Record Sound Directly From Computer?

	Record Sound Directly From Computer?
	Discussion by Sten with 22 Replies. Last Update: April 15, 2012, 1:15 pm (View Latest)	Page 1 of 2 pages.

Sten

Does anybody know a good program that can record sound directly from the computer without having to hold a microphone up to the speakers and get fuzzy quality?

Like say i wanted to record sound from a youtube video.

I just downloaded a program called... SoundTap but when i went to install it i got a message saying that its trying to do something to the hardware and now or in the future may wreck the system.

Anyone know a good program?

Edit: Would there happen to be any plugin wor winamp? the only plugin for winamp i really no about is the shoutcast one, lol

Sat Jul 7, 2007 Reply New Discussion

pyost

I would recommend downloading Free Hi-Q Recorder. It is not completely free, though, and you have to buy the full version in order to record in bit rates higher than 96kbps. It offers several input types, one of them being "Stereo Mix" (which is used for recording sound directly from computer), while there is also an option to use the microphone as the input device.

As far as I know, there is no time limit whatsoever (I've recorded a two-hour long tape, myself), and the maximum bit rate (96kbps) provides surprisingly good quality when combined with the mp3 file type. The program does look a bit old-fashioned, but that's a drawback not many consider when looking for a piece of software, especially when it is very detailed with a lot of options (like this one).

Sat Jul 7, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Sten

Oh i didnt no i could just use audactity
lol

ive had that since as long as i cant remember

anyway thanks, ive just done wot i need to do in audacity.

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

wutske

This works ... until you switch to Vista <_<

, I have absolutely no stereomix, mono out, or something similar I can use the record the output.

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

seec77

wutske, how about sending us a screen shot so we see if you have some other setting for the same purpose?
Not that I'm insulting your intelligence or anything... but maybe someone else might see something you've missed. <_<

Sten, I'm glad my instructions got you where you needed. This issue troubled me for a long time a while ago...
But after re-reading your original post, I would just like to point out that maybe there is a more "formal" way of extracting audio from FLV files (the format Youtube uses for storing videos).
Actually, a quick search on Google revealed this tutorial, that describes just what you need, but the program in use there (you can find a link for it at the bottom of the page) is not free, although it has a trial version from what I can tell.
Another option is extracting the FLV files from Youtube, using a program such as the VideoDownloader Firefox Extension that lets you download movies you are watching, or if you're not using Firefox, you can try this or this (though if you're not using Firefox, I would suggest giving it a try

) . Now that you have the FLV file on your computer, you need to convert it to AVI, or whatever other format you can extract audio from: this page has lots of articles on video conversion. Just select "FLT to ..." in the Format Conversion field. Now that you have your desired video in a more popular and well-supported format, you can extract audio from it! I do believe that you can use VirtualDub to process AVI files, and maybe VirtualDub-MPEG for doing the same thing, but with MPEG files.

Using these methods is probably a bit more "cleaner" and correct than recording your computer's sound card output... but maybe it's a bit of overkill for whatever you're trying to do. I think that lots of static noises and "hisses" can be prevented, because sometimes the long path that the audio makes from Youtube all the way to your sound card, and then back to the recording program can be a bit degrading in terms of audio quality.
You just need to remember that Youtube videos' audio quality is really not that high to begin with, so if you want better sound from Youtube videos, you need to either download the song (if it's a music video) or contact the video's author.

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Jimmy89

wutske, I had the same problem too. I have a Realtek Ac'97 built-in sound card on my motherboard and i can use the stereo/mono mix in audacity to record audio, anything that I can hear, it records. But when i tested out Vista, I had the same problems - no stereo or mono mix at all - which meant I couldn't record sound from videos etc etc.

Though, my new sound card, I have an external Creative Sound Blaster, has a built in 'What U Hear' feature which records the sound playing through the speakers at near perfect quality. This works in both Creative's recording studio, as well as audacity. I have yet to try the new sound card in Vista (I don't feel like installing Vista just for that purpose).

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Grafitti

What I've done sometimes -- of course it's probably not going to be top quality, since every time it goes through a connection it loses something, but i used a cable with a male headphone jack at each end, plugged one end into the speaker-out, and the other into the line-in. It may not be as good as direct sound, but a world better than holding the speakers up.

Wed Jul 11, 2007 Reply New Discussion

FotoP

Here are the step-by-step instructions how to record sound directly from windows vista computer using any audio editor/recording program. It was easy in Windows XP, in Windows Vista you must enable it first.

Tue Oct 23, 2007 Reply New Discussion

(G)Author Name - e.g. John, Mike

Replying to FotoPVISTA SOLUTION (If is matters I'm using a SoundMax sound card)

(1) Rt-click speaker in tool bar

(2) Select "Recording Devices"

(3) Rt-click anywhere in the Sound box that opens up or on any device in the box

(4) Check "Show Disabled Devices"

(5) Hopefully what you will see is " Stereo Mix SoundMax Integrated Digital HD Audio {your sound card} " with a gray down arrow in a circle.

(6) Rt-click this device

(7) Select "Enable"

(8) At this point any sound recording software that can select input sources should see "Stereo Mix"Hope that helps everyone!

PS. If you're into studying guitar scales. I have developed a guitar scales computer that helps you study. It's at www.Guitartools.Net (or www.Modemaster.Com).

Sun Mar 22, 2009 Reply New Discussion

(G)Greg

does not recordRecord Sound Directly From Computer?Replying to Jimmy89 Replying to seec77I downloaded Audacity and ran the program, play a sound clip on windows and tried to record it with audacity, when I played it back it recorded nothing, please help, or does it only record from a mic.?-question by Greg

Thu Apr 16, 2009 Reply New Discussion

(G)Nuno

Same...Record Sound Directly From Computer?

HI all

I have the same problem but in windows 7

have installed all needed drivers for my hardware, found the stereo mix, set it by default... And... When I record sound with any software (I use mp3mymp3) the recorded sound is very loud and goes very fast...

I found no way to solve this...

I'm practicing guitar and I would like to solve this

before when I had win xp it worked fine

thanks

-reply by Nuno

Sat Dec 19, 2009 Reply New Discussion

(G)Jo

only answer!Record Sound Directly From Computer?

I've been looking ALL OVER to find "stereo mix" option in Vista. This is the ONLY PLACE that described where it actually is. THANK YOU

Wed Dec 23, 2009 Reply New Discussion

(G)

Nah, J ust installed Audacity and every single configuration doesn't help to record sound directly from the sound card.

Mon Dec 28, 2009 Reply New Discussion

(G)Hannah

Best WayRecord Sound Directly From Computer?

Just going to keep this short and simple because I personally hate really long answers...I think you should use Tube Catcher. It only works on youtube videos, but you can extract the whole video, or just the sound if you want (which is what I got from your OP)

Good Luck

-reply by Hannah

Tue Feb 2, 2010 Reply New Discussion

8ennett

If you want a REALLY simple option then you need YouTube to MP3 firefox plugin. To quote the description on the plugin page:

QUOTE

Adds links to convert and download Youtube, MyVideo, Clipfish, Sevenload, Dailymotion, MySpace videos as MP3 files. This addon uses the free service of Video2mp3.net.

I used to use this plugin a lot. All you need to do is install it to firefox by clicking the green button (in firefox) at this location https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/11047 then when ever you visit a YouTube video page you just need to click the download button on the plugins button and you can save the audio only from the video as an mp3 on your computer!

Hope that helps you!

Tue Feb 2, 2010 Reply New Discussion