Windows 7 audio | Tech Support | Forums
A
A
A
Topic RSS
Offline
1
Offline
2
Offline
3
Offline
4
Offline
5
Offline
6
Offline
7
Offline
8
Offline
9
Offline
10
Offline
11
Offline
12
Offline
13
Offline
14
Offline
15
Offline
16
Offline
17
Offline
18
Offline
19
Offline
20
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
Windows 7 audio
April 8, 2010
11:33 AM
11:33 AM
Wheezer
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 786
Member Since:
May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009
Offline
0
When I record audio and then play it back, it sounds like the speakers are in a tin can or something. It sounds horrible. It's almost like the recording was made in mono instead of stereo.
CDs, DVDs, and recordings I've made on other computers all sound fine. It's the ones recorded on Windows 7 that sound bad.
I've searched the Help and Support options on the computer, as well as doing a google search and haven't found anything that worked.
I have also tried to find the equalizer in Windows 7 and Windows Media Player but can't seem to find it.
I've tried 3 different recording programs, the latest being the trial version of Acoustica 4.1. There was no difference in the sound.
The one thing that strikes me as suspect, is that in the first 2 recorders I tried (Audacity and the built in Sound Recorder in Windows 7) the only input option I am given is a microphone. No other option is given for me to choose. I seem to remember being given another option when I was running XP.
I read a bunch of stuff about codecs and other stuff, but to be honest that stuff is over my head for understanding.
Anybody got any ideas that might help me with this?
April 8, 2010
1:20 PM
1:20 PM
Pwnana
Geek
Forum Posts: 238
Member Since:
November 15, 2009
November 15, 2009
Offline
0
Well first of all, you should try some really hardcore serious software before you rule out software issues. I recommend Audition (free trial).
And what do you mean by recording? You mean from a microphone, or from the system?
You got Pwnd
April 8, 2010
3:13 PM
3:13 PM
Sandeep
AUS
Nerd
Forum Posts: 82
Member Since:
December 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
Offline
0
First of all i would suggest you to update your sound drivers. If you have Realtek then use this site and select "High Defination Audio Codecs (Software)" and download the Win 7 drivers:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/DOWNLOADS/
http://technicallyeasy.net/2009/03/fix-audiodgexe-high-cpu-usage/
Thanks.
April 9, 2010
10:36 PM
10:36 PM
Wheezer
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 786
Member Since:
May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009
Offline
0
Two of the three audio recording programs I’m using
would be called serious programs. Acoustia 4.1 is a $49 program that does about everything except wash windows and Audacity has been recommended here on dotTech for as long as this site has been around. The built in Windows Sound Recorder, well, I’m not sure how good that one is, but tried it anyway just because I could.
By recording I mean I want to be able to record sounds I find on the internet.
After trying what was suggested in the links provided and still getting the same results, out of frustration I continued to try figuring out what is going on. I stumbled across something that I’m pretty sure has a lot to do with the bad sound I’m getting.
Seems that the audio programs only recognize the built in
microphone on my laptop as an input device. When I try to choose a different device, like the sound card, I’m not offered anything except the microphone.
So it looks like I’ve got to figure out how to get the programs to turn off the microphone and take the sound that I’m hearing from the sound-card (?).
I plan to look at settings in my computer, but don’t really
know what I’m looking for. It’ll have to be a lot of looking with trial and error attempts mixed in.
Well, surprise, surprise. I'd forgotten I installed VideoCacheView. I checked it, and there was the song I'd been trying to record. It sounds perfect too. So I guess part of my problem is solved.
I still want to figure out how to record using Audacity so that sounds I want to record sound the way they should. Which means turning off the built in microphone and getting the program to record from the sound card (or where ever I can get clean sound).
April 9, 2010
10:39 PM
10:39 PM
Locutus
Guru
Forum Posts: 1886
Member Since:
February 19, 2009
February 19, 2009
Offline
0
Unfortunately most sound cards don't support recording off of the card. You could however go out and buy one of those cheap 3.5mm male-to-male audio cables and plug one end into the headphones jack and another into the mic jack.
Oh, the site that was :(
April 9, 2010
10:47 PM
10:47 PM
Wheezer
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 786
Member Since:
May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009
Offline
0
Locutus: Really? My old laptop running XP did it without any problem using Acoustica SE. I guess I thought that was normal. Darn.
Guess maybe I'll be stuck using VideoCacheView whenever possible and pick up the cable you mentioned as backup.
The song I was trying to record wasn't in video form when VideoCacheView recorded it. It's an MP3. I have VCV set to cache audio files as well as video files.
April 10, 2010
12:20 AM
12:20 AM
Locutus
Guru
Forum Posts: 1886
Member Since:
February 19, 2009
February 19, 2009
Offline
0
I did some research on that stuff a while back. That was my final verdict at the end of hours of Googling. I wish my laptop had a (better) sound card.
Oh, the site that was :(
April 10, 2010
4:50 AM
4:50 AM
Wheezer
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 786
Member Since:
May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009
Offline
0
I got an email overnight from Avanquest for a free download of their Radiotracker SE. I wonder if that would do what I want to do or if it will download only from internet radio stations, which is what I suspect.
Have you ever tried any programs like that?
The info about the program is at: http://register.avanquest.com/ABSOFT/produits/Promotion/enregistrement_presse/register_cov_gd.cfm?idcgd=421&tr1=AQ_UK_EM_PROB_77_327873&tr2=AQ_UK_EM_PROB_77_327873&META=CREATE
April 13, 2010
4:58 AM
4:58 AM
karen
Washington, DC Metro Area
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 878
Member Since:
November 1, 2009
November 1, 2009
Offline
0
Don't know if this will work on not, but GOTD has the 1AV Capture today.
April 13, 2010
11:48 AM
11:48 AM
Ashraf
Mr. Boss
Forum Posts: 1755
Member Since:
October 22, 2008
October 22, 2008
Offline
0
karen said:
Don't know if this will work on not, but GOTD has the 1AV Capture today.
1AVCapture is a really nice program. I didn't review it only because I was busy trying to fix the e-mail issue.
April 13, 2010
1:08 PM
1:08 PM
Wheezer
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 786
Member Since:
May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009
Offline
0
Thanks Karen & Ashraf.
I downloaded 1AVCapture and gave it a quick try. It didn't work. I still got the crappy sound because it recorded it from the built in mic on my laptop. Even tho I selected the option to record the sound I'm hearing.
To be fair tho, I'm going to have to look at the program a bit before I consider it a non-helpful program. It's very possible that I have to change a setting or something before it'll work right.
The other frustrating thing I've got going on is that now VideoCacheView isn't working right either. I have to reinstall it when I want it to work, otherwise it hangs up and won't do anything.
Wish I could find some "Gremlin Poison" somewhere that I could sprinkle on my computer and make these problems go away… 
April 13, 2010
9:49 PM
9:49 PM
yourpalal
Inner Peace
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 647
Member Since:
August 21, 2009
August 21, 2009
Offline
0
"Gremlin Poison"
Hmmmm. Sounds scary!
Life is just a phase you're going through…you'll get over it.
May 1, 2010
7:27 AM
7:27 AM
chinaguy
Nerd
Forum Posts: 83
Member Since:
October 29, 2009
October 29, 2009
Offline
0
Wheezer said:
Two of the three audio recording programs I’m using
would be called serious programs. Acoustia 4.1 is a $49 program that does about everything except wash windows and Audacity has been recommended here on dotTech for as long as this site has been around. The built in Windows Sound Recorder, well, I’m not sure how good that one is, but tried it anyway just because I could.
By recording I mean I want to be able to record sounds I find on the internet.
After trying what was suggested in the links provided and still getting the same results, out of frustration I continued to try figuring out what is going on. I stumbled across something that I’m pretty sure has a lot to do with the bad sound I’m getting.
Seems that the audio programs only recognize the built in
microphone on my laptop as an input device. When I try to choose a different device, like the sound card, I’m not offered anything except the microphone.
So it looks like I’ve got to figure out how to get the programs to turn off the microphone and take the sound that I’m hearing from the sound-card (?).
I plan to look at settings in my computer, but don’t really
know what I’m looking for. It’ll have to be a lot of looking with trial and error attempts mixed in.
Well, surprise, surprise. I'd forgotten I installed VideoCacheView. I checked it, and there was the song I'd been trying to record. It sounds perfect too. So I guess part of my problem is solved.
I still want to figure out how to record using Audacity so that sounds I want to record sound the way they should. Which means turning off the built in microphone and getting the program to record from the sound card (or where ever I can get clean sound).
When you go to the audio properties somewhere, I think when you right click on the area with the devices that are listed, there is an option to show the devices which are disabled. Try checking that option and any other options which are on the computer but just not enabled will also show up. You should then be able to enable grabbing the audio from the sound card if your sound card and driver support that. I would tell you for sure where the option to show the disabled devices is but I will not be able to use my computer for about 10 hours or so. When I can I will check the location of the option. I do know that it is off by default. But even if you find this option no guarantees that it will get it working. I had a problem with the sound on my laptop with win 7 as well otherwise I wouldn't know about that option. Anyway try allowing it to show the disabled devices as well and see if your sound card supports grabbing the audio off it. If it does great, if not then will need to find another solution.
May 3, 2010
12:24 AM
12:24 AM
chinaguy
Nerd
Forum Posts: 83
Member Since:
October 29, 2009
October 29, 2009
Offline
0
So now I am on my Win 7 computer and I was correct about how to show the disabled devices. Go to sound in Control Panel then the recording tab and right click. One of the options is to show disabled devices click that and you can see if your sound card supports grabbing the audio. Tell us if this works for you in case others need to use the method.
Edit: for what it is worth I just tried to see if my cound card would support grabbing the audio and it seemed to. I got everything exactly as I heard it. I used the built in windows sound recorder. I first set the device under my recording devices shown as stereo mixer as the default device and then began recording and it worked perfectly with crystal clear sound. That is nice for me to know for the future in case I need it. By the way what laptop are you using?
May 3, 2010
12:54 AM
12:54 AM
Wheezer
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 786
Member Since:
May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009
Offline
0
Chinaguy: I tried your instructions. Under the recording tab I don't have an option to show disabled devices.
That makes me suspect that my sound card doesn't support recording from it after all.
A question that popped into my head is what version of Windows 7 are you using? I have Home Premium. I'm thinking maybe there's something about Home Premium that stops it from being an option, like the compatability thing where you have to have a higher version to be able to use it.
And before I forget, thank you for helping with this!
May 3, 2010
1:54 AM
1:54 AM
chinaguy
Nerd
Forum Posts: 83
Member Since:
October 29, 2009
October 29, 2009
Offline
0
I have Professional. But did you try right clicking in the area that lists the devices or did you just see if there was an option under it? I am fairly certain that this option is available no matter what version of Windows you are using. But in order to see if you have this option you need to right click in the area which lists the recording devices, you can also right click on any of the devices and it will show this option in the context menu. Could you tell me what options it shows for you in the context menu when you right click the area that has the devices? If I have time I will also check for you on the windows website to see if that is a difference between home and professional but I do not think it is. It seems like it should be a basic thing which they include in all versions. Otherwise how will you enable any devices simply that are disabled? I looked in my device manager and it did not seem to have any option that included recording devices.
May 3, 2010
2:00 AM
2:00 AM
Locutus
Guru
Forum Posts: 1886
Member Since:
February 19, 2009
February 19, 2009
Offline
0
I just checked it out. I went to Sound in the control panel, selected the Recording tab, right clicked in the giant space that showed three microphones (Microphone line in, Microphone that's built in, and line in), and selected Show Disabled Devices. Unfortuantely, there was nothing there.
Windows 7 Home Premium.
Oh, the site that was :(
May 3, 2010
2:05 AM
2:05 AM
chinaguy
Nerd
Forum Posts: 83
Member Since:
October 29, 2009
October 29, 2009
Offline
0
Try disabling one of the devices and see if there is any difference between the two views. I think there should be. Also what version of Windows are you using. If you are using Home Premium that confirms that Wheezer should also have that option.
May 3, 2010
2:35 AM
2:35 AM
Locutus
Guru
Forum Posts: 1886
Member Since:
February 19, 2009
February 19, 2009
Offline
0
As stated above, I use Home Premium. When I disabled Line In, it disappeared from the list. When I right clicked and viewed the disabled ones, it appeared as disabled. I reenabled it.
Oh, the site that was :(
May 3, 2010
4:09 AM
4:09 AM
Adrian
dotTechie
Forum Posts: 546
Member Since:
September 21, 2009
September 21, 2009
Offline
0
Could Try SoundTap by NCH, an Australian company
http://www.nch.com.au/soundtap/index.html
(Click "Get it Now" for free version)
I tested it, worked great on my XP laptop and Vista home machine.
Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Most Users Ever Online: 253
Currently Online:
31 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
phoenix_rising: 899
karen: 878
Wheezer: 786
yourpalal: 647
PCbasics: 612
ebony: 548
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 9
Members: 7523
Moderators: 0
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 3
Forums: 17
Topics: 2192
Posts: 15804
Newest Members: ahmed atia, Ubuntu60, Shyam, nitsujpox, cayci, friedris
Administrators: Ashraf (1741), Locutus (1886), amnesia (270)
