Good audio recording software?

[nightwalker83]

Reading the FRAPS overview (link) I can't see any reason why it wouldn't record audio.

 

If the only problem you have is that FRAPS is recording from the webcam's microphone (and therefore capturing unwanted ambient sounds) then you need to set the recording source to be your sound card - NOT the webcam mic.

 

Changing capture software will not fix this problem because it won't do anything differently from FRAPS (other software might do more, but the sources of sound information will remain the same). The audio source is the issue you need to address.

 

Can you find the Audio control panel and look for the Sound Recording tab. What options do you have for source in the dropdown?

From what I remember FRAPS don't have an ability of its own to record sound but instead uses third party products to do it.

[TenEightyOne]

Ah, kk, my bad

 

In that case plugging Audacity in will give the OP a solid base to start from. The rest of my comments about duplexing and mic-sourcing still stand though! The input needs to be set to the board, NOT to the direct mic.

[Wolf68k]

I'm gonna jump in here kind of late so pardon some of these some what stupid questions....

You have video capture software, FRAPS 1.9d, and you're trying to capture video and audio while gaming or just audio?

If you are doing this for gaming, Xfire is free but you do have to sign up and along with everything else it does (IMing with friends and seeing what games they play and tracing your playtime with your games) it can also capture video including the audio...as well as a few other things.

 

Now if all you want to do is capture the audio then Audicity should do the trick just fine.

If you want to use Windows Sound Recorder and use the build in mixer like that video tried to show but is for XP and not Vista/7. Here's what you do to get to the same sort of thing and yes MS was stupid for hiding it.

Open the Sound control panel, click on Recording. In that area when you see Microphone, right-click and select "Show Disabled Devices." Depending on your sound card till depends on how it's worded on what shows up. In my case it says Sound Mixer. Right-click on that select Enable. Make sure it is selected in your recording software. Maybe even go so far as to right-click it again and select "Set as Default Device."

Once you're done recording, and if you still want to use your mic later, make sure the Mic is the default and just to be on the safe side Disable the Sound Mixer or whatever yours is called.

[fireguy109]

1. I'm trying to capture audio and video- the video part is covered, but there's no audio.

2. Xfire won't work- it's a Steam game.

3. That's what all the tutorials I've seen said to do- it doesn't work for me. I don't know if it's my sound card or what, but it never comes up.

 

EDIT: I just plugged in a microphone I bought a few years ago and it doesn't even register it. What the hell?

 

EDIT2: I'm going to try this method (last post) and see if it fixes either problem.

Edited July 17, 2011 by fireguy109

[Wolf68k]

Xfire works on Steam games. I just did one of DoD:S with no problem. I didn't try with audio but I did get it work.

Also worked with BFBC2 which isn't really a Steam/Valve game but I did buy it on Steam.

[TenEightyOne]

1. I'm trying to capture audio and video- the video part is covered, but there's no audio.

2. Xfire won't work- it's a Steam game.

3. That's what all the tutorials I've seen said to do- it doesn't work for me. I don't know if it's my sound card or what, but it never comes up.

 

EDIT: I just plugged in a microphone I bought a few years ago and it doesn't even register it. What the hell?

 

EDIT2: I'm going to try this method (last post) and see if it fixes either problem.

Can you post a screenshot of your Sound control panel?

 

Incidentally; the system 'sees' the sound ports, NOT what you have plugged into them. A microphone port is a microphone port regardless of what you attach; plugging/unplugging something won't change the status of that port in the eyes of the system.

 

The advice you linked seems to suggest what's already been suggested here; make sure your Recording Source is set correctly. If that's not possible then make sure you have up-to-date drivers.

 

Let's see the control panel, we might have a more specific idea for you then...

[fireguy109]

 

 

 

Drivers were uninstalled and reinstalled from the manufacturer's website. They are up to date.

 

The microphone port does not register whether it is active or not.

[PresidentKiller]

 

If you want to use Windows Sound Recorder and use the build in mixer like that video tried to show but is for XP and not Vista/7. Here's what you do to get to the same sort of thing and yes MS was stupid for hiding it.

Open the Sound control panel, click on Recording. In that area when you see Microphone, right-click and select "Show Disabled Devices." Depending on your sound card till depends on how it's worded on what shows up. In my case it says Sound Mixer. Right-click on that select Enable. Make sure it is selected in your recording software. Maybe even go so far as to right-click it again and select "Set as Default Device."

Once you're done recording, and if you still want to use your mic later, make sure the Mic is the default and just to be on the safe side Disable the Sound Mixer or whatever yours is called.

My GOD!

 

I've been wondering where "Stereo Mix" went after Windows XP. Sorry for the off-topicness but I just had to thank you. Really, THANK YOU!

 

Now, to answer the original question: I used to have something called "Freecorder", it does the job but it installs a nasty toolbar on IE and Firefox. I dunno if it's spyware (it wasn't detected as such) but I absolutely HATE toolbars!

Edited July 20, 2011 by PresidentKiller