Video Capture Software Audio Volume ???

[Frederick]

I am experiencing something surprising (to me anyway).

I want to find a FREE video capture app to use sporadically to create
an avi file from a web created video such as Youtube. Not often, but
sometimes.

I have found a few - such as Debut and Hypercam. They do a fair job,
but both produce a surprising characteristic - namely both produced
audio volume is so low I can hardly hear it. The problem seems not
correctable from adjusting any volume control when I play the
resulting avi files. So I wonder - have I missed a setting which
would improve the volume? Where am I losing the volume?

Anyone?

Big Fred

 

[Patok]

I am experiencing something surprising (to me anyway).

I want to find a FREE video capture app to use sporadically to create
an avi file from a web created video such as Youtube. Not often, but
sometimes.

I have found a few - such as Debut and Hypercam. They do a fair job,
but both produce a surprising characteristic - namely both produced
audio volume is so low I can hardly hear it. The problem seems not
correctable from adjusting any volume control when I play the
resulting avi files. So I wonder - have I missed a setting which
would improve the volume? Where am I losing the volume?

Anyone?

I have made occasional screen capture videos, using VirtualDub, and since that
works, have never needed to try one of yours. If it is just to "capture" youtube
videos, why not download them and edit them? I use capture only for
computer-generated output - graphics, music visualization effects and such.

As to your problem - I can only suggest you double-check the sound recording
source that you capture program uses. If you have a many-channel audio card, maybe
you capture only a subset? Or maybe you capture from the microphone instead? Make
sure to look at the "recording" section of the volume control properties of the
mixer device that the capture program uses.

 

[Paul]

I am experiencing something surprising (to me anyway).

I want to find a FREE video capture app to use sporadically to create
an avi file from a web created video such as Youtube. Not often, but
sometimes.

I have found a few - such as Debut and Hypercam. They do a fair job,
but both produce a surprising characteristic - namely both produced
audio volume is so low I can hardly hear it. The problem seems not
correctable from adjusting any volume control when I play the
resulting avi files. So I wonder - have I missed a setting which
would improve the volume? Where am I losing the volume?

Anyone?

Big Fred

If you're recording something which is currently playing
on your screen, perhaps the control is something like
"stereo mix" ?

In this example, "stereo mix" could well be the "What U Hear"
in the upper left hand corner. They use a different name
for it, just for fun.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2746/mysoundsucks.jpg

This one has a "stereo mix".

http://www.bandicam.com/faqs/no_sound_recorded_video_stereo_mix_problem/Sound_problem4.jpg

What's shocking, is I checked my motherboard sound and using the
Windows mixer panels, and there is no "stereo mix" at all! And if I
use the Soundmax custom control panel, it's in the lower right hand corner.
I've never adjusted my Stereo Mix, and right now, it's set pretty low...
I would have to click the red button under Stereo Mix, to enable
recording a video playing on my desktop.

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/2672/soundmax.gif

Paul

 

[Frederick]

I have made occasional screen capture videos, using VirtualDub, and since that
works, have never needed to try one of yours. If it is just to "capture" youtube
videos, why not download them and edit them? I use capture only for
computer-generated output - graphics, music visualization effects and such.

As to your problem - I can only suggest you double-check the sound recording
source that you capture program uses. If you have a many-channel audio card, maybe
you capture only a subset? Or maybe you capture from the microphone instead? Make
sure to look at the "recording" section of the volume control properties of the
mixer device that the capture program uses.

Thanks for reply. I tried Hypercam on my second computer, and I got
no audio at all, not even low volume. So, clearly I am doing
something wrong. I need to look at this more closely, or try some
other screen capture app. I really want a free one though.

One thing, my audio is through earphones - although that has had no
effect on anything in the past.

Big Fred

 

[Frederick]

CamStudio - Desktop Screen Recorder by janhgm, nickthegeek, tungstentide

< http://sourceforge.net/projects/camstudio/ >

I installed and tried camstudio on the first machine (the one that
yesterday gave me minimal volumes). I got no playback audio at all.
Camstudio tells me that the 'recording line' is undetected. That is
probably the problem?
Thanks
Big Fred

 

[Frederick]

If you're recording something which is currently playing
on your screen, perhaps the control is something like
"stereo mix" ?

In this example, "stereo mix" could well be the "What U Hear"
in the upper left hand corner. They use a different name
for it, just for fun.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2746/mysoundsucks.jpg

This one has a "stereo mix".

http://www.bandicam.com/faqs/no_sound_recorded_video_stereo_mix_problem/Sound_problem4.jpg

What's shocking, is I checked my motherboard sound and using the
Windows mixer panels, and there is no "stereo mix" at all! And if I
use the Soundmax custom control panel, it's in the lower right hand corner.
I've never adjusted my Stereo Mix, and right now, it's set pretty low...
I would have to click the red button under Stereo Mix, to enable
recording a video playing on my desktop.

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/2672/soundmax.gif

Paul

Hi Paul. You a busy man. You are always there.

My 'volume control' is nowhere as extensive as you show in your first
JPG. I see that 'advanced controls' is gray'ed out on my machine.
Maybe that's why. How do get 'advanced controls' ?

My on-board audio is 'sigmatel'.

I have played around with audio options, and now my audio is
completely gone from Camstudio and Hypercam captures.

Big Fred

 

[Frederick]

?

I have made occasional screen capture videos, using VirtualDub,

I tried VB. Gives me no volume when I play the captured avi file.

Big Fred

 

[Patok]

?

I tried VB. Gives me no volume when I play the captured avi file.

? What has *playing* the file have to do with diagnosing the sound problem? With
VD, you should be able to *see* what the outcome will be, even before you capture a
single byte. Have you never recorded music on tape? It's the same procedure!

In VirtualDub:
- turn on "enable audio capture" in Audio
- choose the proper input in Audio -> Audio input; should probably be "stereo mix"
- turn on the volume meter in Audio - that way you will *see* if there's anything
incoming.
- make sure you have selected the same source in Recording Control as in VD,
otherwise it won't work
- make sure that in Volume Control for playback, the sliders are at max both for the
overall volume control, and for the sound source (wave for youtube), and not muted
- and finally, *if* you see the volume meter moving when playing sounds, make sure
that you have selected a proper encoding in Audio -> Compression; it can be MP3,
AC-3, or whatever codec you have on your system.

 

[Frederick]

Frederick wrote:

? What has *playing* the file have to do with diagnosing the sound problem? With
VD, you should be able to *see* what the outcome will be, even before you capture a
single byte. Have you never recorded music on tape? It's the same procedure!

Whoa Nellie! What I was trying to say, and guess I did not, is that
while the live stream clip plays just fine, including full volume
sound, when I watch it with my browser - when I used VirtualDub to
record the clip, the resulting .avi file contains video, but no audio.
The same was true when I used HyperCam and CamStudio.

Big Fred

 

[Patok]

Whoa Nellie! What I was trying to say, and guess I did not, is that
while the live stream clip plays just fine, including full volume
sound, when I watch it with my browser - when I used VirtualDub to
record the clip, the resulting .avi file contains video, but no audio.
The same was true when I used HyperCam and CamStudio.

I got that, but I'm saying something else. When preparing to record, and when
recording, with VirtualDub, do you see the volume meter moving in sync with the
sound? Because if you don't see it moving, there is no point in recording and
playing the file. If there is no sound recognized by VD, then it's not gonna be in
the resulting file, obviously.

Did the volume meter move?

 

[Frederick]

In VirtualDub:
- turn on "enable audio capture" in Audio

I do not see "enable audio capture" under menu drop down for "audio"

- choose the proper input in Audio -> Audio input; should probably be "stereo mix"
- turn on the volume meter in Audio - that way you will *see* if there's anything
incoming.

I do not see "stereo mix" under my Volume Control. All I see is
Volume control, Wave, SW Synth, CD Player, and Input Monitor. All I
see under Recording Control is Line in, Rear Mic, and Microphone.

I am figuring my problem lays in this area somewhere.

Big Fred

 

[Frederick]

I got that, but I'm saying something else. When preparing to record, and when
recording, with VirtualDub, do you see the volume meter moving in sync with the
sound? Because if you don't see it moving, there is no point in recording and
playing the file. If there is no sound recognized by VD, then it's not gonna be in
the resulting file, obviously.

Did the volume meter move?

Thanks
I agree - Strangely, I see no volume meter at all. I am thinking that
VirtualDub, and for that matter, HyperCam and CamStudio, are not
receiving audio from my audio card (on-board audio). Said audio shows
no errors in Device Manager. Also plays sounds for other apps such
as VLC, and Media Player. Also plays audio for web browser streams.

Thick-headed Big Fred.

 

[Patok]

I do not see "enable audio capture" under menu drop down for "audio"

It appears only after VD enters capture mode. It enters capture mode with File ->
Capture Avi... In that mode, "enable audio capture" should be the first (topmost)
item in the Audio menu. If it isn't there, there's something wrong. What version
VirtualDub do you have?

I do not see "stereo mix" under my Volume Control. All I see is
Volume control, Wave, SW Synth, CD Player, and Input Monitor.

This is normal.

All I
see under Recording Control is Line in, Rear Mic, and Microphone.

And this is not normal. Stereo Mix should be here. The way it is now, you can
only record from external sources. Maybe that's why you had *some* tiny sound on
your initial capture attempts. Probably one of the microphones was selected, and
picked up the low sound from the headphones.

I am figuring my problem lays in this area somewhere.

Indeed. Just double-check if you have "Stereo Mix" in the list of volume controls
when you select "Recording" in the properties of the volume control.

Options -> Properties -> Recording (don't click OK). Is there a "Stereo Mix" in the
list of checkboxes? If there isn't, you have a problem. If there is, but it is not
checked - check it, click OK and select that one as recording source.

 

[Paul]

Hi Paul. You a busy man. You are always there.

My 'volume control' is nowhere as extensive as you show in your first
JPG. I see that 'advanced controls' is gray'ed out on my machine.
Maybe that's why. How do get 'advanced controls' ?

My on-board audio is 'sigmatel'.

I have played around with audio options, and now my audio is
completely gone from Camstudio and Hypercam captures.

Big Fred

Someone did some work here, to get a "Stereo Mix" on Sigmatel.
It could be, that you need to try another driver for your sound
chip (depending on where the driver came from in the first place).
Sigmatel isn't that common on home-built computers with retail motherboards,
and tends to be more of a Dell/HP kinda thing.

Your OS is WinXP, and perhaps this has nothing to do with you, but
I did find it weird that pictures of the Sigmatel panel were missing
that one.

http://www.togeo.com/togeo/wordpress/?p=38

This is a direct-to-dell article on the topic. I had a fair amount of
trouble getting to this, so I hope the "archive" doesn't kick up a
stink when you try it... It's basically an article that hints that
"stereo mix" is getting removed, to suit the recording industry.
Pretty sad, when say an existing audio hardware solution, has the
path to do such a recording, and it is denied by driver fiddling.

http://web.archive.org/web/20081221...stereo-mix-record-functionality-and-dell.aspx

Paul

 

[Frederick]

It appears only after VD enters capture mode. It enters capture mode with File ->
Capture Avi... In that mode, "enable audio capture" should be the first (topmost)
item in the Audio menu. If it isn't there, there's something wrong. What version
VirtualDub do you have?

1.9. Okay - I now see "enable audio capture". I never looked
there after selecting File>CaptureAVI.

I turned it on/

And this is not normal. Stereo Mix should be here. The way it is now, you can
only record from external sources. Maybe that's why you had *some* tiny sound on
your initial capture attempts. Probably one of the microphones was selected, and
picked up the low sound from the headphones.

Choosing 'line in' causes the display of the audio to show and move in
Virtual Dub's window.

Indeed. Just double-check if you have "Stereo Mix" in the list of volume controls
when you select "Recording" in the properties of the volume control.

I do not. Just Line in, Rear Mic, and Microphone. I checked Line
in.

Options -> Properties -> Recording (don't click OK). Is there a "Stereo Mix" in the
list of checkboxes? If there isn't, you have a problem. If there is, but it is not
checked - check it, click OK and select that one as recording source.

Can I get XP to tell me what codecs I have loaded?

 

[Patok]

Choosing 'line in' causes the display of the audio to show and move in
Virtual Dub's window.

I do not.

Is your computer a Dell and the sound controller SigmaTel? Maybe the case is what
Paul posted - that they have removed your ability to record, because of RIIA. Read
Paul's informative posts about it.

Just Line in, Rear Mic, and Microphone. I checked Line
in.

That won't do much good, unless you have something actually connected to the line
in input. As you write, the level moves, but does it record anything? If you can't
find proper drivers for the sound card to fix the missing stereo mix problem, you
could simply connect an audio cable from the headphones output to the line in input,
choose Line In as recording source, and record. But you need to mute Line In in the
Playback section of Volume control first, otherwise you'll get screeching feedback.

Can I get XP to tell me what codecs I have loaded?

Yes. One way is to look at the list of options in Virtual Dub's Compression menu
(both for video and audio). Another way is to look in Device Manager -> Sound, Video
and Game controllers -> Audio Codecs or Video Codecs -> Properties; the list is
mostly the same, but some codecs have different names.

 

[Frederick]

Is your computer a Dell and the sound controller SigmaTel?

Yes and yes.

Maybe the case is what
Paul posted - that they have removed your ability to record, because of RIIA. Read
Paul's informative posts about it.



That won't do much good, unless you have something actually connected to the line
in input. As you write, the level moves, but does it record anything? If you can't
find proper drivers for the sound card to fix the missing stereo mix problem, you
could simply connect an audio cable from the headphones output to the line in input,
choose Line In as recording source, and record. But you need to mute Line In in the
Playback section of Volume control first, otherwise you'll get screeching feedback.

I don't think I'll go there.

Yes. One way is to look at the list of options in Virtual Dub's Compression menu
(both for video and audio). Another way is to look in Device Manager -> Sound, Video
and Game controllers -> Audio Codecs or Video Codecs -> Properties; the list is
mostly the same, but some codecs have different names.

Device Manager shows 11 audio codecs and 13 video codecs. All are
said to be okay. Thanks

As I said in a separate thread, I have audio now - by using Firefox
toolbars. I'll play with that for a while and hope it works for me.
Seems to.

Big Fred