How to record audio from input sources to your PC – connected devices, connected preamp to record vinyl discs, streaming media, that play through your audio card: Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 – both 32 bit & 64.
Record Audio Card in Windows
This article applies to Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 – both 32 bit & 64.
In this article, I illustrate the steps to follow to record any audio you hear through your speakers which is played through the sound card on your computer.
This tutorial addresses how to record audio
from input sources to your PC – connected devices, connected preamp to record vinyl discs, streaming media (AUDIO ONLY), that play through your audio card.
Enable Stereo Mix
This is the key to record audio from your audio card.
If you are recording audio/video using ‘Line in’ and other software, please follow the recording instructions or 'Help' for the specific software you are using.
To record from the audio card on your PC, you should enable the Stereo Mix option, if it is not yet enabled.
Please check the setting using:
- Control Panel -> Sound -> Recording tab
- OR―right-click on the Speaker icon in the system tray (on right-hand side the of the Windows task bar) and click on Recording Devices:
Fig. 1―
Control Panel ->
Sound ->
Recording tab
Right-click on
Stereo Mix and click
Enable to be able to use it.
Stereo Mix Not Showing
If you can't see Stereo Mix in the pane: right-click anywhere in the devices pane and check to ON for both the “View Disabled Devices” and the “View Disconnected Devices” options.
If you still cannot see Stereo Mix, then you should download
High Definition Audio Codecs from Realtek.com.tw:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads. Click on
High Definition Audio Codecs (Software) and follow the instructions.
On the download page, find your OS:
- Vista, Windows7, Windows8, Windows8.1, Windows10 Driver only (Executable file) – both 32 bit & 64 bit versions are there; make sure to choose the correct version for your PC!
When you repeat the steps above you will now see Stereo Mix in your choices – set as default device.
Here is MY view in Windows 10:
Fig. 2―
Enable Stereo Mix
First of all,
right-click the audio icon in your system tray and go to “Open Volume Mixer” to open up the
Volume settings pane.
Mute all the
Application volume settings so you don't record any sounds for new mail, etc.
Fig. 3― Mute
Application volumes
Now, to record, use Sound Recorder in Vista & Windows 7:
NOW, click on the
Start button (bottom-left of screen), type in "
record" in the search box and select
Sound Recorder
Fig. 4―
Sound Recorder in
Vista & Windows 7
Select
Start Recording and start the music from your browser and your PC will record exactly what you hear through your speakers!
When you press
Stop Recording, you will have a WMA sound file that you can save on your PC - just navigate to the
My Music folder and select or create an appropriate sub-directory to
Save to!
Fig. 5―Select
Sound Recorder in
Vista & Windows 7
OR use Voice Recorder in Windows 8, 8.1 or Windows 10:
Fig. 6―OR Voice Recorder in Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10
Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10
Click on mic to Start Recording and start the music from your browser and your PC will record exactly what you hear through your speakers!
Click on mic to Stop Recording, you will have a WMA sound file that you can save on your PC - just navigate to the
My Music folder and select or create an appropriate sub-directory to
Save to!
: Right-click on a recording to open default folder and find all files…
Conclusion
Now, you should be able to record the audio of whatever you hear on your speakers, no matter what the source, streaming or otherwise.
Caveat:
In Win10, voice recording is another subject! You have to change microphone back to
Default Device:
- right-click on the Speaker icon in the system tray (on right-hand side the of the Windows task bar) and click on Recording Devices
- select your main mic and click on Set Default button
Fig. 7― select
mic and
Set Default
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