[audacity4blind] Re: Recording Skype conversations.
- From: "Gene" <gsasner@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 13:10:35 -0500
Yes, Audacity does remember the setting I select, which is sound mapper.
but I'm discussing the matter, not because I have a problem I want solved
but rather because it is not appropriate for a program to change sound
card settings on installation and even less so that it does so with no
notification to the user that it is doing so.
Gene
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gale Andrews" <gale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 11:53 AM
>
> | 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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