Audacity Recording

rikishi19 · 22. Dec 2011, 06:46 AM

I am wanting to record the stream of a radio station over the web and have landed on Audacity to do this.

I have never used the program before so am wondering if anyone can tell me the appropriate settings to record just the output sound? So ignoring my webcam microphone (it is built in to the monitor so I cannot just simply unplug it).

It would also be good to know how to use this program properly

deya · 22. Dec 2011, 11:34 AM

Have a look at these links and see if they're any use to you;

Can Audacity record RealAudio or other streaming audio?

Recording audio playing on the computer

This is the Audacity Wiki page, tutorials and tips;

Audacity Wiki Home Page

Personally, I've never managed to get great results using Audacity to record streaming internet radio stations, it's a good program but it can be a bit confusing to set up. Also, if you want to export the recorded file to mp3 you'll have to install the LAME encoder.

Have you thought of any alternatives? I use Tapin to record shows, it's very easy, the sound quality is very good, you can set it to record shows at a set time or on the fly. But this will depend on whether your station plays through Tapin, if it's in the station files.

If I want to record a radio stream that only plays via the browser I use the built in sound recorder in AIMP2 - but I use an old version of the program, v2.51 build 330. That will record anything that's playing, and in good quality.

Maybe someone else can help with recording streams using Audacity, I've never quite mastered it for that to be honest.

rikishi19 · 22. Dec 2011, 08:18 PM

Thanks for your response.

Based on what you've said I've decided to try out AIMP for this. I found a source for the version you have and installed it. However when I go to the recording utility, the only device in the dropdown menu to record is my webcam. Should it not list my sound driver also so that I can record the stream when it is playing? Or is there some other way I should be doing this?

Thanks for any help.

deya · 22. Dec 2011, 10:13 PM

It should list your sound driver in the drop down. My menu lists two, USB Audio Device and Realtek Audio, which it's set to.

Device: Realtek Audio
Audio Input: Stereo Mix
Quality: 44100Hz, 16 Bits, Stereo

Coders is set to MP3
Mode is set to ABR [Joint Stereo]

Maybe the problem is your sound card itself, or could it be the audio settings in Control Panel - Sounds and Audio Devices - Audio?

rikishi19 · 22. Dec 2011, 10:37 PM

It might be due to me not having a dedicated sound card?

I have realtek drivers installed for the integrated motherboard sound and it gets picked up in other programs.

All seems to be fine and working in Control Panel.

deya · 23. Dec 2011, 09:03 AM

That could be the problem why the program is not detecting it, no dedicated sound card. Realtek is default on my Sound and Audio Devices. Does Realtek not show up anywhere in your 'Sounds and Audio Devices Properties' via Control Panel, so you can change it? If that's the case, and you can't change it, then I think it's only going to record sound via your webcam microphone.

rikishi19 · 23. Dec 2011, 09:38 AM

Realtek does show up under my 'Sounds' folder in Control Panel. There is no Sounds and Audio Device Properties, maybe as I'm running Win7 and you're running a previous Windows?

It is listed under the playback tab as Realtek Digital Output and status is Ready.

Realtek HD Audio Manager is also under Control Panel, but that seems to be some sort of settings for it itself, like sound effects and preset equalizer's.

Edit: Just checked in Audacity and that picks up the Realtek Digital Output, so I may have a play and see if I can get recording out of that. AIMP seems a great little program though. Is a shame I can't get it to pick up the driver at the moment though.

rikishi19 · 23. Dec 2011, 09:51 AM

After looking into this further, it appears Audacity doesn't pick up the Realtek device as a recording option either, just another source of playback instead of the speakers.

I'm guessing the integrated sound card won't be capable in this situation.

deya · 23. Dec 2011, 11:09 AM

Ok, you're on Win7 and the machine I'm recording on is XP Pro, sorry about that. I think you might need to enable Stereo Mix.

Have a look at this tutorial and see if helps;

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ng-enable.html

rikishi19 · 23. Dec 2011, 11:03 PM

Excellent. That did the job perfectly. Now both programs pick it up fine. AIMP is so simple to use I will probably use that to record the radio stream.

Thanks for your help. So simple when you know how!

22. Dec 2011, 06:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
rikishi19 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 107	Audacity Recording I am wanting to record the stream of a radio station over the web and have landed on Audacity to do this. I have never used the program before so am wondering if anyone can tell me the appropriate settings to record just the output sound? So ignoring my webcam microphone (it is built in to the monitor so I cannot just simply unplug it). It would also be good to know how to use this program properly

23. Dec 2011, 09:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
rikishi19 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 107	Realtek does show up under my 'Sounds' folder in Control Panel. There is no Sounds and Audio Device Properties, maybe as I'm running Win7 and you're running a previous Windows? It is listed under the playback tab as Realtek Digital Output and status is Ready. Realtek HD Audio Manager is also under Control Panel, but that seems to be some sort of settings for it itself, like sound effects and preset equalizer's. Edit: Just checked in Audacity and that picks up the Realtek Digital Output, so I may have a play and see if I can get recording out of that. AIMP seems a great little program though. Is a shame I can't get it to pick up the driver at the moment though. Last edited by rikishi19; 23. Dec 2011 at 09:43 AM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

22. Dec 2011, 11:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
deya Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 528	Have a look at these links and see if they're any use to you; Can Audacity record RealAudio or other streaming audio? Recording audio playing on the computer This is the Audacity Wiki page, tutorials and tips; Audacity Wiki Home Page Personally, I've never managed to get great results using Audacity to record streaming internet radio stations, it's a good program but it can be a bit confusing to set up. Also, if you want to export the recorded file to mp3 you'll have to install the LAME encoder. Have you thought of any alternatives? I use Tapin to record shows, it's very easy, the sound quality is very good, you can set it to record shows at a set time or on the fly. But this will depend on whether your station plays through Tapin, if it's in the station files. If I want to record a radio stream that only plays via the browser I use the built in sound recorder in AIMP2 - but I use an old version of the program, v2.51 build 330. That will record anything that's playing, and in good quality. Maybe someone else can help with recording streams using Audacity, I've never quite mastered it for that to be honest.

22. Dec 2011, 08:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
rikishi19 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 107	Thanks for your response. Based on what you've said I've decided to try out AIMP for this. I found a source for the version you have and installed it. However when I go to the recording utility, the only device in the dropdown menu to record is my webcam. Should it not list my sound driver also so that I can record the stream when it is playing? Or is there some other way I should be doing this? Thanks for any help.

22. Dec 2011, 10:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
deya Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 528	It should list your sound driver in the drop down. My menu lists two, USB Audio Device and Realtek Audio, which it's set to. Device: Realtek Audio Audio Input: Stereo Mix Quality: 44100Hz, 16 Bits, Stereo Coders is set to MP3 Mode is set to ABR [Joint Stereo] Maybe the problem is your sound card itself, or could it be the audio settings in Control Panel - Sounds and Audio Devices - Audio?

22. Dec 2011, 10:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
rikishi19 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 107	It might be due to me not having a dedicated sound card? I have realtek drivers installed for the integrated motherboard sound and it gets picked up in other programs. All seems to be fine and working in Control Panel.

23. Dec 2011, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
deya Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 528	That could be the problem why the program is not detecting it, no dedicated sound card. Realtek is default on my Sound and Audio Devices. Does Realtek not show up anywhere in your 'Sounds and Audio Devices Properties' via Control Panel, so you can change it? If that's the case, and you can't change it, then I think it's only going to record sound via your webcam microphone.

23. Dec 2011, 09:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
rikishi19 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 107	After looking into this further, it appears Audacity doesn't pick up the Realtek device as a recording option either, just another source of playback instead of the speakers. I'm guessing the integrated sound card won't be capable in this situation.

23. Dec 2011, 11:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
deya Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 528	Ok, you're on Win7 and the machine I'm recording on is XP Pro, sorry about that. I think you might need to enable Stereo Mix. Have a look at this tutorial and see if helps; http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ng-enable.html

23. Dec 2011, 11:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
rikishi19 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 107	Excellent. That did the job perfectly. Now both programs pick it up fine. AIMP is so simple to use I will probably use that to record the radio stream. Thanks for your help. So simple when you know how!