Using Audacity and similar software on the lab PCs will not work unless you follow these directions:
- Close out any programs that would make use of audio input such as Audacity.
- Make sure the headset microphone plug is in the proper input plug on the PC - even if you will not be using the headset.
- Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Sound
- In the popup, click the "Recording" tab. In the blank area, right-click and choose "Show Disabled Devices".
- "Stereo Mix" should appear. Right-click and choose "Enable". Optionally, you can choose "Set as Default Device" to have it instead of microphone or line-in input.
- Next, Still in the "Recording" tab, right-click on "Stereo Mix."
- In "Properties," go to the "Levels" tab and adjust the slider(s) to the right.
- Now you can start Audacity. Set the tab below the mic symbol to "MME" and the next tab to "Stereo Mix (Realtek ...)"
- If that fails, or you are confused, navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Devices and set the entries there.
- All that remains is to press "Record," start your sound/music, and stop recording as you like. You may need to adjust the levels set above to produce good signal-to-noise (S/N).