In Device Toolbar pictured below or in Devices Preferences , choose "MME" or "Windows DirectSound" in the Audio Host box. In the Recording Device box, look if there is an input meant for recording computer playback. This input could be called "Stereo Mix", "Wave Out", "Sum", "What U Hear", "Loopback" or other names, depending on your sound device. Choose the Windows WASAPI host next section if you want to record playback of a USB, wireless or external sound device. Choose the loopback input for the computer playback device you will be listening to for example, "Speakers loopback ".

The loopback input records computer playback even if your sound device lacks its own stereo mix or similar input:.

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WASAPI loopback has an advantage over stereo mix or similar inputs provided by the soundcard that the capture is entirely digital rather than converting to analog for playback, then back to digital when Audacity receives it. System sounds playing through the device selected for WASAPI loopback are still captured, however. The behavior of the Audacity playback and recording sliders may vary according to the sound device you are recording from. If you do not see any input for recording computer playback , exit Audacity and continue reading below.

Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 computers almost always only have microphone inputs enabled by default.

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Earlier Windows systems may also need the input for recording computer playback to be made visible before Audacity can use it. To show or enable inputs, launch the sound device control panel from the Windows Control Panel or from the system tray by the clock.

If you still have no stereo mix input in Windows, sometimes this input can be enabled in the soundcard's own control panel, especially with older RealTek devices. The soundcard's own control panel can be found in the Windows Control Panel. Hints for RealTek control panels:. If there is still no suitable input, try updating the sound device drivers for your soundcard. This can sometimes produce an additional input for recording computer playback, and may fix other problems such as poor quality or skipping.

Suitable cables are available from almost any audio retailer. Connect one end of the cable to the computer's audio output green and the other end to the line-in input blue. Then choose the line-in as input device in Audacity.

You can use other applications to record computer playback that do not rely on the computer sound device having this ability.

These applications will make an audio file which can then be imported into Audacity for editing. All the options below grab the audio digitally from the application producing the sound.

This has advantages over stereo mix recording. Lossy digital-analog-digital conversions are avoided and also unwanted system beeps and alerts are not captured. A further alternative is an external USB soundcard with a "Stereo Mix" type of option. An example known to work on all versions of Windows is "Trust Sound Expert External".

Not all USB soundcards offer a Stereo Mix option, so read the specifications carefully before purchasing. Tutorial - Recording Computer Playback on Windows From Audacity Development Manual. On Windows Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Vista , sound devices often lack a "Stereo Mix" or similar input, or it must be specially enabled in the Windows "Sound" Control Panel. On these operating systems, you can also choose Windows WASAPI host and the loopback input choice in Device Toolbar.

This will record computer playback even if the computer sound device lacks its own input to do this.

On Windows XP , Audacity relies on your computer sound device providing an input for recording computer playback, typically called "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear".

This input can be chosen in Audacity's Device Toolbar. If there is no such input, you can use other methods such as a loopback cable. Copyright or website restrictions may prevent you recording or distributing material. If the item has a checkmark, click it to turn off playthrough.

Otherwise you will hear and record echoes or distorted sound. You must play the audio you want to record using the same sound device that has the "Stereo Mix" or similar input. You cannot play audio through an HDMI output or through a headset, headphones or speakers that connect via USB or wirelessly then record that playback using the stereo mix input of the built-in sound device. Tips for WASAPI loopback recording: You will normally need to start playing the stream or to have previously played some other audio in the application you are using for playback before pressing Record in Audacity.

WASAPI loopback may not be able to record in mono on all devices.

If mono recording produces an error, change Device Toolbar to "2 Stereo Recording Channels". Connecting to the microphone input red may produce mono sound or poor quality. To hear what is playing while you record it, buy a single stereo to double stereo adaptor to plug into the audio output. This gives you a spare jack to plug the speakers or headphones into. Navigation Contents Using Audacity Tour Guide Getting Started Preferences Menu Bar Toolbars Effects Shortcuts Tutorials Tips Reference Digital Audio Glossary Subject Index FAQ.

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