How to enable Wave Out recording in Vista

Filed under: Audio, Windows, Microsoft, How-Tos

How to enable Wave Out recording in Vista

by Brad Linder Jan 15th 2007

If you've ever tried to record streaming audio in Windows, like a Skype call or a webcast, you may be aware of a simple setting that allows you to record any sound playing through your computer's sound card. All you have to do is:

Select your sound properties through the control panel or the sound icon in your system tray.
Click on the properties tab.
Check the recording box.
Make sure Wave Out Mix is selected (It's sometimes called stereo mix, or mono mix).
Now you should be able to set Wave Out as your default for recordings made by Audacity or other audio recording programs.

But, if you try the same trick with Windows Vista, you won't see an option for Wave Out Mix. It's not that the option's been left out of Vista, Microsoft just decided to hide it. Media Center Show podcast producer Ian Dixon has the instructions for enabling Wave Out recording:

Select sound from the control panel.
Select the recording tab.
Right click on the background of the tab and choose "show disabled devices."
Right click on Wave Out Mix and click enable.
Now it should work the same way as Wave Out Mix in Windows XP, allowing you to record any sound your computer makes.

Tags: recording, sound

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Koen said 9:32AM on 1-23-2007

I did the trick, but the only thing I get to see is "Microphone" and "CD audio" nothing with wave or something.. Too bad because in XP I could record my PC sound directly, in Vista not..

John said 11:07PM on 1-26-2007

This recommendation depends upon the sound card and will vary. A double-ended headphone jack can be used to connect analog line out (headphones) to line in (microphone) will enable you to record anything. It ain't elegant but it works.

Stuart Symonds said 1:26PM on 2-20-2007

I would like to configure the Line-in on my PC that is connected to a sat receiver as a pass-through. Essentially I would like to be able un-mute the Line-in so the sound can be heard on my Hi-Fi that is connect to my PC via SPDIF. The level indicator for the line in is active so sound is getting to my PC. I thought this blog would be usefull but I'm still unable to find a solution, any ideas would be appreciated.

charliestumpy said 9:29AM on 2-23-2007

Many thanks for enlightening me/others about Vista 'hidden' sound-recording facility!!!!

At the end of the following 'summary' is a very pertinent VISTA thing about e.g. YouTube-Flash ...

MS VISTA RECORDING SECRET NOW REVEALED!

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/01/15/how-to-enable-wave-out-recording-in-vista/

has info to go into Control Panel – Select Sound thing – Select Recording, and even if says ‘none’, Right-click on background of tab window-thing – select Show Disabled Device(s), then Right-click on Wave Out Mix ans select Enable …

RECORD into e.g. Audacity/CDEX etc/edit ….

or

1 Plug in 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo line out/line in (with headphones output adaptor for monitoring) stereo jack - TURN VOLUME UP TO AT LEAST 50%.
2 Record using CDEX analogue in - save as WAV to .... (Documents/Received)
3 Open Audacity - Open WAV file above ...
4 Edit-normalise ...
5 Export as WAV.
6 In CDEX, convert WAV to e.g. 320 mp3.
7 This file will be in e.g. MUSIC in MP3 folder.

This is for e.g. internet streaming recording.
For external e.g. TV-radio/tape, use line in from e.g. amplifier instead of 'out/in' adaptor lead combo.

There appears to be a problem with Adobe Flash Player and Vista where web sites will not play Flash related content, even if you follow the link provided and install the player and it said that it was installed.

Navigate to:

C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash

Then right clicked over both 'Flash9b.ocx' and 'FlashUtil9b.exe', and chose properties.

In properties choose the 'security' tab > Click on the 'everyone' account, and the button called 'edit' and then tick the box called 'allow full control' and also choose your own Windows local account name.

Once you have done this for both files run the FlashUtil9b.exe and it should install and update and tell you to restart. Do so and you should find that YouTube and other sites that use flash now work.
http://thevistaforums.com/index.php?act=Search&CODE=simpleresults&sid=0050810ad39777a8d4ec7853d8586782&highlite=youtube

Izlude said 8:23AM on 3-18-2007

now I can finally dump xp! this was the ONLY thing that held me back from a full format to vista. Thank you!

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