Recording Input Selecting In The Wave Editor

Selecting Inputs In The DAK Wave Editor

Drew's
Choosing Recording Inputs Tutorial

Selecting inputs in the Editor is like turning on the lights in your home. If you want the lights on in the bedroom, you need to go in there and turn on that light switch. Basically, you will want to record from 3 sources; Line In for recording from records and Cassettes, from a microphone or from the Internet. Below I'll show you how to do all 3 and more for BOTH Vista and XP.

The new Vista Operating system is very different from the old XP system. You can no longer simply select what you want to record from the Editor Interface. Now you actually have to go to the Windows Mixer and change it there.

Think of it like airline security. I guess Microsoft doesn't want anyone hijacking your inputs without your permission, so although it's a bit of a pain in the form of a few extra clicks, it works fine and we implemented it for all Windows systems so as you upgrade your computer you won't have an obsolete editor from DAK.

I can't predict what might come after Vista and what you might need then, but we've got you covered for Vista and XP so you can select any input for recording your computer offers by following the easy steps below.

OK let's select your inputs.

For Vista, Click Here

For XP, Click Here.

Vista - Selecting Your Recording Input.

On the main interface as shown above, to change the input that you want to use for recording, you Click the Record Source Windows Mixer Button or the DAK Pre- Record Wizard Button as shown above. Then select the input from which you want to record.

Vista - Getting To Your Recording Input.

After you click the Record Source Button, you'll see the Main Sounds and Audio Devices screen of your Windows Mixer. All you need to do on this screen is choose the Recording Tab as shown.

Vista - Your Recording Input Choices.

OK, this is the Recoding Tab and for Vista, this is where you change the Input that you want to use for recording. All your input choices are shown here.

YOUR INPUTS ARE DIFFERENT?
READ THIS PLEASE.

There is nothing wrong with your computer. Your sound card, not windows and not the DAK editor determine what choices and names for input choices you'll see here.

What you see above are the recording choices and names that my sound card offers. The Windows Mixer displays all the choices for your sound card. Your sound card may be different than mine, so your choices will have different names, but for the most part, you will be able to record from Line In, From Microphone and for 99% of all sound cards, also from the Internet.

OK here's what to do.

Arrow 1.) See the Checkmark? That means that the Analog Mix is what's currently selected to be your recording input.

YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE INPUT SELECTED AT A TIME IN WINDOWS.

Arrow 2.) Here I have clicked on What You Hear. This is for Internet recording. Yours may be called Stereo Mix, Wave or Wave out. And 99% of all sound cards have this.

So to change what's currently selected, highlight what you want to select by clicking on it so it turns dark to show it's highlighted.

Arrow 3.) Then Just Click the Set Default Button. Now you've changed your selection.

Arrow 4.) Click the OK button.

OR DON'T CLICK OK TIP. If you are going to change inputs often in this session, don't click OK to close this screen. Just move it out of your way so you can keep changing input selections whenever you want without having to reopen this screen. Don't worry about the OK Button. Once you click Set Default, the source has been changed.

Vista - Selecting Your Input Another Way.

One More Way to Select an input. OK you can Click on the Set Default Button, or Right Click as shown above on your input choice and you'll get this handy little menu. You can Set Default here too, and you can choose to see disabled and disconnected devices and more. Why? Well on some cards you'll find you have choices you didn't know about. So I always Right Click, then left Click on the two Show commands so I can see what choices I really have.

OK so you've made your input choice in Sounds and Audio Devices and you have closed or not closed the Windows Sounds and Audio Devices screen. You are ready to record.

XP - Selecting Your Recording Input.

On the main interface as shown above, to change the input that you want to use for recording, you Click the Record Source Button as shown above. And then you'll choose the input you want to record from.

Use the SHORT version to select the input you want. If anything is missing or you want to do more, I've included the LONG version which gives you even more control than you'll usually need.

2 Ways To Select Your Inputs.
1. If You Just Want To Select Your Input, Use This The Short Direct Select.

2. If You Need To Turn On Line In or Something Missing Use The Long Select.

XP - Selecting Your Input Short 1.

This is the screen you'll see when you click the Direct Recording Source Button on the Editor Main Interface. All you need to do here is choose the Audio Tab.

Arrow 1.) Click The Audio Tab.

XP - Selecting Your Input Short 2.

Now you're on the audio tab. The 1, Play Arrow takes you to the volume controls that determine the play volume of your inputs and outputs. You don't need to go here unless you hear no sound and you can check this out using the LONG version below.

Arrow 1.) Play section ONLY

Arrow 2.) Record Section. This Button gives you the access to the main Windows Mixer recording input selections and input volume controls. Click it to get to the next screen which is the screen that you'll use to choose your inputs and even set recording volume.

XP - Selecting Your Input Short 3.

Viola, we're here. This is the Windows main recording control screen. Yours might have different names on the sliders, but more or less, every XP computer has screens that look just like this. Regardless of which sound card you have, this screen will look the same because it's part of Windows, not your sound card. But the names on the sliders and which sliders you have are determined by your sound card.

For Internet Recording, you should have Stereo Mix, Wave Out, Wave Out Mix or,
What U Hear. Virtually all sound cards support this. A few do not and if yours doesn't you can either download a new set of drivers, you'll have to check the Internet because there are some companies that have made drivers if this part is missing, or use what we call a loop cable. But virtually all PCs do support Internet recording.

For LINE IN, such as using the DAK Mixer Interface, choose LINE IN, Analog Mix or AUX. This will connect to the blue line in jack on the back of your computer.

For Microphone Recording, Use the Mic or Microphone choice.

Arrow ) Check the box beneath the slider you want to use and you will record from that source. Come back here any time to change to another source. Just change the box you have checked.

Volume Control Note: When you adjust the volume in the DAK editor or in any recoding program, you are actually changing the slider here in the Windows Mixer. No program actually has its own volume control. It just takes control of the Windows Mixer Volume. It's neat if you leave this interface open and move the input volume on the Editor, you'll see this control move as you move the slider in the editor. Not important for you to know, but a fun fact.

Now the LONG Version.

XP - Getting To Your Recording Input LONG 1.

After you click the Record Source Button, you'll see the Sounds and Audio Devices screen of your Windows Mixer. All you need to do on this screen is Click on the Advanced Button. It will take your to the 1st screen of the Windows Mixer.

XP - Getting To Your Recording Input LONG 2.

This is the Play Screen of the Windows Mixer. There's an almost identical screen for your recording inputs you'll see below. Actually we are just passing by to get to the recording controls screen, but while we are here, let me show you a few things.

Arrow 1.) To go onto the Recording Screen which is where we want to go, just Click Properties here in the Options Menu.

Arrow 2.) But while we're here, please take a moment and Click the Advanced choice here if you have one. It will enable controls on various screens that you may want to use later and there's no earthly reason not to check it.

Arrow 3.) Also while we are here be sure that your LINE IN slider isn't muted. Often when computers are shipped this slider is muted and you won't get any sound into your Blue Jack in the back of your computer if this is muted. So, why not un mute it now.

XP - Getting To Your Recording LONG Input 3.

This is your Playback properties screen. If you look in the bottom you'll see all the choices that your sound card offers.

TIP - In the 1st screen above with the sliders, you actually control how many and which sliders you have based on which boxes are checked here in properties. So if there's something that you want like LINE IN or Wave that isn't checked, check it now to enable it. You can't hurt anything.

But we are just passing through to the Recording properties so:

Arrow 1.) Click Recording.

Arrow 2.) Click OK.

XP - Getting To Your Recording Input LONG 4.

OK this is the Recording Properties Screen. We are passing by, but, for sure, you want to make sure that the inputs you may want to record from are actually enabled. And like I showed you above, you for sure want to enable the ones you want to record from.

Arrow 1.) This shows you that you are in the Recording Properties Screen. It looks the same as playback, but of course it's for inputs while playback is for outputs.

Arrow 2.) You want to record from the Internet. Be sure if you have What You Hear, Stereo Mix, Wave or Wave Out Mix you have it checked. Different sound cards call them different things, but they all do the same thing which is allow you to record from the Internet and from other system sounds.

Arrow 3.) Line In or Analog Mix is the selection that turns on the Blue Jack in the back of your computer which is your Stereo Line In. For sure have this checked.

Arrow 4.) Recording Live from a Microphone? Be sure this box is checked.

Arrow 5.) Click OK to see the Recording Input Choice Screen.

XP - Getting To Your Recording Input LONG 5.

OK this is it. This is the main Windows Mixer screen where you actually choose which input you want to record from right now. You can only have one of these select boxes check at a time. So, you'll come back here each time you what to change the input you want to record from.

Arrow 1.) Check this box to record from the Blue Jack In back of your computer. Yours will say Line In or Analog Mix.

Arrow 2.) Choose What You Hear, Stereo Mix or Wave Out Mix to record from the Internet or from inside your computer.

Arrow 3.) Live Mic? Plug in your mic, Check this box and record yourself live.

Arrow 4.) You can EITHER close this screen after you make your selection, or leave it open.

OR DON'T CLICK CLOSE TIP. If you are going to change inputs often in this session, don't click Close and close this screen. Just minimize it so you can keep changing input selections whenever you want without having to reopen this screen.

OK so you've made your input choice and you have closed or not closed the Windows Mixer screen.

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