Record "what you hear"

It's in Stereo .. That's a stereo cable.
Even in XP .. with the newer sound chips and drivers .. this wirearound is sometimes the only way to go.
It does look like W7 has removed some more good tools.

It's isn't stereo if your mic input is mono, though.

In XP, there was no issue with sound cards. If the sound card had a Wave Out, XP could use that device to record from as well. I'm pretty sure the sound card doesn't need a separate device on it.

Googling turned up an interesting thing to try, though (I'll have to wait til I get home to try this):

Step 1: Right click on the speaker icon. Now look for the Recording Devices and select it.

Step 2: Now right click and select the option Show Disabled Devices

Step 3: Select the Wave Out Mix device and Enable it. Click on Set as Default Device and open up the Audacity.

So you are done.Now enjoy recording whatever you like.

from Windows 7 Trick: How To Enable Recording in Windows Vista And Windows 7

Could it really be that easy??

Use line in .. not mic in.
Showing disabled devices worked in Vista .. But I can't find it in W7 ???
M$ sound mapper is also missing.

There's no reason we should have to resort to such a workaround.

it started in Vista .. looks like it's getting worse in W7

noyb said:

Use line in .. not mic in.

Good point.

Strange, though, that website specifically said Windows 7.. are you running Beta or RC? I'll try my luck when I get home.

RC 32 & 64 .. but only playing with 32 so far.

Line Out >> Line In .. will work ...
But it helps to also hear what you're working with ... so you know when to Start/Stop recording.

I don't use Speaker Outs .. don't have any - and not needed with my amplified Bose.

I used a browser helper object called "Freecorder" to record "what I heard". I am not generally a fan of BHO's but this one has yet to cause problems for me. I used Sonar 8 to "dress up" my captures, but any audio editing software will do, including the freely available "Audacity"

Happy stream capturing

happinessiseasy said:

It's isn't stereo if your mic input is mono, though.

In XP, there was no issue with sound cards. If the sound card had a Wave Out, XP could use that device to record from as well. I'm pretty sure the sound card doesn't need a separate device on it.

Googling turned up an interesting thing to try, though (I'll have to wait til I get home to try this):


from Windows 7 Trick: How To Enable Recording in Windows Vista And Windows 7

Could it really be that easy??

This is the proper way to get all or your sound devices to show up so you can mix and record from them in Windows 7. Yes it's that easy.:)