Unlock the Secrets: Effortlessly Capture PC Audio Without Stereo Mix

Key Takeaways

To improve the recording process, make sure that either "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear" is enabled in the Sounds window. Next, open your recording application and choose "What U Hear" or "Stereo Mix" as the source. If your device lacks Stereo Mix, you can utilize Windows WASAPI to capture your computer's audio in an application such as Audacity.

Record Audio from Computer with Stereo Mix or What U Hear

Stereo Mix, also known as "What U Hear," is a specialized recording feature that may be available through your sound drivers. If it is supported by your drivers, you have the option to choose Stereo Mix as the input source for recording instead of using a microphone or audio line-in. This allows you to capture the audio output from your computer's speakers or headphones in any application.

By default, modern versions of Windows typically have Stereo Mix disabled, even if your sound drivers support it. However, you can reenable this audio source on Windows. Once Stereo Mix is enabled, you can use any audio-recording software and simply select "Stereo Mix" as the input device, rather than the usual "line-in" or "microphone" option.

This option may not be available on certain devices, and even if it is, enabling it might require the use of alternative audio drivers. However, not all sound hardware supports Stereo Mix, and unfortunately, it has become increasingly uncommon.

Use Audacity's WASAPI Loopback to Record Computer Audio

If you don't have the Stereo Mix option, don't worry. Audacity offers a convenient alternative to record audio from your computer, even without Stereo Mix. In fact, Audacity's feature may even surpass Stereo Mix in quality, as long as you are open to using Audacity for recording. This method utilizes the Windows Audio Session API (WASAPI), which Microsoft introduced in Windows Vista. The WASAPI feature is also compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11, compensating for the absence of the Stereo Mix option on modern Windows PCs.

To access this feature in Audacity, simply select the "Windows WASAPI" audio host.

Then choose an appropriate loopback device, such as "Speakers (loopback)" or "Headphones (loopback)."

Press the Record button in Audacity to commence the audio recording, and press Stop when finished. With the utilization of Audacity, you can conveniently trim and edit the sound file after completion.

If the above method does not work, you may also need to adjust the number of recording channels to match your device. To do this, use the dropdown box located to the right of the device selection box. For instance, if you have a 7.1 channel headset, select "8."

Audacity's tutorial website provides an explanation on why this feature offers superior functionality compared to Stereo Mix.

Audacity's WASAPI loopback option offers a significant advantage over stereo mix or other audio interface inputs. This is because the capture process is fully digital, eliminating the need for conversion from analog to digital during playback, resulting in a higher-quality recorded sound file.

Record Audio with Open Broadcast Software

OBS, also known as Open Broadcast Software, is widely used by Twitch or Youtube streamers due to its popularity. However, it offers more than just streaming capabilities; it is also an excellent tool for recording screens or audio. By default, OBS records both video and audio, resulting in files in MP4 or MKV formats instead of solely audio files. Thankfully, converting a video file to an audio-only format can be easily done using VLC.

This is the main OBS window when you first launch the program. Note that the "Audio Mixer" section at the bottom of the window has a "Desktop Audio" input.

Make sure to lower the microphone audio volume completely if you have it connected to your system, to avoid the need for later separation of audio tracks. The sound icon will turn a vibrant red and display an "X" symbol indicating that it is muted.

Click on the "Start Recording" button to begin capturing the audio output of your system. Once you have finished, click on the "Stop Recording" button, which will replace the "Start Recording" button. The resulting file will be saved to the "C:\Users\(YourUserName)\Videos" directory as default.

If you want to convert the file into an audio-only format, like MP3, you can do it with VLC.

Record Sound with the Xbox Game Bar

To capture audio from a specific application using the Xbox Game Bar, follow these steps:

1. Open the Game Bar by pressing Windows + G.

2. Click on the Audio button at the top to access the audio mixer settings.

If you are aware of the specific application you wish to record audio from, you have the flexibility to adjust the volume settings individually for each app. This feature proves to be exceptionally convenient. Additionally, in the "Voice" tab, you also have the option to completely mute your microphone. Once you have configured your audio preferences to your liking, simply click on the Record button located in the capture Window.

After creating your recording, the video file can be located in the default directory "C:\Users\(USERNAME)\Videos\Captures". Similar to OBS, you will require a software like VLC to transform the video file into an audio-only format.

Record Sound with an Audio Cable

In case none of the first three options are suitable for your requirements, there is an alternative low-tech solution – albeit somewhat imperfect. Simply acquire an audio cable with male 3.5mm connectors on both ends. Insert one end into the line-out (or headphone) jack on your PC, and the other end into the line-in (or microphone) jack. This will result in the audio produced by your computer no longer being audible, but you can leverage any audio-recording software to capture the "line in" or "microphone" input. To actually listen to the sound, you could obtain a splitter to redirect the audio simultaneously to headphones or speakers while directing it back into your computer.

Certainly, this option may seem inconvenient and impractical when compared to the software alternatives we discussed earlier. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you urgently need to record the audio from your computer using an application other than Audacity or OBS, and you do not have access to Stereo Mix, the cable method provides a solution.

It is important to note that distributing any recordings made using this method may potentially violate copyright laws. Therefore, it is essential to avoid using these techniques for piracy purposes.