Recording Sounds

Most computers have more than one recording input, such as microphone or line-in. To select and adjust a recording input, use the Device tab (and the Volume tab for DirectSound mode) of the Control Properties window. To record what you hear (such as an Internet stream), see Recording Streaming Audio. Make all connections before running GoldWave. Otherwise some devices or sources may not be listed. To see the input before recording, use the Monitor input on visuals setting under the Record tab of the Control Properties window.

Use the Record New Record New button to create a new file and start recording. The sampling rate and number of channels is determined by the Attributes setting in Device Properties. Recording stops automatically when the duration has passed. If you stop recording earlier, the new file is trimmed to the length of the recording. Use the Record tab of the Control Properties window to set the default new file duration.

Use the Record Selection Record Selection button to record into an existing sound. Audio is recorded into the selection of the Sound window replacing any audio that was previously there. Recording stops automatically when the end of the selection is reached (bounded mode) or when no more storage is available (unbounded mode). You can stop recording at any time with the recording stop Record Stop button and the unrecorded part of the selection is filled with silence.

To record dictation and easily switch between playback and recording, check the Dictation mode setting on the Record tab of the Control Properties window. You can then use the Record Dictation Record Dictation button to resume recording from the current playback position.

Make sure you see activity on the horizontal VU Meters while recording. The source volume should be adjusted so that it peaks in the orange or low red area, but not all the way. If there is no activity or the level is very low, change the input and/or volume or select a different recording device, explained below.

You can make room for recording in the current sound by using the Edit | Insert Silence command.

A recording pause Record Pause buttons appears in place of the record button so that you can pause and unpause recording.

Many recording settings are available in the Record tab of the Control Properties window. Right-click on the record button to quickly access some of these settings.

Remember to press the playback button on the cassette player, record player, or CD player when recording from an external device. See the Appendix D for a tutorial.

If you want to record vocals over existing music, you'll need to use two files in GoldWave. You can record in one file while playing the other. After recording, mix the two files together.

For long recordings, turn off any power management settings that may power down or sleep the computer.

Recording Streaming Audio

Streaming audio is audio that is currently playing, usually from the Internet. There may be several ways to recording streaming audio, depending on the system and audio hardware.

Software Loopback Method
Select a LOOPBACK recording device in GoldWave. GoldWave lists a separate LOOPBACK recording device for every compatible playback device in the system.

The following conditions:


Hardware Loopback Method
In DirectSound mode, the streaming source is usually called "What You Hear", "Stereo Mix", "Wave Out", or something similar and that input can be selected on the Volume tab of the Control Properties window in GoldWave.

In Core Audio/WASAPI mode, the streaming device is disabled by default (if present at all) and has to be manually enabled. Try using Software Loopback (above) before enabling the device.

To enabled a disabled device:

  1. Choose the Configure button on the System tab of the Control Properties window, then choose the Recording tab.
  2. Right-click anywhere in the device list and select Show Disabled Devices.
  3. Right-click on the disabled device in the list and choose Enable. If no new devices appear, then the computer or sound driver does not support recording steaming audio and a loopback cable must be used.

After the device has been enabled, it can selected for recording on the Device tab of the Control Properties window

To hear what is being recorded or to avoid echoes or feedback, change the monitoring setting for the device in Windows. Turn off monitoring or mute the input to avoid feedback. Turn on monitoring or unmute the input to hear the audio as it records.
  1. Choose the Configure button on the System tab of the Control Properties window, then choose the Recording tab.
  2. Right-click on the recording device you are using and select Properties.
  3. Select the Listen tab.
  4. Check or uncheck the Listen to this device to turn monitoring on or off.

A recording input may be physically connected to the output, so check the following as well.

  1. Choose the Configure button on the System tab of the Control Properties window, then choose the Playback tab.
  2. Choose the playback device you are using.
  3. Choose the Properties button.
  4. Choose the Levels tab.
  5. Unmute or mute the inputs, as required.

Loopback Cable Method
If neither software loopback nor hardware loopback work, then a loopback or splitter cable from the speaker output to the line input is required.

Splitter Cable

After connecting the cable, select the Line recording device in GoldWave. Make sure monitoring (above) is turned off to avoid feedback and echoes.

Recording Errors

If an error occurs when recording, make sure the correct recording device is selected in GoldWave and the audio hardware is capable of recording at the sampling rate and quality selected.

Try the following:

If your recording device does not support a sampling rate required, record at a supported rate, then use Resample to convert it to the required rate.

If nothing helps, try recording in the Windows Sound Recorder accessory included with Windows (see Windows Help for details) to make sure recording is working on your computer.