Record from SoundCard - HELP!!!

[kmy]

I need help setting up for my computer to record from my SOUNDCARD, digitally. NOT from my mic. I used to have Winds Vista and it works for me but this new Winds 7 I got DOES NOT work at all.

When I got to the "PlayBack Devices" box, the "PlayBack" & "Recording" tabs ONLY have ONE device there. I even check the "Show disabled devices" & "show disconnected devices" but NOPE. Only thing thats there for the "Playback" tab is my default audio speakers(Realtek HD Audio Speakers) & only thing there for the "Recording" tab is my Default device, "Mic Realtek HD audio"

This is a 1 mo. old laptop Winds 7 Sony Vaio VPCEB15FM

Here's the full specs: VPCEB15FM/T | VAIO® E Series Notebook PC | Sony | Sony Style USA

How do I get it to work? do I got a weak/low end sound card or what?

Recording from my SoundCard is what I do 1/2 of my computer time. If it doesn't work then my computer is pretty much useless for me other then buying crap online.

Please help me out any way you guys can. Thanks in advance...

 

[Petey7]

So you want what is being played, to be recored, as if being picked up by your mic. I have been trying to do this for sometime and can not find a way to do this with software alone. I did get it to work at one time by plugging an audio cable into both sockets on my laptop. I hope someone else has a different solution because this has been bothering me a little as well.

 

[MK2]

Hi kmy, welcome to Seven Forums.

If I look at the specs of your laptop, it looks like you only have a microphone input.
It doesn't say if it's a mono or stereo input and if it can be used as a line-in.
Sometimes if you plug in a line-in cable it will automatically switch to line-in.
Maybe there is more information on that in the users manual otherwise you have to try it yourself.
If that's not working the other option is to use a usb soundcard.

MK2

 

[fireberd]

The lack of the "System Mixer" (SoundBlaster calls it "What You Hear") on new PC's is a common complaint - from all vendors. On SOME systems installing a different sound driver MAY give you the feature, but that is the only way that I know of with the existing hardware on the PC.

I have an Acer laptop with Realtek audio and it does not have the System Mixer. This is a hot subject on the Dell users forum. I installed a HP desktop for a client and it did not have the System Mixer.

 

[kmy]

So the only way is to try is to get a USB SOUNDCARD? Will any brand work, bc they are pretty much plug-&-play.

 

[Aphelion]

So the only way is to try is to get a USB SOUNDCARD? Will any brand work, bc they are pretty much plug-&-play.

Since you have a Realtek audio system the first thing I'd do is download the latest Realtek drivers and install them.

Realtek

Doesn't guarantee anything but worth a shot.

Ap

 

[Dwarf]

Right-click the Speaker icon in the notification area (not the Realtek HD Audio Manager icon) and select Recording devices.



Right-click on a blank space and ensure that the options Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are both selected (ticked).



The option we are looking for is called Stereo Mix, so right-click on it and choose Enable. You may want to adjust the other properties, such as levels and balance, after enabling.

 

[josef613]

Do you have an input port on your laptop? like a mic in or line in? What i do is use an auxilary cable out from my sound and back in, and record it with Audacity. It isn't the best way, but it does work

 

[MK2]

To be sure, do you want to record from an outside source or something on the computer itself?

It's always worth a try to reinstall/install the newest drivers for your soundcard.

If it's something you want to record from the computer itself, normally you should use the stereo mix function.

If it's from an outside source, you should use a line-in, as I mentioned in my post you
might try yourself to connect a stereo jack cable to your mic-in and see if it automatically switches to line-in.

 

[kmy]

@ DwarF...if it works then I wouldn't have this thread. Thats my problem I dont see the "Stereo Mix" function even after I click on "Show hidden devices" & "Show disconnected Devices".

Keep in mind guys this is a LAPTOP. The only audio signal input/output I got is the MIC & HeadPhone. The rest are USB's, HDMI, card Readers, etc...ports.

I'm trying to record from my computer(online). Not from an external device.

It is the LATEST driver. I also tried the previous driver too and NOPE, nothing.

Oh yea, I dont know if this helps or not but I have WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL.

 

[Petey7]

It looks like the only solution for RealTek sound cards is the aux cable mentioned before.

 

[Aphelion]

@ DwarF...if it works then I wouldn't have this thread. Thats my problem I dont see the "Stereo Mix" function even after I click on "Show hidden devices" & "Show disconnected Devices".

Your first post mentions looking under "Playback Devices". If you have a Stereo Mix option, it will be under "Recording Devices".

Ap

 

[MK2]

Ah so I did misunderstand, I thought you wanted to record from an external source.

Did you already try to uninstall the realtek drivers and let windows look for the drivers?

I also had a look at the specs of your laptop but I could not find the exact specs of your audio codec otherwise you could look for some other drivers that might have the stereo mix option.

 

[kmy]

^...How do I look for/install different drivers?

and I'm assuming if I want to try the AUX cable. One end goes in MIC & the other goes in Headphone input? but isn't this a mono signal though? otherwise if it works then I'll get a External soundcard then try the aux cable.

 

[MK2]

I think it's a mono signal but I can't be sure, it's not mentioned in the specification or the users manual.
The only way to find out is to test it yourself with a cable, also I doubt if it gives a good audio quality.

If you want to unload the realtek drivers and load the standard windows drivers:

go to configuration, device manager, audio/video/games, select your audio device
go to drivers, uninstall the drivers
restart the computer and let windows install the audio drivers.

Some names might be a bit different as a discribed because i use a Dutch language version of windows.

MK2

 

[josef613]

Well, usually a mic input will be stereo, but if it is mono, you'll know, because the cable won't fit in the jack.
Also, just in case the cable fits for some reason, if you set your recording program to record in stereo, you'll only get 1 channel recording if it is a mono jack.

 

[kmy]

ok, I just bought a AUX cable and tried it. It WORKS but I can't hear what I'm recording so I'll have to buy a split "Y" Aux cable tomorrow so one end could go to the MIC in-put and the 2nd end goes to my external speakers. I tried recording a song from online and relisten to it, its pretty much the same audio quality but is noticeable if you actually compare the two carefully. I can live with that.

Thanks soo much guys. Now I dont have to buy another used computer for this purpose(although I was very disappointed that my $750 Sony laptop didn't have a simple thing on the sound card like cheaper computers).

 

[MK2]

Good to hear you found a solution!
I was just thinking how you would hear what you where recording.
But a y splitter with seperate speakers or headphone would do the trick.
Shame we couldn't find out more about your audio codec.
You always could give it a try with different drivers: http://218.210.127.131/downloads/do...=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

 

[kmy]

^...I'll give the doanloads a try too. If it works then I'll refund my cables otherwise the cables are worth it. thanks

 

[keytardan]

Recording from Soundcard in Win &

I couldn't figure out a way to do this other than downloading "Freecorder", recording the mp3 there, then opening it in audacity to make edits.