How to Record Your Computer Audio in Audacity?

Isabella Garcia Updated on Feb 16 , 2022 Tag: Audio Recording Windows

This guide will show you how to record your computer audio in Audacity and the best alternative to Audacity.

Audacity is a free and open-source digital audio editor and audio recording software. Audacity is great for a wide range of use cases, including podcast editing, music mixing, and so on. It will be a reliable tool if you want to record your computer sound or microphone with Kenshi audio then. In this guide, we will show you how to record your computer audio in Audacity step by step and briefly introduce the best alternative to this software.

Audacity

How to Record Your Computer Audio in Audacity?

Audacity is a feature-rich audio editor and recorder, but it is a little difficult for newbies to use. Now we will show you a detailed tutorial about how to record your computer audio with Audacity on the computer.

Step 1: Set up devices to capture computer playback
Step 2: Turn Software Playthrough off
Step 3: Monitor and set initial sound levels
Step 4: Start the audio recording
Step 5: Pause & stop the recording

Step 1: Set up devices to capture computer playback

When you download and install Audacity successfully, you can launch it. The next step is the most difficult and the most important. If you are a Windows user, you can choose the Windows WASAPI Audio Host and then the (loopback) input in the Recording Device box. Choose the loopback input for the computer playback device you will be listening to”.

Record Your Computer Audio in Audacity step1

Step 2: Turn Software Playthrough off

To prevent Audacity from repeatedly recording and playing back audio that produces loud echoes and damages your equipment, Software Playthrough must usually be turned off when recording computer playback. If Software Playthrough is on, the audio interface will try to playback what it is recording and then re-record it again, producing a series of increasingly loud echoes. You can go to Transport >> Transport Options >> Software Playthrough (on/off) and toggle playback on/off as you need.

Record Your Computer Audio in Audacity step2

Step 3: Monitor and set initial sound levels

Before you start the real recording, you can try setting the sound level by playing similar material and monitoring it in Audacity. This will help you to record audio with a suitable sound level. You can turn on monitoring by left-clicking on the recording table on the right and clicking again to turn it off.

Record Your Computer Audio in Audacity step3

Step 4: Start the audio recording

Now, It’s time to start the audio recording. You can click on the red button to begin the capturing. During the recording, you can check the “Disk space remaining” (It is the status bar in the lower-left corner of the project window) and the recording table.

Record Your Computer Audio in Audacity step4

Step 5: Pause & stop the recording

If you want to pause the recording, you can click on the Pause icon. When you are satisfied with the audio, you can click on the Stop button to end it. Then, you can edit the recordings in Audacity. When everything is ok, you can backup the capture and export it to your computer.

Record Your Computer Audio in Audacity step5

Best Alternative to Audacity: RecMaster Recording software

Now, you should know how to record your computer audio in Audacity on Windows 11. Audacity is a powerful and popular tool, but if you are looking for more easy-to-use audio recording software, RecMaster will be the best alternative. RecMaster is loved by users for its excellent screen recording features. It is also a user-friendly audio recorder. You can record your computer screen with the system sound, microphone sound, or both of them. It also allows you to record audio-only on the PC. Recording your computer audio with RecMaster requires only a few clicks. Compared to Audacity, it has a very simple operating interface and is more suitable for novices. Jump to read the detailed guide about How to Record Audio with RecMaster. You can get the recording software by clicking on the buttons below. It has a Windows version and a Mac version. You can choose according to your need.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have shown you how to record your computer audio in Audacity and introduce the best alternative to Audacity. If you are an audio expert or a computer whiz, then Audacity is perfect for you. It has a full range of features to meet your recording and editing needs. If you are a novice and unfamiliar with audio operations, don’t miss RecMaster. RecMaster lacks audio editing features, but it is one of the best when it comes to video/audio recording. Choose the right software for you and start to record your computer audio now!