on media player or winamp AND my mic at the same time.. resulting in as music file with voice. This I could do in XP, but have not found how I can do this in WIN 7, either the mixer is default or the mic is default.
Thanks,
Jim

See if this thread helps.

Getting mic inout to show up in the stereo mixer

Ap