recording both microphone audio and speaker audio

  • Thread starter Thread starter Red Comet
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Red Comet

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I wanted to ask if it's possible to record both microphone audio and speaker audio at the same time on my computer. (My computer is a Dell Inspiron 620 with a Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit operating system, and it contains Audacity 2.0.2 installed by the exe method.)
Of course I have a headset (made by Logitech). And I also have an audio splitter cable and an extra audio cable (made by Dynex). I heard that if you use these three items and connect them to your speaker, microphone, and line in jacks in a certain way you can set your computer up to record both microphone audio and speaker audio. What I tried was connecting the splitter to the green speaker jack. Then running the extra cable between the splitter and the blue line in jack. Then connecting the headset's speaker cord to the splitter and the headset's microphone cord to the pink microphone jack. My computer's control panel (audio -> recording) and my Audacity software (device toolbar) each have three settings: microphone, line in, and stereo mix. I tried all nine combinations, and in each case I was only able to record either microphone audio or speaker audio, not both.
So, is there any way to deal with my problem? Or do I simply have a computer that is not capable of recording both microphone audio and speaker audio at the same time without making expensive modifications?
 
Quite often windows mixer will have an option called "what you hear" or something like that.

It's the kind of thing you'd use to make a recording of a skype call or a youtube video or something.
Whatever comes out of the speakers gets recorded first.

If you can find that option, check the box and try recording.


You could do it the way you're describing;
Line out and microphone cable would go into a splitter (reversed, so it's really a 'mixer'), then you'd plug that into the mic input, but it's not ideal because the line output level will be far too hot for a microphone level input.

If you can do it within software the results will be much better.


If you can't find that option I'm talking about, google soundflower.

It's a virtual audio device, so you set your system output to soundflower (2ch), and then set your recording software to capture soundflower (2ch).

It's the same as selecting "what you hear".
 
Thank you for the information, but I'm afraid I'm still having trouble.
I haven't been able to find the "what you hear" option on my computer.
And it seems like Soundflower is a Mac program. I have a PC.
 
OK, I downloaded and installed the Jack program. But I don't really know how to use it. It seems this forum is set up so I can't post links until I have 10 or more posts. But from the link above - if you click on "faq", and then click on "How do I use JACK on Windows?", you'll see the page that I was looking at. Under where it says "Installation and Configuration", I'm finding step 5 to be confusing.
I tried opening the command window for Jack and typing in "jackd -d portaudio -l" and pressing enter. I saw a list of 10 devices. The list was as follows:

0. MME::Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
1. MME::Stereo Mix <Conexant HD Audio> [Default Input]
2. MME::Front Microphone <Conexant HD A
3. MME::Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
4. MME::Speakers <Conexant HD Audio> [Default Output]
5. Direct Sound::Primary Sound Capture Drive [Default Windows DirectSound Input]
6. Direct Sound::Stereo Mix <Conexant HD Audio>
7. Direct Sound::Front Microphone <Conexant HD Audio>
8. Direct Sound::Primary Sound Driver [Default Windows Direct Sound Output]
9. Direct Sound::Speakers <Conexant HD Audio>

How should I proceed at this point?
 
Not gona lie to you, Red. I've no idea how to use Jack in windows.
I've been a mac guy for a few years now.

Now that you're aware of the idea, though, it shouldn't be too hard to google it up.
 
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