Re: Managing recording settings in Windows 7.

[Nick G]

Right, this email will be fairly long, and not quote any of your email, 
because Windows 7 is an entirely new audio paradigm that needs to be 
explained.  The Windows XP way is flawed, this is the way it should have 
been for years.
    Windows 7's Audio subsystem is based on the idea that devices are 
divided by their drivers into inputs and, if the audio device vender is 
clever enough, outputs.  One audio card will almost definitely have more 
than one input, and possibly more than one output, accessible from any 
piece of software that supports multiple input and output devices.  As 
such, you can use your line in and your microphone at the same time in 
different applications.
    The Volume control has stopped being the central mixer for Windows 
functions, that is now the sound control panel, most easily accessed via 
the search box.  In its playback and recording tabs, you can easily 
control levels and such.  One thing that Win 7 is known for is hiding 
audio inputs, such as what you hear.  A simple "show disabled devices" 
in the context menu of the record tab, then enabling them by hovering 
over each disabled device and invoking the context menu and selecting 
enable, will fix such issues.  With a bit of logic, you may set your 
levels where necessary, and use your apps to select which input you must 
record from.  If, for some reason, the apps do not support different 
inputs and outputs, you may set the default input or output by simply 
hovering over the one you want, invoking your context menu, and 
selecting the obvious option that will be presented to you.  With a 
little logic and a bit of thinking on your feet, you will figure out 
exactly how to use this new audio subsystem, and like it.
    Oh, and the listen tab.  That's a little piece of genius for 
internet broadcasters, because any input could be, with minimal latency, 
listened to on any output.  If you had a USB Microphone, you can listen 
to the audio from said USB microphone on any of your other sound cards, 
and record using "What you hear" or "stereo mix" like you would with any 
audio input on said sound card.
Hope this helps,
Nick
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