Recording internal audio

[k1-uk-global]

Hi guys,

I'd like to record the audio in ableton from applications such as chrome or firefox, for example when I hear a great sound I'd like to sample on YouTube.

I have an audio setup at home using an audio interface, so I plug a cable from my computer headphone jack into my interface, and that works fine. However, I also have ableton on my travel laptop and I'd like to use a simple setup, i.e. no audio interface, just the on-board audio.

I've tried to run a cable from the headphone output to the line-in input, but for some reason there is no sound from it, even when I disconnect the cable from the headphone plug (and audio plays again from the speakers) and tap the end of the jack (and a tapping is recorded in the input). I assume there's a mac safety feature that stops people like me from short-circuiting the system like this.

Anyone have a great idea about how to route the audio straight into ableton from external applications? And yes, I do understand that there will be an issue of where ableton's output, being played out of the headphone jack, would return back into the input... any ideas about how to prevent that would be great too!!

Thanks everyone
k1

[Slightlydelic]

software exists for recording "what you hear" on your computer.

software also exists for downloading videos from youtube which can be dropped strait into ableton.

[ltackett]

I use WireTap. I think it's perfect for the kind of use you describe. I use it for sampling things I find online (YouTube, etc.), as well as a way to capture Ableton performances that are not otherwise able to be captured internally (live looping, for example). http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/wiretap/

I believe you can also use SoundFlower. This might enable the "direct to DAW" kind of functionality that you're after. http://cycling74.com/soundflower-landing-page/

[k1-uk-global]

That's really excellent Itackett - soundflower looks especially good.

Anyone know of a similar program for PC? I'd like to stay away from the solution of downloading youtube videos as that method wouldn't work for other applications I'd like to record the audio from.

[k1-uk-global]

Just found the equivalent for PC - VAcard

It's free and I've just downloaded it - works great on XP.

http://www.datanab.com/audio/VAcard.htm

Thanks for the help everyone

k1

[3dot...]

use a mic..

[k1-uk-global]

use a mic..

i'd rather not lose any quality of the audio stream

[3dot...]

use a mic..

i'd rather not lose any quality of the audio stream

well you shouldn't use that streamer then.. mp3 is a "lossy" format

[k1-uk-global]

use a mic..

i'd rather not lose any quality of the audio stream

well you shouldn't use that streamer then.. mp3 is a "lossy" format

yeah, you're right. silly me. i'll be better off using a mic to record the lossy mp3 over its internal speaker so i also get the benefit of the awesome computer speaker colour, its fan sound, the room reverb and the colour of the mic added into the mix.

it's a solution all the same, so thanks for that.

VAcard and soundflower are definitely doing the trick by the way, so thanks again everyone

best wishes

[dday]

total recorder. $20 legit software. you can thank me later.

* edit * you can't record with this in to live. you can record the file as a wav, save it and use it. simple. great quality. use it all the time.

[dday]

^^ anything played through the sound card. no matter the source

[Bad Lieutenant]

That's really excellent Itackett - soundflower looks especially good.

Anyone know of a similar program for PC? I'd like to stay away from the solution of downloading youtube videos as that method wouldn't work for other applications I'd like to record the audio from.

I have always used Freecorder which becomes a Firefox Add On.

Fantastic, and effective for just what you request.

I have moved on to an MBP so my search for an alternative continues

[pgmjsd]

I use WireTap. I think it's perfect for the kind of use you describe. I use it for sampling things I find online (YouTube, etc.), as well as a way to capture Ableton performances that are not otherwise able to be captured internally (live looping, for example). http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/wiretap/

I believe you can also use SoundFlower. This might enable the "direct to DAW" kind of functionality that you're after. http://cycling74.com/soundflower-landing-page/

A while ago I used my USB audio adapter capture the sound from the built-in audio of my Mac and wrote it up here: http://shrubbery.mynetgear.net/c/displa ... +to+Speech The signal is re-converted, but it's not a huge loss in quality if the adapters are good. Plus it's $0 (if you already have the hardware).

I'll have to give those a try... direct digital would be easier, and lossless.