How to record audio

[MadmanOfALeader]

I'm using a program that takes sheet music and plays it using different instruments. It came with "Hello! Ma Baby" and I'm considering using that tune as Barack Obama's diplomacy music. (It sounds nice as early music using the Shakuhashi and the Taiko Drum.) So I was wondering if you guys knew a way to record that music when it plays without having to use a microphone; you know, recording what you hear off the speakers.

 

[JustATourist]

You have to go into your windows sound option. Depending on your type of soundcard and the included software/drivers, this sound option may have a different interface, so I can't tell you exactly. But there sound be somewhere options for recording: for example for microphone, cd-player, line-in, etc volume sliders and important a button or something like this, which activate what's your recording source. You have to activate the button saying "wave output mix" or something like this (my windows isn't in english, I'm sorry). This button might deactivate all other recording sources. (You might first have to find the hide/unhide options in your audio options, if the recording options aren't shown.) With this button activated each audio recording software will record exactly what your speakers are going to play, instead of recording via microphone or anything else.

 

[NikNaks]

Audacity does have this option, I'm sure. Can't remember the exact option right now.

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

I have Audacity!

Is the option "Microsoft Sound Mapper" on Input?

 

[NikNaks]

It might be. Try playing around with it.

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

Man... I can't find a way for it to work.

 

[NikNaks]

After a quick Google search:

"In the drop-down menu on Audacity's mixer toolbar, choose “Wave Out” or “Stereo Mix” as the input source. When you press the Record button, Audacity will capture whatever sound is playing on your computer's speakers. On Windows, if you don't have a “Wave Out” or “Stereo Mix” option, or if it won't record, go to the system Control Panel and try to enable this option there. For instructions see: Using the Control Panel on the Wiki.

If this doesn't work on your computer, you can instead use a cable to connect your computer's “Line Out” (speaker) port to its “Line In” port, and use Audacity to record from Line In."

From Audacity's website - article

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

I don't know what to do... I went to Control Panel and couldn't get anything to work.

I have a laptop, so maybe that's an issue.

 

[The_J]

You can record in audacity with the button on the right of the play-button (this one with the red circle).

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

Yeah, I know that. But everytime I do it, it does it from the microphone.

 

[The_J]

Okay, i see, input is microsoft sound mapper, how you suggested.
What didn't work?

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

It doesn't record what comes out the speakers. It records from the microphone.

 

[The_J]

Damn, you're right.
In the programm (not in the menus), there's a combo-box with "microfon", switch it to "wave".

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

What combo-box?

 

[The_J]

I don't know, if there's a version-difference, but i mean this combo-box:

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

That one?

The problem is that in my computer it's greyed out.

 

[The_J]

maybe a problem with your audio-driver.
I would try to get the newest version, and then have again a look at it.

 

[General Tso]

Are you using Vista? Thats what I'm using and it won't work for me either. I wonder if that could be the problem.