capefiddle - Posted - 06/03/2025:  08:28:53

Do any of you use an external microphone to capture music to download to your computer (from music being played on the computer)? I've tried using the built-in internal microphone (using a Mac) and using Garage Band and/or Quicktime to capture the music (from YouTube or other track played on the computer), but in using the internal microphone the playback sound comes out kind of muffled. If you do use an external microphone, does that seem to give good results..... And if you do, can you suggest what make/brand you use. Thanks very much. John.

carlb - Posted - 06/03/2025:  09:34:40

There are a few times, for BHO Tune of the Week (TOTW), when I wanted to play along with the fiddler I learned the tune from. So I play the fiddler's version on one program (e.g. Windows Media Player) and send to output to a external amplifier and speaker. At the same time I used my good stereo microphone (Audio-Technica AT825 through a PreSonus Audio Box) to record the fiddler, coming out of the speakers, while I played the banjo, live.

DougD - Posted - 06/03/2025:  11:12:15

Aren't there apps that can record what's "Now Playing" on the computer, or have they gone the way of the free lunch?

Swing - Posted - 06/03/2025:  12:07:41

I have a no name one that plugs into the firewire plug on my iPhone..I record on either Music Memos or something else from then speaker on the computer, then I can email the recording back to my computer and open it up in GarageBand etc...it is good for YouTube and other venues. it also allows me to record myself or group activities.... as I recall it was inexpensive... a plus is that I can listen to it while driving etc....

Play Happy

Swing

wrench13 - Posted - 06/03/2025:  13:10:28

I use a Blue brand desk mic, used for pod casts and such. Works WONDERFUL for capturing live music when I record at my desk. Gain adjustments and volume.

alaskafiddler - Posted - 06/03/2025:  13:41:53

You don't need a mic, or speakers at all.

There are a few different ways.

Using recording app, that internally allows the recording source to be the output of the soundcard. I've done this with Audacity nad others. I think Garageband can. There are also other just for that purpose of loopback capturing sound from say YouTube. Some are referred to as audio strippers. Some capture the pure digital, that is doesn't have to convert from digital to analog, then record analog back to digital. Should be able to find videos. Some are aimed for content creators, they need to record audio from zoom interview, and other web content, search term "loopback recording".

The old fashioned way, take the output ot the headphone jack, and plug it into the external mic input, either rout direct with a patch cable, or route thru some small mixer. Make sure that in the computer/app settings you have live monitoring turned off, otherwise will create a feedback loop.

Edited by - alaskafiddler on 06/03/2025 13:51:01

farmerjones - Posted - 06/03/2025:  15:48:05

My experience is it depends on the app. The Samsung voice memo app. sound quality sucks. Whereas the video recorder sound is high quality, using the on-board microphone(s). From there I can convert it to any audio format with additional software.
Lastly, check to see your internal microphone isn't obstructed by a case or protector cover.
Once upon a time, I purchased an external mike, that wasn't supported by the tablet. Yes, tablet. I no longer use a laptop or desktop computer. So far, I haven't missed them.

buckhenry - Posted - 06/03/2025:  16:32:37

I use Audacity to record anything from the internet. The previous version had a setting but the latest version; just press the red button and it records whats playing on my computer. After editing the recording can then be saved as an MP3 and filed away in designated folders. I got some great live recordings from a facebook page, and its a great way to learn a set list without leaving home.

alaskafiddler - Posted - 06/03/2025:  17:02:05

I was trying recall some of the apps, and issues with Mac routing. I'm not sure if just Audacity on mac/core audio would bypass the issue, might still need way to control routing? (works fine on Linux and Windows)

I think what might want to try is a simple app like audiohijack which seems like what you want. That site also makes loopback audio which would work fine, but works a little different, allows more to virtually route and combine various audio inputs and outputs, devices and sources. Both have a free version.  

Those apps seem pretty popular for mac, easy to use; of course there are other apps can do same thing.

Edited by - alaskafiddler on 06/03/2025 17:09:47

NCnotes - Posted - 06/03/2025:  20:51:43

To get an mp3 audio out of a YouTube, I use one of the free online converter tool webpages. Just paste the URL of the video in, hit download. I don’t have a favorite place yet…just avoid anything that looks like it might give you malware…!

To record externally (for example, me fiddling ) I plug a USB mic into my Mac. The Yeti was affordable and decent quality, and has some recording options like stereo vs unidirectional.

To mix tracks, I use garage band (free).

Lots of interesting options from everybody!

capefiddle - Posted - 06/04/2025:  00:11:29

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I was not familiar with the Audacity software. After researching it a bit .....I think that would do exactly what I'm after. Because I use a Mac, I see I'd also need to use a routing utility (as Alaska Fiddler suggested) such as Blackhole. This setup (using Blackhole in conjunction with Audacity) would allow me to internally record/capture music without the use of an external microphone which I believe would provide a cleaner sound result..... which is what a number of you were evidently alluding to. So thanks very much for the help and suggestions. Will let you know how it all goes.
John

capefiddle - Posted - 06/04/2025:  08:54:07

Just a follow-up. I downloaded Audacity and Blackhole softwares (both are free... well, Blackhole asks for a $10 donation; fine, inexpensive enough to contribute to the developer's work). GarageBand I already had on my computer. Using both Audacity and Blackhole I recorded music from a website. Saved it as an MP3 file. Imported that into GarageBand where the file could be trimmed of any dead space. Saved the file (as MP3) to the desktop and then dropped it into Amazing Slowdowner. The whole process was very easy and the recording sounds really great, very clear and sharp. In GarageBand the track could be trimmed so like if I just want the first few bars to concentrate on them, that can be done and save that track, export the file and drop into slowdowner. It's a good feeling when software works.

ChickenMan - Posted - 06/04/2025:  09:06:57

You can trim in Audacity too, one less step.


My method for this was always to plug my tascam recorder into the headphone jack and record the output. Didn't know that was an option in Audacity but it makes sense, just set it up to use the computer as the mic instead of my external.

capefiddle - Posted - 06/04/2025:  09:13:30

I was wondering if the file could be trimmed in Audacity. Haven’t explored that yet, but thanks for pointing that out. I’ll look to see how to do that.

DougD - Posted - 06/04/2025:  09:17:04

Don't know for sure, but Audacity can probably also vary the playback speed of an audio file, although the quality may not be as good as the Amazing Slowdowner.

The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 06/04/2025:  09:57:11

Audacity has been a staple free app for recording for over a decade. Acoustics researchers use it routinely for spectral analysis, just one of its myriad capabilities. I haven’t used it enough to understand its potential, but I’ve always been impressed with it.

ChickenMan - Posted - 06/04/2025:  11:05:30

quote:

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Originally posted by capefiddle

I was wondering if the file could be trimmed in Audacity. Haven’t explored that yet, but thanks for pointing that out. I’ll look to see how to do that.

---

Lots of online help to figure it all out, but Audacity can do pretty much all you need to make full on album type recordings. Trimming a file is as simple as selecting what you want to trim and then the edit drop-down should give you options. There's always undo if you choose the wrong edit option, some just leave a hole with silence, but there's another option that will move the remaining track over into the edit space. I use it regularly for all my multi tracking projects.

Edited by - ChickenMan on 06/04/2025 11:06:06