From: Joe Offer - PM
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 10:10 PM

I still don't seem to be able to get Audacity to record from my computer's sound card. I think I was able to do it with my Windows Vista computer, but I've had Windows 7 for two years now. I think maybe there's something in Windows 7 that doesn't allow me to record from my sound card.
Anybody have any luck using Audacity to record from Windows 7?

-Joe-

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Audacity works on XP and Win 7. Its just that you need to set up input as 'Stereo Mix' to capture the audio from your sound card.

'Stereo Mix' is usually already configured on XP. However with Win 7 you have to configure it yourself.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/39532/how-to-enable-stereo-mix-in-windows-7-to-record-audio/

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Beware with Audacity that its default for input is 'Mic' and anything recorded will be distorted. You need to choose 'Stereo Mix' for sound card capture.

Also check Preferences that 'Software Playthrough' is unchecked.

If recording through an analogue-digital conversion device such as Griffin iMic then you need 'Software Playthrough' to be checked.

To adjust volume and levels you need to turn the sound up on the sound card. Then simply use the sliders for recording level and or o/p volume. But it the waveform that you need to watch. make sure that its not clipping on loud passages.

If you also install all the NyQuist add-ons (free) you can adjust the waveform for all kinds of audio effects. The most basic is to lift the volume, or do simple fade-ins or fade-outs. But these add-ons can also filter 'pops' or 'clicks' from say 78rpm records.

Incidentally you can record 78rpm records playing them at say 45rpm, then converting the waveform using a NyQuist add-on to increase the speed to 78rpm.

To save in MP3 format you'll need the Lame decoder - free. Try to save MP3 files at about 192kbps or higher.

[Links made live in this thread by MudElf---who wonders why it is too much trouble for posters to do it themselves.]