[audacity4blind] Re: Recording Skype conversations.
- From: Gale Andrews <gale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 02 May 2012 18:53:02 +0100
| From David Bailes <david_bailes@xxxxxxxxxxx>
| Wed, 2 May 2012 13:18:48 +0100 (BST)
| Subject: Recording Skype conversations.
> on my computer running audacity 2 on windows 7, after a
> clean install or resetting preferences, then the input and output
> devices in audacity are explicitly the default devices, rather than
> sound mapper input and output.
Hi David,
On a Windows 7 laptop recently acquired, and a Windows 7
netbook I hardly use, I concur that reset of audacity.cfg
initialises to MME host, "Speakers" and "Built -in Mic", not
Sound Mapper. On those machines, this behaviour changes
with 1.3.9; in earlier versions Audacity initialises to Sound
Mapper.
I didn't think that was the case with a Windows 7 Desktop
I was familiar with that is no longer working, but I could just
have misremembered.
However both current Windows 7 machines definitely remember
whatever output and input devices were selected on a clean
exit, so Gene should, on exiting with Sound Mapper-Output and
Sound Mapper-Input selected, find those still selected on restart.
Gale
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gale Andrews <gale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc:
> Sent: Tuesday, 1 May 2012, 21:07
> Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: Recording Skype conversations.
>
>
> | From "Gene" <gsasner@xxxxxxxxx>
> | Tue, 1 May 2012 14:12:26 -0500
> | Subject: Recording Skype conversations.
> > I was discussing the source selection, not the level settings. If you
> > install audacity in the new nonbeta version and don't specify anything
> > about what source to use, Audacity will make a selection and if your
> > previous selection is not what the Audacity selection is, the source will
> > be changed. The program should do what it used to do. It used to select
> > the Microsoft Sound Mapper and thus, wouldn't change the source settings
> > unless you change them.
>
> Behaviour has not changed in 2.0.0.
>
> If you reset Preferences thus:
> http://manual.audacityteam.org/help/manual/man/preferences.html#stored
>
> then Audacity will launch with MME host and Sound Mapper Output and
> Sound Mapper Input.
>
> If you then exit Audacity cleanly with MME host, Sound Mapper Output and
> Sound Mapper Input, that is what you should have when you restart
> Audacity.
>
> If that is not happening then might you unintentionally be changing the
> input and output device in Device Toolbar? If this is happening, choose
> View > Toolbars > Device Toolbar to hide Device Toolbar. You can
> still change devices in the Devices Preferences.
>
>
>
>
> Gale
>
>
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Gale Andrews" <gale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 12:15 PM
> > >
> > > | From "Gene" <gsasner@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > | Tue, 1 May 2012 06:59:32 -0500
> > > | Subject: Recording Skype conversations.
> > >> Regarding Audacity selecting a source, as you say, you can select a
> > >> source
> > >> in audacity but I don't know if the source will be available if it is
> > >> disabled in the sound card settings.
> > >
> > > Audacity *cannot* see a sound input that is disabled in Windows.
> > >
> > > And if you don't change the Audacity default of "Microsoft Sound
> > > Mapper - Input", Audacity will continue to use the Windows default
> > > input device.
> > >
> > > And on some machines (probably due to sound driver issues), stereo
> > > mix won't record unless it is Windows default device.
> > >
> > >
> > >> Audacity is not designed as it should be regarding
> > >> source selection. The first time you run it, it should present a dialog
> > >> both asking which source you want to use and explaining that the choice
> > >> you make in Audacity will change the volume control setting and thus
> > >> change the source for every recording device that uuses that setting on
> > >> the computer.
> > >
> > > Audacity does not change the volume control setting for each
> > > input if you don't change the input level yourself. But if you have
> > > each input set at a different level in Windows then the level will
> > > of course change when you switch inputs in Audacity.
> > >
> > > There is a possible Audacity bug that appears on some Windows
> > > Vista machines that if you change the input volume in Audacity
> > > and then record, the volume is reset to its original level:
> > > http://bugzilla.audacityteam.org/show_bug.cgi?id=12 .
> > >
> > > But almost no-one now seems to report that.
> > >
> > >
> > >> If you choose Microsoft Sound Mapper, Audacity will honor
> > >> whatever setting you have made in the Windows Volume Control itself and
> > >> this should be explained in the dialog.
> > >
> > > The developers would not accept all the dialogue verbosity you
> > > are suggesting. :=)
> > >
> > >
> > >> If you select something else, then every time you run Audacity, it will
> > >> change the volume control
> > >> setting to the Audacity selection you specify, regardless of whether you
> > >> want this to be done. If, for example, you have changed the source in
> > >> the
> > >> volume control interface, then the next time you run Audacity, the
> > >> source
> > >> will be changed in the Windows Volume Control back to the settting you
> > >> specified in Audacity. Of course, you can change the selection in
> > >> Audacity
> > >> to cyhange the volume control setting but you may want Audacity to honor
> > >> whatever selection you make in the actual volume control interface and
> > >> not
> > >> change it. If you let Audacity automatically change the volume control
> > >> setting, you may have problems. I believe that there should be one way
> > >> that you use consistently to set the source and that no programs should
> > >> automatically change this setting.
> > >
> > > I am unclear if you are talking about changing sources or changing
> > > volume level of the same source.
> > >
> > > The Audacity input and output level sliders should (if it is working
> > > correctly) move the Windows input and output sliders for that device,
> > > and the Windows input and output sliders should move the Audacity
> > > sliders. Audacity controls the hardware directly. The Audacity and
> > > Windows sliders are linked.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Gale
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> From: "David Bailes" <david_bailes@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >> To: <audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 3:38 AM
> > >> > Hi Gene,
> > >> > just to clarify a couple of points.
> > >> >
> > >> > Gale was suggesting using the listen option, if the sound card hasn't
> > >> got
> > >> > hardware playthrough, so that the microphone is included in the stereo
> > >> > mix. In practice, I've found that using the listen option for this
> > >> purpose
> > >> > isn't very satisfactory as there's a delay and you hear what you say a
> > >> > little bit after you've said it, and this is very distracting.
> > >> >
> > >> > Which recording device Audacity uses for recording is set within
> > >> Audacity,
> > >> > not by setting which recording device is the windows default. The only
> > >> > time that Audacity pays any attention to which device is the windows
> > >> > default is the first time you run audacity.
> > >> >
> > >> > David.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > ----- Original Message -----
> > >> > From: Gene <gsasner@xxxxxxxxx>
> > >> > To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > >> > Cc:
> > >> > Sent: Monday, 30 April 2012, 14:54
> > >> > Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: Recording Skype conversations.
> > >> >
> > >> > The listen option has no bearing on whether you can record. It is for
> > >> > listening to the input through your computer, like monitor used to be
> > >> for
> > >> > tape recorders. It makes no difference whether it is on or off. What
> > >> you
> > >> > want to look for in the Windows audio settings is the equivalent of a
> > >> what
> > >> > you hear option, which may be called stereo mix or something else,
> > >> sound
> > >> > card manufacturers have many names for it. To complicate matters
> > >> further,
> > >> > many computers are sold with Microsoft sound card drivers that don't
> > >> > support such an option. Installing the driver provided by the
> > >> > manufacturer of the sound card may provide such an option. But some
> > >> sound
> > >> > cards these days don't provide such an option at all, though some can
> > >> be
> > >> > used with older drivers that do. You may be able to use an older
> > >> Vista
> > >> > driver instead of the manufacturer provided Windows 7 driver. But if
> > >> you
> > >> > are going to do any of this sort of thing, that is, change the sound
> > >> > driver, you should have sighted help available or you should have the
> > >> > steps memorized to do a system restore or roll back the driver, if
> > >> that is
> > >> > necessary.
> > >> >
> > >> > The first thing to do is to see if your sound card provides a what you
> > >> > hear option, regardless of what it is called.
> > >> > In the system tray, right click the speakers icon.
> > >> > Down arrow to recording devices and press enter.
> > >> >
> > >> > Open the context menu and see if the item named show disabled devices
> > >> is
> > >> > checked. If it isn't, press enter on it to check it. The menu will
> > >> close
> > >> > and the setting has been changed.
> > >> > You are in a list of items you can record with. Choose the
> > >> appropriate
> > >> > one.
> > >> > Open the context menu for that item and press enter on set as default
> > >> or
> > >> > similar wording. You have now set what you hear to be used for
> > >> recording.
> > >> > If you later want to switch to something else such as line-in, then
> > >> find
> > >> > line-in in the list I described above, open the context menu, and set
> > >> that
> > >> > item as the default device.
> > >> >
> > >> > I may have left out details such as to activate the ok button or
> > >> buttons
> > >> > as you back out of the dialogs after making changes.
> > >> >
> > >> > If your computer does not provide a sound card with a what you hear
> > >> > option, you can purchase a USB sound card that does. But you should
> > >> try
> > >> > to be sure the sound card you are purchasing does provide such an
> > >> option
> > >> > before you purchase it.
> > >> >
> > >> > Gene
> > >> > ----- Original Message -----
> > >> > From: "Robbie" <tickleberryfun@xxxxxxxxx>
> > >> > To: <audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >> > Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 1:26 AM
> > >> >> Hi gale!
> > >> >> I can't manage to record streams or other stuff coming over the
> > >> >> speakers.
> > >> >> I selected Microsoft Soundmapper as input device, microphone being
> > >> the
> > >> >> only other option. However I'm recording only silence. Got any
> > >> advice?
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Thanks, Robbie
> > >> >>
> > >> >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> >> From: audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > >> >> [mailto:audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gale
> > >> Andrews
> > >> >> Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2012 10:50 PM
> > >> >> To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > >> >> Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: Recording Skype conversations.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> | From sandra gayer <sandragayer7@xxxxxxxxx> Sun, 29 Apr 2012
> > >> 21:34:49
> > >> >> | +0100
> > >> >> | Subject: Recording Skype conversations.
> > >> >>> Thank you very much for the information Gale. When you say you have
> > >> to
> > >> >>> unmute the microphone playback, do you mean you have to do that
> > >> >>> physically from the perspective of the external soundcard? That
> > >> would
> > >> >>> be easiest. Where do you find "listen to this device". In the
> > >> control
> > >> >>> panel?
> > >> >>
> > >> >> "Listen" only exists on Vista/7. Open "Sound" in the Windows Control
> > >> >> Panel, choose the "Recording" tab, select the headset or microphone
> > >> and
> > >> >> choose "Properties" then choose the "Listen"
> > >> >> tab. It's software playthrough, so might create too many echoes.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> If you had a way to unmute the microphone hardware, that would be on
> > >> the
> > >> >> "Playback" tab, select the headset or mic, choose "Properties" then
> > >> the
> > >> >> "Levels" tab. But most Vista/7 machines do not have this.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Gale
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>> On 4/29/12, Gale Andrews <gale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >> >>> >
> > >> >>> > | From sandra gayer <sandragayer7@xxxxxxxxx> Sun, 29 Apr 2012
> > >> >>> > | 13:18:01 +0100
> > >> >>> > | Subject: [audacity4blind] Recording Skype conversations.
> > >> >>> >> I read somewhere that Audacity could be used to record Skype
> > >> >>> >> conversations. Is this correct? If so how? Does it depend on the
> > >> >>> >> conversation being rooted through the computer's internal sound
> > >> >>> card?
> > >> >>> >> Is it possible to record both ends of a Skype conversation if
> > >> they
> > >> >>> >> are being rooted through an external soundcard and external
> > >> >> microphone?
> > >> >>> >
> > >> >>> > Yes you have to unmute the microphone playback (or use "Listen to
> > >> >>> > this device" on Windows Vista/7) then record stereo mix in
> > >> Audacity.
> > >> >>> > You must use headphones or a headset. A USB headset usually won't
> > >> >>> > work on Windows XP or earlier because there is no way to unmute
> > >> its
> > >> >>> > playback.
> > >> >>> >
> > >> >>> > Instead of Audacity, it is usually better to use something like:
> > >> >>> > http://voipcallrecording.com/ .
> > >> >>> >
> > >> >>> >
> > >> >>> >
> > >> >>> >
> > >> >>> > Gale
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