How can I record system sounds (apps) in Audacity?












8















Or another similar program? All I want to do is record the sounds coming from say firefox, or any other app, for use as samples in music. I need to do this in both windows and linux (ubuntu 9.10).



I have looked through the preferences of audacity but didn't find anything that let me select the system sound. Perhaps I overlooked it, because I was able to do this with earlier versions of audacity.










share|improve this question

























  • if you're on Mac you may want to give soundflower (github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower) a try

    – konqui
    Mar 13 '17 at 14:11
















8















Or another similar program? All I want to do is record the sounds coming from say firefox, or any other app, for use as samples in music. I need to do this in both windows and linux (ubuntu 9.10).



I have looked through the preferences of audacity but didn't find anything that let me select the system sound. Perhaps I overlooked it, because I was able to do this with earlier versions of audacity.










share|improve this question

























  • if you're on Mac you may want to give soundflower (github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower) a try

    – konqui
    Mar 13 '17 at 14:11














8












8








8


1






Or another similar program? All I want to do is record the sounds coming from say firefox, or any other app, for use as samples in music. I need to do this in both windows and linux (ubuntu 9.10).



I have looked through the preferences of audacity but didn't find anything that let me select the system sound. Perhaps I overlooked it, because I was able to do this with earlier versions of audacity.










share|improve this question
















Or another similar program? All I want to do is record the sounds coming from say firefox, or any other app, for use as samples in music. I need to do this in both windows and linux (ubuntu 9.10).



I have looked through the preferences of audacity but didn't find anything that let me select the system sound. Perhaps I overlooked it, because I was able to do this with earlier versions of audacity.







audio-recording audacity






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Mar 5 '13 at 12:33









wonea

1,48211940




1,48211940










asked Feb 20 '10 at 3:37









AlexAlex

30711122




30711122













  • if you're on Mac you may want to give soundflower (github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower) a try

    – konqui
    Mar 13 '17 at 14:11



















  • if you're on Mac you may want to give soundflower (github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower) a try

    – konqui
    Mar 13 '17 at 14:11

















if you're on Mac you may want to give soundflower (github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower) a try

– konqui
Mar 13 '17 at 14:11





if you're on Mac you may want to give soundflower (github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower) a try

– konqui
Mar 13 '17 at 14:11










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















7














In Windows Vista, I had to do the following:




  1. Go to Control Panel > Sound > Manage Audio Devices

  2. Select the Recording tab

  3. Right click an item or blank area on the list of devices and enable "Show Disabled Devices". This made the Stereo Mix device appear.

  4. Right click the Stereo Mix device and select "Enable"


"Stereo Mix" was then available as an input device for Audacity.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1





    For me, recording devices doesn't list 'Stereo mix' :(

    – Colonel Panic
    Sep 22 '12 at 16:14











  • @ColonelPanic - Was missing for me too (even disabled/disconnected), but I found a thread where users reported downgrading their RealTek driver to make it reappear. Search Google for version 6.0.1.5322. If Windows keeps saying you have the latest driver, see this thread. In "Have disk...", select the "HDX.inf" file, which for me was under "Vista64" in the driver package I downloaded from CNET.

    – Andrew Cheong
    Aug 28 '13 at 17:27













  • Seems Windows 10 no longer has this :/

    – Supuhstar
    Nov 21 '17 at 3:01






  • 1





    @Supuhstar Over a year late, but see my answer below.

    – kojow7
    Feb 5 at 18:45



















2














Windows and Linux




In the drop-down menu on Audacity's
mixer toolbar, choose “Wave Out” or
“Stereo Mix” as the input source. (The
exact name may be different, depending
on your computer's sound drivers.)
When you press the Record button,
Audacity will capture whatever sound is playing on your computer's speakers.




Source



enter image description here






share|improve this answer


























  • There is no "wave out" or "stereo mix" in that dropdown box on the mixer toolbar. The is nothing that resembles what you said. I would try posting a screenshot, but for some reason I can't do that when audacity has focus.

    – Alex
    Feb 20 '10 at 8:37











  • @Alex - did you select your sound card as recording device in Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O?

    – Molly7244
    Feb 20 '10 at 12:52



















1














There are a few ways to do this with Audacity (on Windows), but here are a couple of options:



Best quality:




  1. In the first drop down menu (Audio Host) change the default setting from MME to Windows WASAPI.


  2. In the second drop down menu (Recording Device) change the default setting from microphone to your output device (usually your speakers or headphones).



You will now be able to record whatever audio plays on your computer without picking up any distortion from your mic. Keep in mind if you have any sound alerts (such as message alert sounds etc.) it will pick up those as well.



Not as good quality, but better than mic/cable:



For those that cannot find Stereo Mix option in Audacity, it is likely because it is disabled by default in newer versions of Windows. You first need to enable it in Windows as follows:




  1. Right-click the audio icon in your system tray (lower-right corner of Windows)

  2. Select recording devices

  3. If you see Stereo Mix and it is disabled, right-click on it to enable it.

  4. If Audacity is currently open, close and re-open it so that it detects the new recording device.

  5. In Audacity, you can now select Stereo Mix from the second drop down menu (Recording device)






share|improve this answer































    0














    On ubuntu with Pulseaudio you can route output to whatever you like, check this guide.
    On windows (at least on xp, don't know wista or 7) you should have a "Stereo Mix" under Recording Devices.






    share|improve this answer























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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      7














      In Windows Vista, I had to do the following:




      1. Go to Control Panel > Sound > Manage Audio Devices

      2. Select the Recording tab

      3. Right click an item or blank area on the list of devices and enable "Show Disabled Devices". This made the Stereo Mix device appear.

      4. Right click the Stereo Mix device and select "Enable"


      "Stereo Mix" was then available as an input device for Audacity.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 1





        For me, recording devices doesn't list 'Stereo mix' :(

        – Colonel Panic
        Sep 22 '12 at 16:14











      • @ColonelPanic - Was missing for me too (even disabled/disconnected), but I found a thread where users reported downgrading their RealTek driver to make it reappear. Search Google for version 6.0.1.5322. If Windows keeps saying you have the latest driver, see this thread. In "Have disk...", select the "HDX.inf" file, which for me was under "Vista64" in the driver package I downloaded from CNET.

        – Andrew Cheong
        Aug 28 '13 at 17:27













      • Seems Windows 10 no longer has this :/

        – Supuhstar
        Nov 21 '17 at 3:01






      • 1





        @Supuhstar Over a year late, but see my answer below.

        – kojow7
        Feb 5 at 18:45
















      7














      In Windows Vista, I had to do the following:




      1. Go to Control Panel > Sound > Manage Audio Devices

      2. Select the Recording tab

      3. Right click an item or blank area on the list of devices and enable "Show Disabled Devices". This made the Stereo Mix device appear.

      4. Right click the Stereo Mix device and select "Enable"


      "Stereo Mix" was then available as an input device for Audacity.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 1





        For me, recording devices doesn't list 'Stereo mix' :(

        – Colonel Panic
        Sep 22 '12 at 16:14











      • @ColonelPanic - Was missing for me too (even disabled/disconnected), but I found a thread where users reported downgrading their RealTek driver to make it reappear. Search Google for version 6.0.1.5322. If Windows keeps saying you have the latest driver, see this thread. In "Have disk...", select the "HDX.inf" file, which for me was under "Vista64" in the driver package I downloaded from CNET.

        – Andrew Cheong
        Aug 28 '13 at 17:27













      • Seems Windows 10 no longer has this :/

        – Supuhstar
        Nov 21 '17 at 3:01






      • 1





        @Supuhstar Over a year late, but see my answer below.

        – kojow7
        Feb 5 at 18:45














      7












      7








      7







      In Windows Vista, I had to do the following:




      1. Go to Control Panel > Sound > Manage Audio Devices

      2. Select the Recording tab

      3. Right click an item or blank area on the list of devices and enable "Show Disabled Devices". This made the Stereo Mix device appear.

      4. Right click the Stereo Mix device and select "Enable"


      "Stereo Mix" was then available as an input device for Audacity.






      share|improve this answer













      In Windows Vista, I had to do the following:




      1. Go to Control Panel > Sound > Manage Audio Devices

      2. Select the Recording tab

      3. Right click an item or blank area on the list of devices and enable "Show Disabled Devices". This made the Stereo Mix device appear.

      4. Right click the Stereo Mix device and select "Enable"


      "Stereo Mix" was then available as an input device for Audacity.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Apr 18 '11 at 13:56









      Mr. OuchMr. Ouch

      7911




      7911








      • 1





        For me, recording devices doesn't list 'Stereo mix' :(

        – Colonel Panic
        Sep 22 '12 at 16:14











      • @ColonelPanic - Was missing for me too (even disabled/disconnected), but I found a thread where users reported downgrading their RealTek driver to make it reappear. Search Google for version 6.0.1.5322. If Windows keeps saying you have the latest driver, see this thread. In "Have disk...", select the "HDX.inf" file, which for me was under "Vista64" in the driver package I downloaded from CNET.

        – Andrew Cheong
        Aug 28 '13 at 17:27













      • Seems Windows 10 no longer has this :/

        – Supuhstar
        Nov 21 '17 at 3:01






      • 1





        @Supuhstar Over a year late, but see my answer below.

        – kojow7
        Feb 5 at 18:45














      • 1





        For me, recording devices doesn't list 'Stereo mix' :(

        – Colonel Panic
        Sep 22 '12 at 16:14











      • @ColonelPanic - Was missing for me too (even disabled/disconnected), but I found a thread where users reported downgrading their RealTek driver to make it reappear. Search Google for version 6.0.1.5322. If Windows keeps saying you have the latest driver, see this thread. In "Have disk...", select the "HDX.inf" file, which for me was under "Vista64" in the driver package I downloaded from CNET.

        – Andrew Cheong
        Aug 28 '13 at 17:27













      • Seems Windows 10 no longer has this :/

        – Supuhstar
        Nov 21 '17 at 3:01






      • 1





        @Supuhstar Over a year late, but see my answer below.

        – kojow7
        Feb 5 at 18:45








      1




      1





      For me, recording devices doesn't list 'Stereo mix' :(

      – Colonel Panic
      Sep 22 '12 at 16:14





      For me, recording devices doesn't list 'Stereo mix' :(

      – Colonel Panic
      Sep 22 '12 at 16:14













      @ColonelPanic - Was missing for me too (even disabled/disconnected), but I found a thread where users reported downgrading their RealTek driver to make it reappear. Search Google for version 6.0.1.5322. If Windows keeps saying you have the latest driver, see this thread. In "Have disk...", select the "HDX.inf" file, which for me was under "Vista64" in the driver package I downloaded from CNET.

      – Andrew Cheong
      Aug 28 '13 at 17:27







      @ColonelPanic - Was missing for me too (even disabled/disconnected), but I found a thread where users reported downgrading their RealTek driver to make it reappear. Search Google for version 6.0.1.5322. If Windows keeps saying you have the latest driver, see this thread. In "Have disk...", select the "HDX.inf" file, which for me was under "Vista64" in the driver package I downloaded from CNET.

      – Andrew Cheong
      Aug 28 '13 at 17:27















      Seems Windows 10 no longer has this :/

      – Supuhstar
      Nov 21 '17 at 3:01





      Seems Windows 10 no longer has this :/

      – Supuhstar
      Nov 21 '17 at 3:01




      1




      1





      @Supuhstar Over a year late, but see my answer below.

      – kojow7
      Feb 5 at 18:45





      @Supuhstar Over a year late, but see my answer below.

      – kojow7
      Feb 5 at 18:45













      2














      Windows and Linux




      In the drop-down menu on Audacity's
      mixer toolbar, choose “Wave Out” or
      “Stereo Mix” as the input source. (The
      exact name may be different, depending
      on your computer's sound drivers.)
      When you press the Record button,
      Audacity will capture whatever sound is playing on your computer's speakers.




      Source



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer


























      • There is no "wave out" or "stereo mix" in that dropdown box on the mixer toolbar. The is nothing that resembles what you said. I would try posting a screenshot, but for some reason I can't do that when audacity has focus.

        – Alex
        Feb 20 '10 at 8:37











      • @Alex - did you select your sound card as recording device in Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O?

        – Molly7244
        Feb 20 '10 at 12:52
















      2














      Windows and Linux




      In the drop-down menu on Audacity's
      mixer toolbar, choose “Wave Out” or
      “Stereo Mix” as the input source. (The
      exact name may be different, depending
      on your computer's sound drivers.)
      When you press the Record button,
      Audacity will capture whatever sound is playing on your computer's speakers.




      Source



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer


























      • There is no "wave out" or "stereo mix" in that dropdown box on the mixer toolbar. The is nothing that resembles what you said. I would try posting a screenshot, but for some reason I can't do that when audacity has focus.

        – Alex
        Feb 20 '10 at 8:37











      • @Alex - did you select your sound card as recording device in Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O?

        – Molly7244
        Feb 20 '10 at 12:52














      2












      2








      2







      Windows and Linux




      In the drop-down menu on Audacity's
      mixer toolbar, choose “Wave Out” or
      “Stereo Mix” as the input source. (The
      exact name may be different, depending
      on your computer's sound drivers.)
      When you press the Record button,
      Audacity will capture whatever sound is playing on your computer's speakers.




      Source



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer















      Windows and Linux




      In the drop-down menu on Audacity's
      mixer toolbar, choose “Wave Out” or
      “Stereo Mix” as the input source. (The
      exact name may be different, depending
      on your computer's sound drivers.)
      When you press the Record button,
      Audacity will capture whatever sound is playing on your computer's speakers.




      Source



      enter image description here







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Aug 11 '11 at 16:10









      3498DB

      15.8k114762




      15.8k114762










      answered Feb 20 '10 at 3:51







      Molly7244




















      • There is no "wave out" or "stereo mix" in that dropdown box on the mixer toolbar. The is nothing that resembles what you said. I would try posting a screenshot, but for some reason I can't do that when audacity has focus.

        – Alex
        Feb 20 '10 at 8:37











      • @Alex - did you select your sound card as recording device in Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O?

        – Molly7244
        Feb 20 '10 at 12:52



















      • There is no "wave out" or "stereo mix" in that dropdown box on the mixer toolbar. The is nothing that resembles what you said. I would try posting a screenshot, but for some reason I can't do that when audacity has focus.

        – Alex
        Feb 20 '10 at 8:37











      • @Alex - did you select your sound card as recording device in Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O?

        – Molly7244
        Feb 20 '10 at 12:52

















      There is no "wave out" or "stereo mix" in that dropdown box on the mixer toolbar. The is nothing that resembles what you said. I would try posting a screenshot, but for some reason I can't do that when audacity has focus.

      – Alex
      Feb 20 '10 at 8:37





      There is no "wave out" or "stereo mix" in that dropdown box on the mixer toolbar. The is nothing that resembles what you said. I would try posting a screenshot, but for some reason I can't do that when audacity has focus.

      – Alex
      Feb 20 '10 at 8:37













      @Alex - did you select your sound card as recording device in Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O?

      – Molly7244
      Feb 20 '10 at 12:52





      @Alex - did you select your sound card as recording device in Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O?

      – Molly7244
      Feb 20 '10 at 12:52











      1














      There are a few ways to do this with Audacity (on Windows), but here are a couple of options:



      Best quality:




      1. In the first drop down menu (Audio Host) change the default setting from MME to Windows WASAPI.


      2. In the second drop down menu (Recording Device) change the default setting from microphone to your output device (usually your speakers or headphones).



      You will now be able to record whatever audio plays on your computer without picking up any distortion from your mic. Keep in mind if you have any sound alerts (such as message alert sounds etc.) it will pick up those as well.



      Not as good quality, but better than mic/cable:



      For those that cannot find Stereo Mix option in Audacity, it is likely because it is disabled by default in newer versions of Windows. You first need to enable it in Windows as follows:




      1. Right-click the audio icon in your system tray (lower-right corner of Windows)

      2. Select recording devices

      3. If you see Stereo Mix and it is disabled, right-click on it to enable it.

      4. If Audacity is currently open, close and re-open it so that it detects the new recording device.

      5. In Audacity, you can now select Stereo Mix from the second drop down menu (Recording device)






      share|improve this answer




























        1














        There are a few ways to do this with Audacity (on Windows), but here are a couple of options:



        Best quality:




        1. In the first drop down menu (Audio Host) change the default setting from MME to Windows WASAPI.


        2. In the second drop down menu (Recording Device) change the default setting from microphone to your output device (usually your speakers or headphones).



        You will now be able to record whatever audio plays on your computer without picking up any distortion from your mic. Keep in mind if you have any sound alerts (such as message alert sounds etc.) it will pick up those as well.



        Not as good quality, but better than mic/cable:



        For those that cannot find Stereo Mix option in Audacity, it is likely because it is disabled by default in newer versions of Windows. You first need to enable it in Windows as follows:




        1. Right-click the audio icon in your system tray (lower-right corner of Windows)

        2. Select recording devices

        3. If you see Stereo Mix and it is disabled, right-click on it to enable it.

        4. If Audacity is currently open, close and re-open it so that it detects the new recording device.

        5. In Audacity, you can now select Stereo Mix from the second drop down menu (Recording device)






        share|improve this answer


























          1












          1








          1







          There are a few ways to do this with Audacity (on Windows), but here are a couple of options:



          Best quality:




          1. In the first drop down menu (Audio Host) change the default setting from MME to Windows WASAPI.


          2. In the second drop down menu (Recording Device) change the default setting from microphone to your output device (usually your speakers or headphones).



          You will now be able to record whatever audio plays on your computer without picking up any distortion from your mic. Keep in mind if you have any sound alerts (such as message alert sounds etc.) it will pick up those as well.



          Not as good quality, but better than mic/cable:



          For those that cannot find Stereo Mix option in Audacity, it is likely because it is disabled by default in newer versions of Windows. You first need to enable it in Windows as follows:




          1. Right-click the audio icon in your system tray (lower-right corner of Windows)

          2. Select recording devices

          3. If you see Stereo Mix and it is disabled, right-click on it to enable it.

          4. If Audacity is currently open, close and re-open it so that it detects the new recording device.

          5. In Audacity, you can now select Stereo Mix from the second drop down menu (Recording device)






          share|improve this answer













          There are a few ways to do this with Audacity (on Windows), but here are a couple of options:



          Best quality:




          1. In the first drop down menu (Audio Host) change the default setting from MME to Windows WASAPI.


          2. In the second drop down menu (Recording Device) change the default setting from microphone to your output device (usually your speakers or headphones).



          You will now be able to record whatever audio plays on your computer without picking up any distortion from your mic. Keep in mind if you have any sound alerts (such as message alert sounds etc.) it will pick up those as well.



          Not as good quality, but better than mic/cable:



          For those that cannot find Stereo Mix option in Audacity, it is likely because it is disabled by default in newer versions of Windows. You first need to enable it in Windows as follows:




          1. Right-click the audio icon in your system tray (lower-right corner of Windows)

          2. Select recording devices

          3. If you see Stereo Mix and it is disabled, right-click on it to enable it.

          4. If Audacity is currently open, close and re-open it so that it detects the new recording device.

          5. In Audacity, you can now select Stereo Mix from the second drop down menu (Recording device)







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Feb 5 at 18:44









          kojow7kojow7

          136113




          136113























              0














              On ubuntu with Pulseaudio you can route output to whatever you like, check this guide.
              On windows (at least on xp, don't know wista or 7) you should have a "Stereo Mix" under Recording Devices.






              share|improve this answer




























                0














                On ubuntu with Pulseaudio you can route output to whatever you like, check this guide.
                On windows (at least on xp, don't know wista or 7) you should have a "Stereo Mix" under Recording Devices.






                share|improve this answer


























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  On ubuntu with Pulseaudio you can route output to whatever you like, check this guide.
                  On windows (at least on xp, don't know wista or 7) you should have a "Stereo Mix" under Recording Devices.






                  share|improve this answer













                  On ubuntu with Pulseaudio you can route output to whatever you like, check this guide.
                  On windows (at least on xp, don't know wista or 7) you should have a "Stereo Mix" under Recording Devices.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Feb 20 '10 at 11:20









                  Mr ShunzMr Shunz

                  1,82312017




                  1,82312017






























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