5 Steps to Record a Skype Call with Audacity (FREE) at Trying to follow

5 Steps to Record a Skype Call with Audacity (FREE)

31 March 2006 12 Comments

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I searched far and wide for a solution to recording good quality Skype audio for Free. Most solutions had you buying a particular software or setting up a second computer. I knew it was easier then that and I ran across a tiny little hint the other day that solved everything. Basically Skype automatically mutes your microphone when it starts; keeping your recording software from picking up your side of the conversation. Here’s the simple steps to changing that.

Download Audacity and Skype if you haven’t already.

In Skype go to “Tools…Options…” Click the Sound Devices Icon… and UNCHECK the “Let Skype adjust my sound device settings”
In Audacity choose Stereo Mixer as your input
Hit Record and make your call!
You will need to play with the Volume Control panel to adjust the audio inputs to similar levels (wave and microphone)

This is the simple trick to using Skype for podcast interviews and much more.

Of course, there is always the new Gizmo Project. Similar to Skype, but with some extra features, Gizmo has a built in recorder as well as sound effect buttons and a few other neat features.

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41512 Comments2006-03-31+16%3A17%3A43Ariah »

yesha said:

hey Ariah!
thanks for posting this VERY cool entry~
:)

# 1 April 2006 at 6:39 pm

Trying to follow said:

[...] 5 Steps to Record a Skype Call with Audacity (FREE) [...]

# 2 April 2006 at 2:36 pm

SolSie.com / The Lighter Side of Mobile Technology » Blog Archive » Recording Skype Calls in Windows said:

[...] As you’ve seen, recording Skype calls in Windows is easy as long as you have the right software. PowerGramo is a quick, easy, and painless way to record your calls, but it’s not the only game in town. You can use Audacity to do the job. This article discusses how, and this blog entry offers another take on the subject. [...]

# 25 February 2007 at 10:37 am

Abazza said:

I heard thats sinse Ebay is owner of skype this door is closed?

Other question: I use “Fresh” too,… sometimes I find this special way of view,… where I can download it? Espalial the nice Mouseover in the textbox is good.

Abazza

# 13 May 2007 at 6:53 am

A T Mann said:

Where do you find STEREO MIX in Audacity?

# 29 July 2007 at 4:14 pm

A T Mann said:

Where is the STEREO MIX option in Audacity?
Thanks…

# 29 July 2007 at 4:15 pm

gus said:

there is a drop down list beside the volume slider, you should find audio mix in there.

# 16 August 2007 at 3:43 pm

Logan said:

Sorry, no ‘audio mix’ – the choices are:

Microphone
SPDIF-In
CD Digital
MIDI
CD Audio
Line-In
Auxiliary
TAD-In
Wave

Which one of those do you recommend or am I looking in the wrong spot?

# 9 November 2007 at 3:45 am

Jack said:

The drop down box is greyed out in Audacity. What do I need to do to acitive the menu?

# 23 November 2008 at 11:09 pm

Lenare said:

For thoose who ecounter problems with much of audacity’s bugs i suggest to use simple and free SkypeCallRecorder

# 16 December 2008 at 4:50 pm

peter said:

I agree with Lenare. I wasn't able to get audacity to recognize my side of the Skype conversation directly. So I wound up using SkypeCallRecorder and got a pretty good quality outcome. I will likely only use the Called Party's side of the recording. It sounded a bit tinny, computery but was much better than a normal phone recording. I doubled my voice (this was for a phone interview) into a digital recorder and standalone mic and will overlay that in Audacity

# 12 February 2009 at 8:23 pm

Nathan said:

I'm pretty sure the fact that you can't see "audio mix" in audacity isn't a bug of audacity. Audacity gets information from your sound card and adjusts accordingly, so some people will see "audio mix" others will have other options.