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[ChrisLyndon]

Eyore - I have never been able to figure out a way to record audio as it plays live from my computer output. I have tried programs, but they all seem to record the sound from the room I am in, and not the sound coming directly from the computer's audio output.

To obtain audio just from the computer, in which there is no other way to obtain rather than record it or rip it as it plays live, I have instead hooked up an analog stereo system component, that is a CD recorder. It burns CDs as it records live audio input. I have the headphone jack hooked up to this machine, insert a blank CD, and them play the music from the desktop as I record it live. Then I finalize the CD, and put it into my computer, where I then can upload it onto my hard-drive.

It would be much easier if I could record the output directly onto my hard drive, and not have to use the CD recorder machine. (calling it a machine for lack of a more descriptive word) My old system did not have a way to plug a microphone in, so was thinking this may resolve the issue. I can have the output from the computer going into the microphone jack, then it will record the computer sounds instead of the sounds that would normally be picked up by a microphone.

But now I am concerned by Some1 who commented that this would record it in Mono - So I need to figue out a way to do this, but have it be in stereo. I would love to be able to get rid of the machine on my desk. It takes up a lot of space, and I also go through a lot of CD's recording stuff, and it is extra steps - yada yada yada. Just hoping to make life easier.

If anyone has some helpful hints - let me know.

[eyore]

I really don't understand this. I must presume that you have a built in microphone somewhere if it records the sounds from the room!!!
You don't record using a mic input from your PC. Yes, it will be mono if you don't blow the circuits (mic inputs are generally more delicate regarding the voltage that goes through hem - in fact on my first stereo system I had to install resistors in the wires so as not to blow the circuits). I presume something was wired wrongly in your original PC.
As has been said, you select the recording source from the audio control pane so, somewhere, you have mic selected but where the heck it's picking up external sound without a mic I have no idea unless your speakers are wired in and are acting as microphones.
There is no way you can make stereo recordings via a mono mic input without replacing the socket and the internal wiring of the PC so forget about doing it that way. You should find your new PC will record directly from the stereo mix setting now .

[ChrisLyndon]

there was some sort of built in external mic on my old system. I am not sure where it was, I never could locate it, but that was the issue.

[Some1]

there was some sort of built in external mic on my old system. I am not sure where it was, I never could locate it, but that was the issue.

The "what you hear" or stereo mix options of the sound "Mixer" are dependent on the sound hardware on your PC. As mentioned above by Pix, what you hear applies to Creative Sound Blaster devices. The others that support it usually call it stereo mix. Just to make things more confusing, some manufacturers also provide their own mixer application.  If your system shows a speaker icon in your system tray ( by the clock/time ), that is usually the windows mixer application. This gives you access to the mixer as well as other sound properties. Windows 8 lists - Open volume mixer, Playback devices, Recording devices, Sounds, and Volume control options. Recording devices brings up the Sound dialog box with the Recording tab selected. This lists the input devices available on your system. Selecting a device will allow you to change/set properties for that device.

If you don't have a "what you hear" or "stereo mix" option on your mixer app. you may need to change a properties setting for your sound device. Another option ( possibly last resort if you hardware/mixer doesn't support stereo mix ) is to try something like "Virtual Audio Cable" ( fee )  or "VB-Audio CABLE" ( donation ). These are driver programs that allow you to pipe the audio from one program to another. ( note: could get confusing if you don't understand signal routing )

[eyore]

Chris, please tell us after doing what Some1 suggests (with the loudspeaker icon) what you see (or post a screen shot). I highly doubt that your system is incapable of making a direct recording, it's just finding where the box to tick is.  Seems that the default setting on your PC was "mic". Just need to find how and where to change it.

[pyrotech]

Some of these mixer drivers are really odd... Despite having a stereo mix option in the recording devices section, I have to set recording device to microphone.. (rear input)  to record streamed audio under Audacity... But there is no mic attached on this input... ?

I've similar issues with other recording software...

I don't think things have improved since 98, XP ruined midi and sound.   

I'd slowly make my way through all of the recording device options whilst playing and old Yutube video...

I know technically stereo mix should work , but it doesn't for me.

[ChrisLyndon]

I do have an icon and know exactly where to find these options. I will look into this within a day or so. Right now I am loading all my old files onto my new computer - creating folders, and organizing everything. This is a major project and will take a few days. After that, I will check back on this. Not a priority just yet.

[RocketRodsXPR]

Or even Safari.

[eyore]

I do recall finding it difficult to get audacity to record from the sound card.
Try going to Edit. preferences (right at the bottom) and devices. You need to set  where it records from in there (I find it works with
See below (just checked ad it records fine from playing a track from Foobar

[pixelated]

Another shameless plug for Wavosaur, which is also freeware.  I use Sound Forge instead of Wavosaur but if I could not for some reason (e.g., I'm on someone else's computer), I would use Wavosaur.  I can record the defaulted Stereo Mix device in Wavosaur just by clicking the RECORD icon.  Wavosaur does need to have the recording duration set though; it defaults to 60 secs.
http://www.wavosaur.com/

[eyore]

that's what put me off that setting the duration (difficult if it's streaming). I always used MusicMatch which they kindly made incompatible with Win7
I now use Ariel sound recorder which although paid for I find fine. (it's around $25 to buy).

I think I'm right in saying that you can change the duration in Wavosaur and it keeps the setting until you change it (so you can set it for, say, 10,000 seconds and it will record for over 2 hours or until to stop it) and that figure will be set as default or does it revert back to the 60 seconds?

[pixelated]

I think I'm right in saying that you can change the duration in Wavosaur and it keeps the setting until you change it (so you can set it for, say, 10,000 seconds and it will record for over 2 hours or until to stop it) and that figure will be set as default or does it revert back to the 60 seconds?

Yes, Wavosaur remembers your duration setting.  It's saved in the wavosaur.ini file that is created in the same directory/folder that the Wavosaur.exe is located.  It's under the Record header:

[Record]
Duration=100000000

A hundred million seconds should cover most recordings.   That's 1157 days.

[eyore]

may switch over to that then. I take it that the clue is in the name or does it record in other formats other than wav? (I did look but couldn't find other options).

[pixelated]

Yes, Wavosaur can only record in PCM WAV format but you can export the audio in MP3 format if the LAME codec is installed or in the same directory as the Wavosaur executable:
http://www.wavosaur.com/quick-help/import-export-file.php

[eyore]

Thanks