Audacity can't connect to input device

[keihal]

I am trying to record via either the front or rear mic input on my desktop PC.
The Windows Sound Recorder indicates that it can see that there is a device plugged in to the mic socket (the horizontal bars are shown alongside the front mic device in the recording devices list).
The audio out socket on the PC is connected to the inbuilt speakers of my screen.
I've installed Audacity to allow me to record and edit sounds.
If I play a sound into either the front or rear mic socket, I can listen to it on the screen's speakers, but when I try to run Audacity I get a message "Error while opening sound device...".
Can anybody give me any clues as to where I go next, please?

 

[fireberd]

I have a Recording Studio (using Sonar).

Do you have the correct sound drive installed? The sound driver from the PC vendor is usually the best one to use. If you just have the generic basic function Windows installed HD Audio Codec there is a good chance the Stereo Mix (System Mixer) is not available. If the PC vendor (Mesh?) does not have a driver, check with the Motherboard vendor. You must know what hardware you have. As you have shown "unknown", download and run the free Speccy program and it will profile your hardware. Speccy - System Information - Free Download

If you have the correct sound driver installed or you have installed the correct sound driver, check for the "Stereo Mix" (System Mixer) available as a Recording Device? If you do set that as the Default Recording Device then any input you use (mic or line in) should be recorded.

The Recording device can be found in the Control Panel/Hardware and Sound and finally the Sound Panel/Recording section. If its listed, make it the Default Recording Device. If its not listed, RIGHT click in an empty area in the panel and then check to show disabled and disconnected devices. If the System Mixer now shows up you can set it as Default Recording Device.

 

[Roderunner]

Hi keihal, hope this helps.

 

[fredlux]

I had the same problem. The fix was to switch from 'MME' to 'Windows DirectSound' in the device toolbar.