How to record audio from PC

What are you doing in that strange position? And why are you keeping a microphone attached to the PC speakers? No, don’t tell me that’s what I think … that in this way you are trying to record the songs transmitted by an online radio: the result would be of very poor quality, let’s say almost unlistenable and full of annoying background noises.

If you want to record the songs transmitted by online radios, as well as any other sound played by the computer, you have to rely on serious solutions, special software for Windows, macOS and Linux. How do you say? Not being well versed in IT and new technologies, you don’t have the slightest idea of ​​what resources to use and, even more, how to use them? Well, if you want, I can explain everything to you.

So give me a few minutes of your precious time and I’ll show you, in a simple but at the same time detailed way, how to record audio from a PC using some of the best solutions available at the moment. I wish you a good read and, above all, a lot of fun!

Index

• How to record audio from PC: Windows 10
  • How to set up record audio from PC
  • How to record audio from PC with Audacity
  • Other solutions to record audio from PC
• How to record audio from Mac
  • How to record audio from Mac with Quick Time Player
  • Other solutions to record audio from Mac
• How to record audio from PC online
  • How to record audio from PC online with Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder
  • Other solutions to record audio from PC online
• How to record audio and video from PC
• How to record audio from mixer to PC

How to record audio from PC: Windows 10

If you are looking for instructions on how to record audio from a PC on Windows 10 (or even on later or previous versions of the operating system, since many of the procedures I am about to illustrate are also valid for the latter), in the next paragraphs you will find all the information you need.

How to set up record audio from PC

Before proceeding with recording, it is always a good idea to check that the connections of any external devices that have the function of reproducing or acquiring the audio to be recorded on the PC have been made regularly and that the audio settings are correct. It is essential, in fact, to learn how to set up audio recording from a PC before being able to move on to the actual acquisition phase.

If, for example, you have connected an external microphone, a mixer or an instrument such as a guitar, make sure that they are properly connected to the sound card that will take care of acquiring the sounds in the computer.

You can easily check everything by accessing the PC audio settings: locate the relative icon, immediately recognizable by the speaker symbol on the taskbar (bottom right) and click on it with the right mouse button. Next, click on the Open audio settings item from the context menu that appears.

In the screen that is proposed to you, therefore, first of all make sure that the selected input device corresponds to the one you intend to use to record. If it is a microphone, you can also test its operation using the appropriate functionality there. Is something not working as it should? In this case you can resort to various solutions, which I provide ample description in this guide.

If you need to record the internal audio of the computer, you should know that it is possible to rely on a tool integrated in Windows 10 (but also on other versions of the Microsoft operating system): this is the stereo mixing option, which by default it is disabled, but it can be activated with a few simple steps.

To proceed in this sense, just press the word Manage audio devices in the Audio Settings screen: in the next window, under the Input Devices section, you will also find the Stereo Mix option: all you have to do is click on it, then press the Enable button, and the functionality in question will be made available immediately.

This simple operation, in essence, will allow you to make visible and select the Stereo Mix source within the settings of any audio recording program: in this way it will be possible to redirect the digital audio stream in output (output) towards the input (input ) of the software component in question.

How do you say? Didn’t find the “Stereo Mix” option among the input devices? In this case there may be a problem with the sound card which, in most cases, can be fixed with a driver update. If that didn’t work either, I recommend that you check the device specifications to make sure it supports the feature in question. Do not worry, however, in the next paragraphs you will find alternative solutions that are equally valid and effective.

How to record audio from PC with Audacity

One of the best resources I recommend you check out is definitely Audacity. It is a very popular audio recording and editing software and, not negligible fact, also free and open-source, compatible with all the most popular versions of Windows, but also with macOS and Linux. Furthermore, it is not absolutely difficult to understand how to record PC audio with Audacity thanks to the simplicity of its interface and the presence of an additional loopback feature which, in essence, also allows software redirection of the audio output inwards. .

First you will need to download the program on your computer, by connecting to the main page of Audacity, by first clicking on the Download Audacity button, then by pressing the item relating to your operating system and, finally, by pressing on the first link in the list in the new page that is shown to you.

Next, open the audacity [version] .exe file you just downloaded, then click on the Yes option and then on the OK button to confirm the use of the Italian language (or another language of your choice). Then press the Next button for four consecutive times, then click on the Install item and, to conclude, press the Next and Finish buttons once again.

Once Audacity has started, in the main program screen click on the drop-down menu to the right of the microphone icon, at the bottom of the toolbar, to select the sound source to record (for example the microphone ).

If, on the other hand, you want to record the internal audio of the PC, select the Windows WASAPI (acronym for Windows Audio Sessions API) option in the drop-down menu to the left of the microphone symbol. Then, act in the same way on the menu illustrated above, relating to the audio source: for this specific use, the selected element must be characterized by the presence of the word loopback.

Alternatively, if something does not work in this mode, you can select MIME as the audio system and Stereo Mix as the Input device, as long as you have previously activated the functionality in question by following the instructions provided in the dedicated chapter.

Now all you have to do is press the record button (the red dot) and start playback from the sound source: you will notice that the sound waves coming from the audio source will be impressed on the central screen of Audacity in correspondence with the progress of the position bar, to demonstrate the successful outcome of the operation. Once registration is complete press the square button to stop, so you can listen to the whole thing by clicking on the button ▶ ︎.

To proceed with exporting the file, simply press the File> Export button and select the format you prefer from those proposed from the following menu. In the next screen you can indicate the destination folder in the Save in field and press the Save button to complete the procedure. For more details on how to use Audacity, read my program guide.

Other solutions to record audio from PC

Did the software mentioned above not completely convince you and would you like to test other solutions to record audio from PC? No problem, I have prepared for you a list of valid alternatives which, from tests carried out personally, perfectly fulfill this need.

• Ashampoo Audio Recorder Free– it is a free and particularly easy to use audio recording software: it also allows you to select, as for Audacity, both the microphone and the Wasapi or Stereo Mix audio systems for recording the internal audio of the PC.
• MooO Voice Recorder– this is another great resource you can turn to for recording audio from your PC and which, in my humble opinion, you should try at least once. The program is freeware and you can also use it to record your voice into the microphone, stream Internet radio or, for example, voice calls made via VoIP services.
• Screwlab– this software allows you to record PC audio while keeping its original quality intact and offers various options for audio adjustment. It is paid but can be tried for free for 14 days in all its features with a maximum registration limit of 30 seconds.

How to record audio from Mac

If you are looking for the right information on how to record audio from Mac, you can rest assured that in the next paragraphs you will find everything you need to do this in the best possible way. In fact, you can refer to a detailed explanation of the most effective solutions available on your Apple computer to record an external sound source through, for example, the integrated microphone, or even the audio reproduced internally in the device.

Even in this case, however, it is advisable to first check the connections of any external audio devices and check that the audio settings of the computer correspond to the management of the audio stream you intend to implement. To do this, click on the menu with the apple symbol, at the top left of the menu bar, then click on the System Preferences option. On the next screen, press the Sound icon, then click on the Output and Input tabs to make sure that the respective devices set are correct.

I must warn you, however, that by default macOS does not allow you to record the internal audio of the computer: if you have this specific need, in fact, you will have to refer to specific dedicated software. Nothing particularly complex, however, and you can always count on me even in this circumstance: in fact, I have created a tutorial in which I will explain step by step how to install and configure them properly.

How to record audio from Mac with Quick Time Player

To make simple audio recordings, for which you do not consider it necessary to perform any type of editing, you can use QuickTime Player: it is a software integrated in macOS operating systems that can capture audio from the microphone or from any audio input device. connected to the computer.

Moreover, it is really very intuitive to use: I am sure you will not find any difficulty in learning how to record audio from Mac with Quick Time Player by following the few simple steps that I am about to show you.

First of all, then, press on the Launchpad symbol (the nine colored squares) in the Dock bar and click on the icon of the program in question (a Q on a black background), to start it: if you do not identify it immediately you can use the field search located at the top. Alternatively, you can easily find it also by pressing on the Finder function (the smiling face icon always located in the Dock bar) by selecting the Applications folder.

Once the software is started, press the right mouse button on its icon, which is now shown in the section of active applications to the right of the Dock bar and press on the New audio recording option of the menu that is proposed to you.

At this point, click on the down arrow located next to the central recording button and select the device from which you want to capture audio from the context menu (for example the internal microphone or sound card). Press the button with the red circle to start recording and start the playback of the audio source.

When the operation is completed click on the square Stop button, go to the File menu in the upper left part of the screen, then click on the Export option and select the Audio Only option. Then indicate the folder in which to save your recording using the drop-down menu next to the word Located in and possibly give a name to the file by typing it in the Export As field, then press the Save button to complete the export.

Other solutions to record audio from Mac

How do you say? Are you looking for other solutions to record audio from Mac, more advanced, functional and able to better meet your needs? Do not worry, I am sure that in the next paragraphs you will find what you need.

In the chapter dedicated to Windows PC solutions I have extensively described a software that I consider particularly valid for this occurrence, namely Audacity. The latter, however, is also compatible with Apple computers, and is just as simple to install.

Once the program has been started, before starting to use it, select the audio source via the drop-down menu to the right of the microphone symbol. Afterwards, you can press the button with the red circle to start the recording which, therefore, you can stop at any time by pressing the square Stop button.

If, during the use, you found this program particularly interesting and you think that it perfectly meets your needs, I have created a guide specifically to deepen the operation of Audacity, with a detailed description of all its most salient features.

How to record audio from PC online

Would you like to avoid complex installation and configuration procedures, which are not right for you and would you like to be able to use a resource on the Internet that can perform this function in a simple and intuitive way? I have wonderful news for you: the Net, in fact, offers several very valid and efficient tools.

In the next paragraphs, therefore, you will be able to understand how to record audio from a PC online, taking advantage of some solutions that I have selected especially for you. In many cases, these are services that, in order to function correctly, require the installation of a launcher, a simple application without which it would not be possible to communicate the sound card with the recording system provided by external servers.

How to record audio from PC online with Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder

The first solution I would like to offer you consists of an online service, called Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder, usable at no cost, which allows you to acquire audio from any operating system directly from the browser window and to save everything in various formats. I inform you, however, that to use this resource it is essential to download a simple launcher, but it is an easy operation that you can complete with a few clicks. Anyway, I’ll show you in detail how to do it shortly.

To understand how to record audio from a PC online with Apowersoft Free online Audio Recorder, you must first connect to the home page of the service, then click on the Start Recording button located in the center of the screen.

Next, it is essential to download the application I mentioned earlier by pressing the Download Launcher button that appears on the screen. If you have a Windows PC, then, click on the apowersoft-online-launcher.exe file you just downloaded, then press the Yes button and then click on the Install now button.

If you have a Mac, on the other hand, click on the pkg package, then press the Continue button twice and then on the Install button (by entering the system password in the next step). At the end press twice on the Yes button to allow recognition of the sound card.

Following the installation, the launcher interface will be opened at the same time, so you will have to press on the speaker symbol, at the bottom left, to select the audio source and then press on the red circle in the center of the window to start the registration. If you need to pause the recording, press the appropriate button with two lines in the center of the screen; to take it back, he always presses on the latter.

When you deem it appropriate, you can stop recording by clicking on the Stop button (the red square) located at the bottom. You will then be able to access the recording made by clicking on the button with the symbol of the list at the bottom right, selecting the reference track. To listen to it, press the ▶ ︎ button, to view the location in which it has been saved, instead, press the button with the folder symbol at the bottom of the screen.

Other solutions to record audio from PC online

If the resource exposed in the previous chapter did not satisfy you, fear not, there are many other solutions to record audio from PC online, all just as simple to use.

• BDMaster Free Online Audio Recorder– free online service that requires the installation of a launcher in order to work: in this way, you will have the possibility to select and adjust the audio settings useful for managing the sound source you want to record on your computer.
• Online Audio Recorder– this convenient tool allows, with a few simple commands, to record audio for free from the PC via the microphone: just allow the system to access the device by clicking on the Allow item in the pop-up that appears when start capturing audio.
• Aiseesoft– this free solution made available by Aiseesoft proves to be particularly simple and intuitive and allows you to record audio in high quality which, however, can only be saved in MP3 It also does not have any editing tools.

How to record audio and video from PC

How do you say? Are you looking for a guide that illustrates how to record audio and video from a PC and that is not limited to the acquisition of the sound source alone? No problem, I proceeded to create a tutorial in which I explain in detail the procedures you need, with different solutions for both Windows PC and Mac.

How to record audio from mixer to PC

Your need, in reality, is a little different from those addressed in this article: in particular, in fact, you are trying to realize how to record audio from mixer to PC. Well, I have the solution ready also for this occurrence: just read the instructions contained in this guide to be able to connect the mixer, digital or analog, to your computer.