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Recording audio made difficult
One of those little useful tips of Windows is that telling an audio recorder like Audacity to use the Stereo Mix from Windows as a recording source is a good way to record internet radio or other content that is not keen on being recorded.
Wildthing on the forum was trying to do this with Audacity in Vista but was unable to select the Stereo Mix in Audacity. We have already noticed that the drop down menu in Audacity used to select the audio source is not working anymore and there was no Stereo Mix option in the devices menu in Properties (press Ctrl and P together).
It turns out that Microsoft decided to disable the stereo out recording option, and then hide all the disabled recording options. Thankfully, it is possible to first show all the devices and then enable the Stereo mix for use with Audacity .
Click on Continue Reading for full instructions
How to enable stereo mix recording in Windows Vista
Click on the Start button and then on Control Panel. Select Classic View (this is partly personal but it is SO much easier to use) and then double-click on Sound. Left-click on the Recording tab and then right-click on an empty part of the window to see the menu as below.
Click on Disable devices to show the other devices on the computer. Right-click on Stereo Mix and then select Enable.
You may want to set this as the default device at this point. Left-click on the device and then click on the Set default button. Click on OK to close the window and save the settings. I had to restart my computer before Audacity was able to record from this device.
I am struggling with using stereo mix under Windows Vista. I have read advice on how to do it, but when I right-click on recording and choose disabled devices, nothing else shows.
I am using Vista Home Basic which came pre-installed on a Dell Inspiron 1501.
posted-by Karl Dallas | May 15, 2007 4:28 PM
I've read many forums and websites saying to do the same thing, but it would appear that the SigmaTel High Definition Audio doesnt support this ability. Most of the images I have seen show that the user has RealTek which I had on my previous box.
I'm using Windows Vista Premium which was pre-installed by Dell on the Dimension DIME521. I doubt the Vista package has anything to do with that feature.
Thanks for a good article anyways. I'll have to go and see about a new sound card. :D
posted-by Joey Burrous | May 20, 2007 9:50 AM
I have a Creative X-Fi Extreme Audio and I do not have Stereo Mix in Vista Ultimate x32.
posted-by Michael Denney | June 26, 2007 8:35 PM
i got toshiba satallite a200
unlucky i cant record too
posted-by Ryan | August 15, 2007 3:38 PM
This is crazy!!!
I did the steps showing above but still there are things that are missing. When I click on "Sound" it shows only Microphone and under it shows waveOut mix. There are no Line Volume, No CD Volume, and no Stereo Mix. What can I do?
posted-by Rose | August 24, 2007 8:14 AM
Thanks so much, I was about to return my hp tx1000, until I ran across this. Thank you thank you....
posted-by Cyn | August 27, 2007 7:39 PM
I've got a packardbell imedia 2489 the above advice worked for me but i have noted that vista dosn't see/make available the mic or line inputs untill you phisicaly plug a mic or line in.
posted-by G procter | September 14, 2007 9:28 AM
many thanks for this
it was very useful
would seem all new packardbell machines have this feature
why disable? how odd
posted-by steve | December 29, 2007 11:17 AM
Its a Vista "feature". I imagine that its part of Microsoft's ever-tightening hold on the media industry. Along with the RIAA and the MPAA
posted-by Aatch | October 26, 2008 4:30 AM
i have compaq presario c797ee
i tried to show inactive devices but not found.
i updated it but not found also what can i do?
posted-by ayman | November 24, 2008 4:53 PM
Download Virtual Audio Cable... should fix the problem...
posted-by Jake | January 11, 2009 5:56 AM
Oh yes! thank you very much, I was about to give up trying the beta version of Windows 7 but this trick works on this OS too, now I can record from the stereo mix and gotta admit that it works great!
Thank you very much for this solution :)
posted-by Daniel | January 29, 2009 8:56 AM
I don't have stereo mix under that at all. I have looked EVERYWHERE for it and I just plain don't have it. How can i get it??? PLEASE HELP ME!!! I REALLY NEEED IT!!!
posted-by Hannah | April 10, 2009 4:29 PM
hi good morning
I don't have stereo mix i have try the speaker i click the disable mark nothing happen any one can help where can i find the stereo mix thanks
posted-by oz | May 4, 2009 11:24 AM
If someone can't find the stereo mix anywhere after following the instructions in this article AND has a RealTek on-board soundcard, go to the RealTek site and download the latest drivers. Don't try to update the drivers via Vista (device manager, whatever) because after checking for drivers it will probably tell you that you have the latest drivers already. Don't believe it because you can get newer drivers. (This by the way is what happened to me after having to reinstall Vista. I never had any missing stereo mixer issues on my original Vista install.) So just download the RealTek drivers from the RealTek site, install and follow the instructions, and after a restart you'll find the stereo mix option.
posted-by oneone | June 24, 2009 9:38 PM