'What you hear' recording in Windows 7 with X-Fi cards and some Pants

'What do you hear' ?

Nothing!

If anyone else is having trouble getting the 'stereo mix' or 'what you hear' to work in Windows 7, Here's the basic solution, plus an extra problem I faced and one way to get around it.

I've read a lot of blogs / forums /tech help that give the basic solution, but few seem to realise that as well as windows 7 disabling the function, so have creative on a few of their cards.

I got a new custom built pc last week. Its Windows7 on 64bit. It has built in realtek HD audio (like many pc's) . However, I wanted  better than this, as I produce music and (foolishly without enough research) decided on a soundblaster XFI extreame audio. (previous soundblasters have been ok for me and reasonably priced - so assumed this was ok)

General Tip 1: If you want to  record 'what you hear' ; Don't get this card. It doesn't do it.
(read info at end of this blog about creative cards that do and don't)

(I't s technically not a bad basic card, good features, good quality, expandable to up to 8 outputs)

Just to clarify - 'what you hear' or 'stereo mix' is a function that lets you record into another program (like audacity ) whatever you are hearing from any other internal source on your computer, e.g. record audio playing live on the internet or copy a song / cd in real time. Most people who use this feature, probably do it to rip songs and audio they like from websites (which is probably why it's been disabled). But some people (like me of course) use it to record samples and audio clips from other sources (the robot voice to text in my songs for example) totally legally and for a creative reason. Hence, I am annoyed my X-Fi card does not suport this.

Life Tip: Don't assume anything! 

To further clarify : This is nothing to do with normal use of the card, playing sounds, playing cd's, playing videos, playing sound on internet, using music software, reaper, reason, fruityloops, cubase, ableton, recording with line in or mic, none of those, they all work fine - It is ONLY concern for those who need the 'what you hear' / 'stereo mix' function - whereby you can record in real time what the card is already playing in a different program)

OK, basic solution and the windows 7 issue:

This is pretty easy, by default, windows 7 does not show the 'what you hear / stereo mix' option in its audio panel. all you have to do is right click, tick 'show disabled' and there you go. If you have a generic card or a good card or a realtek one it should be as easy as that. In audacity (or whatever recorder you use) just select input as 'what you hear' / 'stereo mix' and done.

However, I dont want to use the built in chip for music production!!!! I bought an X-FI extreame as its technically better than a built in Realtek Chip. Particularly for audio production and midi recording. (less delay, better asio response, higher settings and better options etc)

Short answer is IT WON'T

Yes I've even tried virtualaudiocable - a bit like soundflower on the mac - it does not work with the X-FI. (and it's not free) , yes I've tried changing the drivers and using old ones and 3rd party ones - no good. And no you can't play the sounds on the creative and record on the realtek internally. So there!

The smellypantsrubbish solutions are

a) to just use the onboard realtek and pretend I never got the soundblaster.

General Tip 2: The realtech is not bad actually. Stick with onboard sound unless you find you need a card! - If I had not got the X-Fi as well, then the front case sockets would be connected to the Realtek and I would have enough Ins and Outs to do what I require. It even decides the type of input you connected so Mic/Line is not an issue, it changes the type when you insert. Though I don't know how well it would cope with a DAW like reaper (see previous blogs) running 30 dxi synths and 20 audio tracks with effects with no latency...

b) To use the creative until I need to record 'what you hear' then swap leads at the back of the pc to the realtek, and change all the audio settings (Doesn't work unless you do - not practical or acceptable)

c) To buy a new sound card along with a monster sized audio interface, throw the creative on ebay and say poo poo poo and say lots of little &*^"£"&^% shapes. 
(which is what I'd do If I had any money left - especially the bit about little squiggle shapes)

or do this:

card sockets - X-fi and Realtek

 

 

Only card normally being used is the creative.
My live music and vocals go through my physical mixer into the creative line in/digital
The speakers are in speaker / line out of creative (*see below on how to get headphones on this)
The headphone socket acts as line out to return to the Realtek line in - thereby acting as 'what you hear'


(You can't use the creative speaker / line out at rear to connect to the realtek input, It doesnt work)


Hurrah! sorted! Party time!

So I can use the Creative card for everything else. I don't need to change any PC audio settings ever.
When I want to record 'what you hear' I do it by choosing 'line in - realtek'  in audacity / whatever recorder you use and that is it.

Warning!! - The input is based on the pc's 'speaker out' level so turn your physical speakers down first!
It works fine and quality is pretty impossible to tell from the original -  I can't) just be careful of the input / output / speaker levels!.

Tip 3: I have a little extension gadget that is really useful. worth getting one... the speaker output goes to this box and from there you can select headphones or speakers and they both then connect from the box, saving a socket, making the headphones nearer to you and allowing switch beteween phones and speakers (audio interface / speaker amp / other gadgets will do the same)

Tech Geek point 1:
Someone is probably going to say 'you can't run onboard and a physical card together!, the drivers will complain and argue! ' Well I was always told that too. But maybe it's windows 7 , I don't know, but it works absolutely fine.
(Yes I did try running both onboad and Creative on their own having disabled the other one to see if it made any difference, no it doesn't)

Tech Geek pont 2:
On one post someone said 'sod this MS sh*t, I'm off to get a mac'. Good luck m8. They can't do it at all either! you need Soundflower, and I'm not sure if that works on the latest versions. I like macs, I have a macbook, I use macs at work. I use mac and PC, they are good for different things. But Macs cannot inherently do 'what you hear' either.

Recording tip 1: always use ASIO drivers where possible in music software - they have practically zero latency as they avoid much of the 'talk' between pc / card and back again and get straight to the point of the job. W7 doesn't have them - you can get them here: ASIO4ALL


Anyone get the feeling DRM politics have gone mad????

If I don't post again, my soundcard melted into the CPU, exploded and burned down the house.

OR!!!

You can spend 3 hours writing some long winded pointless plop like this, then slap yourself on the head and realise I've messed up and missed something totally obvious!!! ARGHHHHH! What a Plonker!

So the reason the realtek won't record to itself (or via output from creative) is because of its 'autodetect' of sockets i.e if the speaker is not plugged in, you can't select the speaker output option and therefore it won't record 'stereo mix'.

So all you need is to plug a lead into the speaker hole (ok so then you cant hear it)
(tries again...)

So all you need is to plug a second set of headphones into the realtek and hey presto la voila !

(or even a second set of speakers - or the same speakers if you can connect it, but phones are fine for me as i don't need it often)

Now all you do to get 'what you hear / stereo mix' is change the pc settings when needed to output as realtek speaker and record as realtek 'stereo mix'
then switch back to creative when finished

Done. No flaffing about, no silly wires, no crazy speaker volume scaring you, nothing! easy!

So now I need a final sketch!

 

and finally!.....

 (Plonkerrrrrrr!!!)

till next time!...

ant

pps I just got a reply from creative telling me that X-Fi cards DO support ' what you hear' .

The link of creative cards that support it and the drivers required is here:

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=87127

Unfortunately, as i already worked out, mine is one of the only three that do not! wonderful!

also, the newest versions of some soundblaster cards and drivers do not have the option:

here is the driver fix / info:

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=1774

Wiki - sopa / pipa blackout - what it means for music artists

Heres how I feel about the wiki / google etc blackout in response to the tight proposed new legislation's by pipa / sopa to enforce tough restrictions on major sights on what they can and cannot share and what public can and cannot view / post.


In theory, at a basic level I agree with pipa/sopa -
. Of course you should not be able to upload or download material / software / video / music etc that other people should be being paid for. 


however, it does not work like that and I totally support the wiki reaction to it.


If 'big brother' thinks that by making the laws tougher it will solve the problem and make information sharing of commercial work a thing of the past , they are on cloud fairy dream land.


You tube actually identifies and PAYS the original artist for any copyrighted work via adverts - i.e. major artists get revenue from people uploading their work!


What happens if you toughen up the laws and play big brother? people find even slipperier ways to get around it... guess who it hurts the most? us, the minor struggling people who get their work stolen and shared for free and get NOT A PENNY from it..


I found yesterday at least TEN sites offering ALL THREE of my current albums for NOTHING as full album downloads.... several hundred free, full album downloads on each site. I could have made several thousand pounds if I had been paid for each of those as I should have been. I work damn hard to make music and sell a few dozen hard copies and a couple of hundred mp'3s as official downloads for each album, ten sites giving them away by the HUNDREDS? All money lost for me.  But you think this new legislation will help artists like me? no way.


And While people are stealing my work.. is that not encouraging me to to do the same back to them? 


I.E. in principle, yes please stop illegal activity, but what they are suggesting will make it WORSE for most people. It will push the activity away from the major sites like you tube / google  and underground to smaller sites that are impossible to track , or get any revenue at all out of. 


totally farce and ridiculous.
-dv

fruity loops 9

I am not even going to review it
all i can say is
wow! mad!
starship enterprise here we come
You will feel like Kirk
mad program!
done :-)

dv mash up on Twitpic

dv mash up on Twitpic

I believe in you ( Chrismas 2011 song )

Cher Lloyd - 'X Factor Better when I was in it'

I love the media! (i.e. tabloid journalism) NOT!

1st it was their utter twisting of what Jeremy Clarkson said (see previous post) and now they are doing the same to Cher Lloyd.

For those that don't watch X Factor uk. She came runner up last year to Matt Cardle and has arguably had a more successful career so far since.

This is not about whether or not I like Cher or her music or anything like that (I don't)

This is about is how the media make a story out of absolutely nothing yet again and get it spread into almost every tabloid out there when it is not at all true.

The headline on MSN, Daily Mail, List, Female first, Metro, Unrealitytv, 4 music, Usspost, Heatworld and loads more states 'Cher Lloyd snubs this year XFactor saying 'It was much better last year when I was in it ''

Er, NO she did not!!!!

She said ' I don't think this years XFactor is particularly better than last years'
With no mention of herself whatsoever.

That is Completely different to 'It was better when I was in it' !

I posted this on on two of the above mentioned websites and guess what, within an hour of me posting the comments were REMOVED.

Tabloid MEDIA! Arghhhh

(Thats why I never read papers or watch the news other than the local paper ... )

Funny CV review

Well, thought I would share this one as it's amusing and vaguely music / entertainment related as you will see!

I saw a Job advertised and in order to apply for it I had to upload my cv to a job site ( having made sure I unchecked any boxes allowing sharing to other sites). They obviously ignored this totally because I got a 'thank you for registering / sending your cv to us' from 4 other jobsites and a phone call from an agency wanting to sign me up.

As well as the above, I also got an email saying than you for sending us your CV for a free review (huh????!!! when was that?! I did not!)
'We will thoroughly examine your CV and send you afree appraisal within 24 hours.' Okkkkaaaaaayy.

So they did; I quote:  Thank you for requesting a FREE CV review from **Total-CVs**. We have given your CV a thorough appraisal..........

........and I got 6/10 layout, 6/10 content and 7/10 Language. (With very non specific generic comments about each, Which did not consider the profession the cv was aimed at in any way, for which their comments are actually WRONG)

Hmm I thought. I know it's not perfect but I was disappointed with my score as it's taken lots of years to get it about right. (not that teachers/lecturers need cv's much - it's all done by long winded repetitive appllication forms!)

So I had an idea.

I made up a new hotmail account and invented a person, based on David Walliams, who I called David Williamson.

I made a fake address and post code and phone number that don't exist. Anywhere.

I made a REALLY BAD CV

I headed it properly but in each heading had things like:

'TV superstar'
'comic relief'
'massive tv personality'
as seen on TV
and wembly
and in the thames
etc

about half a page long, badly written, loads of typos and no real information of any use.

So, after they gave it a 'thorough appraisal'...

I got an identical score, identical email, identical comment, ended the same of my 'real' one with: please send us lots of cash and we will do it properly for you.

So... the moral is, even David Walliams can't write CV's :-)
or: next time you write a CV, pretend to be someone else!....

er no, thats not it,

the moral is; people BLATENTLY LIE on websites , even seemingly professional ones and somehow get away with it. I'm sure it's actually not acceptable / illegal to advertise that you are going to do something and then don't. Isn't that called Lying? I thought there was a law against that in business?

hmmmmmm

-ant