Record computer audio, both internal and external on Windows computer by using a free app like Audacity can be great experience as well as a wish come true. Being able to record the audio from the computer, such as audio of favorite music and video apps has a very relaxing effect.
In case you wish to record through computer’s microphone, you can use the Voice Recorder app which comes for all the versions of Windows.
In the following article, there is a deliberate effort to help you record computer audio by guiding you through the process in a step-wise manner. So let’s get started.
Methods to Record Computer Audio
- Audacity for Recording Internal Audio
- Windows Voice Recorder for Recording External Audio
Method 1 : Audacity for Recording Internal Audio
| STEPS | PROCEDURE |
| Download and install Audacity. | Go to https://www.audacityteam.org/download in web browser, then:- Press Audacity for Windows. Tap the Audacity 2.3.2 installer link to download the file. Double-click the installer file. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Audacity. |
| Open Audacity. | Open Start. Type Audacity, Tap Audacity in the search results. |
| Tap audio host drop-down menu. | Placed near the upper-left side of Audacity, has MME selected by default for a drop-down menu to appear. |
| Select Windows WASAPI. | Helps to set Audacity to record sound from other apps, e.g., those apps which play music or videos. |
| Tap audio input drop-down menu. | Place to the right of the microphone icon and to right of the “Windows WASAPI” box. |
| Tap Speakers (loopback). | Helps in capturing computer’s internal audio without recording external audio like typing sound. If the audio is currently coming from headphones, tap Headphones (loopback) instead. |
| Disable Software Playthrough. | To ensure audio is captured without distortions and feedback, Tap Transport menu. Tap Transport Options. Remove the check mark from “Software Playthrough” if present. |
| Press red circle to start recording. | Placed near the top-left corner of Audacity, begins recording the audio coming from apps on the computer. |
| Play the audio you wish to record. | Best way to do, play after you begin recording. Trim down the beginning of the recording which will be dead space as required. |
| Tap the Stop button. | Placed near the top-left corner of Audacity, press to stop recording. |
| Change the “audio host” menu back to MME. | Placed near the top-left corner of the app “Windows WASAPI.” Helps to switch back the audio output and input options so as to play the recorded audio. |
| Tap Play’ to listen to the recorded audio. | A green button at the top of the Audacity window to play the recorded audio through computer’s speakers or headphones. |
| Save the recorded audio. | Click the File menu placed at the top-left corner of the window. Press Export. Tap Export as MP3 in the menu. Select a save location. Type a file name in the “File name” text box. Tap Save. Press OK when prompted. |
Method 2 : Windows Voice Recorder for Recording External Audio
The method helps to make a simple one-track recording through the Microphone and Windows Voice Recorder. Since most laptops have an onboard microphone, you need not connect an external microphone to record simple voice audio. Desktop PC users will require an external microphone.
| STEPS | PROCEDURE |
| Test your microphone. | Press the Start and select Settings. Tap System. Click Sound. Select the microphone from the “Choose your input device” menu on the right panel. Check for the pulsating bar below “Test your microphone” in the right panel. Speak into the microphone for the bar to move as you speak to show detection of audio through the microphone. |
| Tap Start. | Placed at the bottom-left corner of the screen. |
| Type voice recorder. | Help yourself to search the computer for the Voice Recorder app which is a free app that’s included in Windows 10. |
| Tap Voice Recorder in the search results. | A microphone-shaped app icon at the top of the results to open the Voice Recorder app. |
| Press blue-and-white microphone to start recording | Placed at the bottom-left corner of the app, Voice Recorder begins capturing audio from your microphone and is able to record your voice as you speak directly into the microphone to record yourself. |
| Tap blue-and-white square to stop recording. | Placed at the center of the window to save the recording and returns you to the main Voice Recorder scree. It can save recordings automatically to the Sound Recordings folder inside Documents. |
| Press the recording date to listen to the recording. | The recordings appear in the left panel with the most recent recording at the top. In order to make changes in the name of your file, right-click its name in the left panel and tap Rename. To share the recording with another system, right-click the file and press Share to allow you to select an app to share with. |
Hope the above article will be helpful and you will definitely follow the required steps to record computer audio.