Here are two pieces of software that promise to solve the “missing” “Stereo MIX” or “Waht U Hear” in recording tab of Audio – Sound settings properties in Windows. I used for recording the output of what is being reproduced on PC, in WIn98 and WinXP. While I was using older sound cards.
Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) is an audio bridge between applications that transmits sounds (audio streams) from app to app, from device to device.
Virtual Audio Cable (VAC)
VB-CABLE is a virtual audio device working as virtual audio cable. All audio coming in the CABLE input is simply forwarded to the CABLE output.
VB-CABLE Virtual Audio Device
Now! I have not tested any of them myself but it looks promising.
My first concern is it a security risk. But again for Windows 10 we have a resident anti malware Windows “Defender” deleting and blocking blacklisted software on it’s own. So, one concern less.
Only thing I can think of is the question of performance.
In the end
I did look into the solutions mentioned above. Without installing them, I decided on the contents, descriptions and licences on the websites not to use any and go another route for my problem.
I’ll try audio driver from manufacturer of the hardware I’m using.
I decided to go away from Microsoft audio driver and installed Realtek audio driver. And it turned out that that driver enables “Stereo Mix” in as a recording source.
I need this functionality to run audio visualisation through WinAmps Advanced Visualisation Studio. And using “Line Input” plug that will use Stereo MIX as source of audio signal that I want to have visualized.
As that is the way I can get real time interactive content for my video production from all audio sources coming into mix and being monitored.
Another, maybe the most important feature enabled by driver is ability to playback line in and microphone directly to output for the same audio hardware. That is reproduced without a lag as it is preformed inside same hardware.
While Windows still provides audio signal routing with “Listen” functionality in the sound settings.
As I was going through setup of audio system for recoding, playback for use with OBS and just the every day multimedia usage I changed more than few times between Microsoft and Realtek drivers. And switched connection for front panel to HD Audio connection. With also BIOS (UEFI) settings for HD Audio front panel enabled. The Realtek audio driver makes more sense now. As it provides properly mapped volume controls to actual front and back panel connections for inputs and outputs.
And, still the sound quality tends to be noisy for analogue inputs. Sometimes it is not quite clear why some combinations of input connectors don’t work as expected. Like rear line in and rear mic are not operating independently. Is it limitation of hardware or just unfinished drivers. Where, with Realtek drivers at least the real time direct to outputs playback of inputs (line ins and mics) work as expected.
In my case I’m running still ASUS H81M-K motherboard.
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