HOW TO: Recording Internal Audio in Ubuntu

[pyros]

This how-to should show the steps required to record whatever audio is playing on your computer, similar to recording "stereo mix" in windows. This makes recording audio played by any application, including flash videos, possible.

I'm using the Sound Recorder application that comes in standard Ubuntu installations. To set this up using other programs (like audacity) just substitute it in these instructions.

1. Install pavucontrol (PulseAudio Volume Control) using apt-get or the Ubuntu Software Center.
2. Open PulseAudio Volume Control. It should be in the applications menu under Sound and Video.
3. Open Sound Recorder and start recording. Playing any sound at this point would be helpful, as your level indicator should react once you have finished.
4. Go to the "Recording" tab in the PulseAudio Volume Control window.
5. Make sure that "Applications" is selected in the drop down menu on the "Recording" tab.
6. Choose "Monitor of Internal Audio Analog Atereo" from the "Record Stream from" menu in the Sound Recorder entry of the application list.

This appears to be persistent so that you will only have to do this once, but you will have to repeat these steps to record in another application.

[DanielMC]

You are awesome ,

I've been trying to record internal sound with xvidcap all afternoon, finally got it working with this. I wonder why such a useful tool is not included by default

Thanks a lot!

[Malcy]

Thanks, that's considerably easier to enable than it used to be.

[leeds_shrew]

Fantastic! Thank you very much - no messing around with Audacity or anything overly complicated. Wickid Innit!

[code_linux]

thank you, very helpful!

[acidblue]

doesn't work for me.
get 'Stream contains no data' when ever I press the record button.

[Eskorpio]

Easier way here (read first comment)

[Rytron]

Thank you pyros.

[randolf_ambrose]

excellent one!!!

thanks a lot...

[cybrsaylr]

Excellent!
Thank you pyros.

One question. Sound recorder seems to record mp3s at only 128 bitrate.
How do you record at a higher quality bitrate, say 192 or higher if you want?