Sound recording on a PC - any experts in the house?

Sound recording on a PC - any experts in the house?

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monthefish

Original Poster:

20,443 posts

232 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
quotequote all
I'm trying to record the sound output from my PC, and was thinking that, as the signal that goes to the speakers is an electical representation of the sound, and a microphone does the opposite and converts the sound into an electrical signal, is it possible to connect up the speaker output to the microphone input directly? (i.e. no speakers/microphones involved)

Is there a lead that can be bought off the shelf that does this?

Cheers all. thumbup


JustinP1

13,330 posts

231 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
quotequote all
In theory, yes, you are right!

However, an amplified speaker output will have a hugely higher signal than the amount of current produced by a microphone - as a microphone actually creates curent from the movement of the diaphragm.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-5mm-3-5-Jack-to-Jack-Cable...

That is the most likely culprit as to the connections.

However, to make it possible you would have to have the speaker output to the very lowest output possible, and even the first graduation above zero may be too high to record properly. Secondly you may have difficulties getting an application, or two applications working together to simultaneously play and record at the same time.

monthefish

Original Poster:

20,443 posts

232 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
quotequote all
Top response! thumbup

Thanks Justin.

xiphias

5,888 posts

228 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
quotequote all
You should be able to just change the recording source to the output stream, and it'll do it via software.

monthefish

Original Poster:

20,443 posts

232 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
quotequote all
xiphias said:
You should be able to just change the recording source to the output stream, and it'll do it via software.
That sounds easier - how do I do that then? ears

shadowninja

76,386 posts

283 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
quotequote all
Don't you have a "line out" from the sound card?

Muntu

7,635 posts

200 months

Saturday 16th February 2008
quotequote all
monthefish said:
xiphias said:
You should be able to just change the recording source to the output stream, and it'll do it via software.
That sounds easier - how do I do that then? ears
http://www.roemersoftware.com/free-sound-recorder.html

monthefish

Original Poster:

20,443 posts

232 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
Muntu said:
monthefish said:
xiphias said:
You should be able to just change the recording source to the output stream, and it'll do it via software.
That sounds easier - how do I do that then? ears
http://www.roemersoftware.com/free-sound-recorder.html
smile

Ta.