Recording The Wave Out Mix in Vista

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January 15

Recording The Wave Out Mix in Vista

One of the ways I record Skype chats for podcast on XP is to set Skype to use my headset mic as the input and the PC's sound card for the output so that with Adobe Audition I can record my voice and the guest voices and separate channels. It makes it much easier for editing and cleaning up of the audio files.

Since moving one of my machines over to Vista I noticed I couldn't find a way of recording the output of the PC sound card. In XP I would enable recording of the Wave Out Mix sometimes called "Stereo Mix". This was also useful to record sounds for the machine when I am doing screen captures.

In Vista I could not find the option to turn on this Mix so I thought it may have been removed in the new Sound stack, but after some searching I found that it hadn't been removed just hidden.

To enable the Wave Out mix:

Go to the Sound item in control panel
click on the Recording tab
Right click on the background of the tab and select "Show Disabled Devices"
find the Wave Out mix item and right click on it and select Enable
It will now show up as a device channel in application like Cubase and Audition

So now you can capture audio from any program in Windows

11:32 AM | Blog it | Vista

Comments (11)

Ian Dixon has turned off comments on this page.

	miguelwrote: My sound device is realtek high defenition audio....is it good for sound mix? Mar. 17
	Rwrote: I have been using this feature included with better quality audio card drivers &/or chipsets within windows since 1995. There is no good reason to remove it other than someone might use it as a pirate technique. I, among other things, still use my PC for production of video and audio applications alike. I record a lot of local artists live and use it with that application too. Hell, software and processing power are just now getting to a point to where I could with a very reasonable amount of investment (my numerous computer systems and audio card since 1995) produce everything I ever wanted. It’s just wrong to take away a vital feature that is not Microsoft's business to summarily cut out or curtail ones ability to easily and in the same manner access a very long standing feature. This is bad design. I won't buy into that kind of architecture. My guess is that you are a casual user, "Artist" and by that I mean of personal computers and what has driven fair number of users to the platform. It is unmatched versatility of potential output if you are willing to sit on ass and learn how to use the box. Meaning things like your finances, typing chores, gaming, CNC machining;), CAD for your new addition on that charming rambler in suburbia, photo and film archiving and later on music, movies, etc. etc. etc. The potential for applications is only limited by you. That was the thought and the product for many years. Microsoft has lost sight of that, I think. Jan. 13
	Lynbob wrote: I hate Vista! but thanks to the tip about useing a double-ended mic cable between the headphone and mic worked a treat with Total Recorder. Thanks a million! Nov. 25
	Artist wrote: I was not actually wanting this for the piracy technique many wanted it for... I need it for the task of recording a song I was composing as an mp3, which I am now able to do, thanks you Nov. 14
	(no name 2) wrote: Just so it is clear--the reason you can not get a wave out on those cards in Vista is because they are purposefully preventing you from doing so. The reason these instructions are up here is because it is very unclear how to enable recording of direct wave out on cards that _do_ support it. Video cards didn't suddenly cease to support wave out once Vista launched. Microsoft doesn't want you to record audio streams. They are effectively cooperating with the recording industry to discourage theft. Sept. 22
	(no name) wrote: I have a DELL laptop with Vista home premium. It has the High Definition Sigma Tel sound card, but it does not support WAV out recording. I cannot see any Wav out or Aux entries in recording tab of control panel->sound. Any suggestions? Sept. 19
	(no name) wrote: Thanks for the tip. Saved me the time of searching for this. Aug. 7
	Great Grandma wrote: The new sound card I bought is called Sound Blaster Audigy SE. (Support for 5.1 and 7.1 Surround Speakers), 24-bit ADVANCED HD (tm) sound effects. It's an upgrade from basic motherboard audio. It works great with Vista Ultimate. I had it installed today and am very happy with the sound. Feb. 21
	Great Grandma wrote: The Wave Out Mix may not be familiar to us senior citizens new to computers. If you can't find out what "wave out mix"means, as I have had no clue being unfamiliar with how computers work, I realized that what it really meant was to make my new sound card the default and selected the name of my new sound card that I just had installed as the new default. Once I selected the name of my sound card (as the default) and clicked on the "make this the default" icon, I was able to hear my recorded lecture (as I'm a retired educator). The point was that I had to enable my new sound card as the default sound device, since the motherboard sound over-rided my new sound card--until I enabled it as the default sound device. Now I can hear my lectures. Thanks for this wonderful information that Wave Out Mix means the same as making your new sound card work as the default. Feb. 21
	John wrote: Not all sounds cards support this option. A simple double-ended mic line will also work in this case (just connect headphones to mic in). This is one example where XP was easier to use. Feb. 11
	Robwrote: I am having the same problem you were... I want to record something from an Internet radio to MP3 using Audacity. Unfortunately, when I follow your instructions, no Wave Out Mix shows up. It seems the only Disabled device was CD Player, which doesn't do what I need. Any ideas? I'm thinking it probably has to do with my sound card's driver... Jan. 31

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