Any PC can be used to convert old audio cassettes to MP3, to dictate and automatically write, to record audio from a website that streams music or even as a homemade karaoke machine, thanks to its audio outputs that can make the computer like a complete recording studio.
In this guide we discover the meaning of the recording devices of a Windows PC and the audio configuration options and then the differences and the way to use the three inputs that should be included in the standard sound cards of most computers, that is: Microphone, Line in (which is another microphone input) and Stereo mix .
Sometimes you can also find the digital input SPDIF, which however is rarely used.
In addition, special devices such as digital terrestrial TV tuner cards can also be added to PCs.
To find the audio configuration options for the recording inputs in Windows you need to go to the Control Panel> Audio> Recording Tab .
You can quickly open the recording devices tab also by right-clicking on the volume icon on the desktop.
To choose the default audio source, highlight the device you want to use and click on Set default .
Most applications will automatically use the default device to record audio, except for some special dictation software which may require a separate source instead.
However, if you activate the microphone, just speak to see the green bar light up which means it is working.
By selecting the microphone, you can open the Properties to adjust some settings.
In the General tab there are some basic information on the device and the option that allows you to disable the microphone if it is not used (which for security reasons should be disabled because some malware could activate it and "listen").
If you are not sure whether the microphone works, you can go to the Listening tab to play the sound recorded by the microphone with your PC speakers.
You can then speak into the microphone and hear your voice coming out of the speakers in real time.
Obviously, this works best if you are using a suitable and quality microphone and then using headphones, so that the sound of the speakers does not return to the microphone creating a terribly annoying effect.
It is therefore not possible to sing into the microphone using the computer in this way.
If you are using multiple playback devices, you can choose in the drop-down list which of them listen to the microphone.
In the Levels tab there is the volume slider which is very important for adjusting the sensitivity of the microphone according to your needs.
If the sound of the microphone or the recordings are disturbed, it may be necessary to turn down the volume.
On the Advanced tab, you can change the default audio format.
By default, it is set to channel 1, 16 bit and 44100 Hz which is the quality of the CD.
There are many other options, including the DVD quality to use if you have a nice professional microphone, or the recorder quality that is recommended to use for not having a disturbed sound.
If you go back to the Recording tab, selecting Microphone, you can click on the Configure button to see the configuration window of the Voice Recognition which is not available in Italian.
If we had a Windows PC in English we could therefore write a text dictating the words aloud.
Luckily, you can use the recording device called Stereo Mixing and Google Docs to transcribe an audio or video file as automatically written text.
I remember that it is also possible to use some applications to write to the PC dictating verbally in Italian.
READ ALSO: Use your mobile phone as a PC microphone or stereo system
Stereo Mixing allows you to record any sound that is played on your computer.
For example, if we are watching a video on the computer, we can record the audio without having to put the microphone next to the speakers, but using the Stereo Mix function and an audio recording program on the computer.
Even with the audio recorder included in Windows it is possible, without any particular difficulty, to choose the Stereo Mix as input and record any sound coming from the computer.
It is therefore worth activating stereo mixing and remembering to use it when you want to record music, dialogue a movie or anything else.
In other articles we have seen how to use free programs to record music and songs from sites, radios etc. and a guide on how to record audio and sound on PC from microphone, web or other sources .
In all programs it is possible to change the audio input to Stereo Mixing to record computer sounds instead of from the microphone .
If stereo mixing is not available, it means that the sound card does not support the functionality.
To finish this guide, remember that even if Windows does not allow you to use two different audio sources at the same time, it is still possible, using a special program and virtualization, to mix the microphone audio with PC sounds and music .
READ ALSO: Improve PC audio and sound and music quality
In this guide we discover the meaning of the recording devices of a Windows PC and the audio configuration options and then the differences and the way to use the three inputs that should be included in the standard sound cards of most computers, that is: Microphone, Line in (which is another microphone input) and Stereo mix .
Sometimes you can also find the digital input SPDIF, which however is rarely used.
In addition, special devices such as digital terrestrial TV tuner cards can also be added to PCs.
To find the audio configuration options for the recording inputs in Windows you need to go to the Control Panel> Audio> Recording Tab .
You can quickly open the recording devices tab also by right-clicking on the volume icon on the desktop.
To choose the default audio source, highlight the device you want to use and click on Set default .
Most applications will automatically use the default device to record audio, except for some special dictation software which may require a separate source instead.
However, if you activate the microphone, just speak to see the green bar light up which means it is working.
By selecting the microphone, you can open the Properties to adjust some settings.
In the General tab there are some basic information on the device and the option that allows you to disable the microphone if it is not used (which for security reasons should be disabled because some malware could activate it and "listen").
If you are not sure whether the microphone works, you can go to the Listening tab to play the sound recorded by the microphone with your PC speakers.
You can then speak into the microphone and hear your voice coming out of the speakers in real time.
Obviously, this works best if you are using a suitable and quality microphone and then using headphones, so that the sound of the speakers does not return to the microphone creating a terribly annoying effect.
It is therefore not possible to sing into the microphone using the computer in this way.
If you are using multiple playback devices, you can choose in the drop-down list which of them listen to the microphone.
In the Levels tab there is the volume slider which is very important for adjusting the sensitivity of the microphone according to your needs.
If the sound of the microphone or the recordings are disturbed, it may be necessary to turn down the volume.
On the Advanced tab, you can change the default audio format.
By default, it is set to channel 1, 16 bit and 44100 Hz which is the quality of the CD.
There are many other options, including the DVD quality to use if you have a nice professional microphone, or the recorder quality that is recommended to use for not having a disturbed sound.
If you go back to the Recording tab, selecting Microphone, you can click on the Configure button to see the configuration window of the Voice Recognition which is not available in Italian.
If we had a Windows PC in English we could therefore write a text dictating the words aloud.
Luckily, you can use the recording device called Stereo Mixing and Google Docs to transcribe an audio or video file as automatically written text.
I remember that it is also possible to use some applications to write to the PC dictating verbally in Italian.
READ ALSO: Use your mobile phone as a PC microphone or stereo system
Stereo Mixing allows you to record any sound that is played on your computer.
For example, if we are watching a video on the computer, we can record the audio without having to put the microphone next to the speakers, but using the Stereo Mix function and an audio recording program on the computer.
Even with the audio recorder included in Windows it is possible, without any particular difficulty, to choose the Stereo Mix as input and record any sound coming from the computer.
It is therefore worth activating stereo mixing and remembering to use it when you want to record music, dialogue a movie or anything else.
In other articles we have seen how to use free programs to record music and songs from sites, radios etc. and a guide on how to record audio and sound on PC from microphone, web or other sources .
In all programs it is possible to change the audio input to Stereo Mixing to record computer sounds instead of from the microphone .
If stereo mixing is not available, it means that the sound card does not support the functionality.
To finish this guide, remember that even if Windows does not allow you to use two different audio sources at the same time, it is still possible, using a special program and virtualization, to mix the microphone audio with PC sounds and music .
READ ALSO: Improve PC audio and sound and music quality
