The most common problem users have is recording their final mix. They hit record and nothing is recorded. This is due to not setting your Stereo Mix as your default recording device in your windows mixer. Windows has to know which line to record such as microphone, what is playing, line in and such. Then they think the recorder doesn't record when in fact its only due to not setting Stereo Mix as your default record device so windows knows to record whats playing in the recorder. Below are details on setting your Stereo Mix as Default.

NOTE: If you have tried everything below and still do not have Stereo Mix see the bottom of this page for a Free Stereo Mix Driver Solution.

Enable Stereo Mix on Windows XP

1. Right click the little speaker in your tray down by your clock then choose "Open Volume Control"

2. Choose Options at the top left then choose Properties

3. Then Click the little circle to the left of Recording to switch to the recording properties.

4. Now you will see a list of recording devices your computer has. Make sure a check mark is in Stereo Mix and hit OK

5. Now you will see all of the recording sliders available on your system. Place a check mark in the Stereo Mix box so you select it as your default recording device and turn the slider up.

6. Now minimize it as you may need to tweak the slider level as you record. Once set you can close it and you will not need to do that next time you record unless you want to record from your microphone. If that is the case select Microphone instead of Stereo Mix.

7. Once all is set you can hit the prepare button in the SRS Recorder name your file and hit OK. Now hit the top play button to start your playback then hit the Record button. When you are done recording hit stop on the bottom line and stop on the top line. Now you can playback what you have recorded by hitting the Play button in the bottom line.

 

Enable Stereo Mix on Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 ( If Win 8 make sure you are in Desktop Mode )

1. Right click the little speaker down by your clock and choose Recording Devices

2. You will see a box with your computers record devices. Right click in that white box and check mark "Show Disabled Devices" and Show Disconnected Devices"

3. Now you should see "Stereo Mix" in your list. Right click Stereo Mix and make sure Enabled is checked so that it is enabled then click "Properties"

4. Now you will see the Stereo Mix Properties box. Click the "Levels" tab at the top. Now you will see your Stereo Mix volume slider. Make sure it is turned up.

5. Next hit the "Listen" tab at the top and click the drop down list where it says "Playback through this device" and select "Default Playback Device"

6. Now you can hit OK to close that window. Now your back to the first window. Now click Stereo Mix 1 time so it highlights it and hit the "Set as Default" button. Now your computer knows to record whats playing instead of recording the Microphone. You will not need to do this again unless you want to record your microphone. If that is the case select Microphone and hit the "Set Default button" so your computer knows to record the Microphone instead of what is playing.

7. Once all is set you can hit the prepare button in the SRS Recorder name your file and hit OK. Now hit the top play button to start your playback then hit the Record button. When you are done recording hit stop on the bottom line and stop on the top line. Now you can playback what you have recorded by hitting the Play button in the bottom line.

 

Once you do this a couple times it will become very easy for you and you will understand better how your computer is setup to record what is playing.

NOTE: Some computers have their own sound mixer instead of using the windows mixer. If that is the case you will see another speaker in your tray down by your clock to open that mixer. Once open make sure you select Stereo Mix as your default recording device and make sure its slider is turned up or you will record silence instead of what is playing.

NOTE: Some users report hearing background sounds from their house in their recordings. If that is the case they are recording from their microphone or even a microphone built into a webcam connected to their computer without realizing it. This would mean they have that microphone selected as their default record device and would need to change it to Stereo Mix.

If you need to see the steps above a great resource is youtube.com simply go there and do a search for -- How to enable Stereo Mix on Windows 7 -- Make sure you change Windows 7 to your operating system. Then you will see many many videos showing you the steps to set your Stereo Mix as your Default Recording Device.

If you have tried everything above and you still dont have Stereo Mix here is a FREE Solution for you.

First download and install VB-Audio Cable its a free Stereo Mix Driver for those of you missing Stereo Mix.
http://vb-audio.pagesperso-orange.fr/Cable/index.htm

The download is in the center box its an orange download button

Once you install that a new device will show up in your recording devices box and will be called Cable Output and a new device will be in your PLayback Devices box called Cable Input

Remember you see those boxes by right clicking your little speaker and selecting record or playback devices

Ok now to set them up for recording with our recorder.

In the recording devices box click Cable Output to highlight it and then click the Set as Default button then click the Properties button then the Listen tab at the top. Checkmark Listen to this device then click the little arrow in the Playback through this device box and choose your speakers then click ok to close the box.

Now your back at the device box again now click the Playback tab at the top click Cable Input to highlight it and click the Set as default button then click Properties then the Levels tab and make sure both sliders are turned up then click ok to close it and ok again to close the devices box

Now back to the recorder load up your tracks as you did before and when your ready to record them click the Rec config button and select Cable Output in your list then click ok. Next click Prepare and name your new file then click ok. Now your meters will me monitoring the record side instead of the play side so click Play/All and this time you should see your meters moving which means its going to work and your ready to click record to start recording. You may want to first click stop at the top to stop playback so it starts from the beginning when your ready to record. Ok so now to record click Record then click Play/All if all goes right your meters will be moving and your recording when done hit the bottom stop button to stop recording and the top stop button to stop playback. Now click the button Play button to playback the file you just recorded. If it sounds good your done you can then burn that file on a cd or load it into the mp3 encoder to make it a mp3.