[audacity4blind] Re: Recording Skype conversations.
- From: "Gene" <gsasner@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 15:08:09 -0500
As I recall, it doesn't matter which version of Windows is being used. I
installed Audacity both on an XP computer and a Windows 7 computer and, as
I recall, settings were changed in both cases. I don't know in which
version this change occurred. I was using a beta version previous to
upgrading to the new nonbeta version and the beta version was an older
beta.
Gene----- Original Message -----
From: "Gale Andrews" <gale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 1:23 PM
>
> | From "Gene" <gsasner@xxxxxxxxx>
> | Wed, 2 May 2012 13:10:35 -0500
> | Subject: Recording Skype conversations.
>> 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.
>
> I don't recall any major overhaul of Device Toolbar for 1.3.9
> (it was overhauled for 1.3.13). So it may need digging around
> to find why this changed.
>
> What version of Windows are you on? The reason no-one
> has even remarked about it before is probably that Windows
> Vista and 7 machines typically only have microphone enabled
> as shipped (which is the reason people can't find stereo mix
> easily).
>
> I agree it's something of an issue for the visually impaired.
>
>
>
>
>
> Gale
>
>
>> 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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