laptop mic.

Well the approach then is absolutely correct.

According to the Audacity help pages:
See link

Do any of those appear in the 'Recording Device' options?

Searching the several forum pages, the comment repeatedly emerges that Microsoft have deliberately closed the ability through windows to record streaming music.
It then depends on your sound card or drivers of your system if the ability is available. Mine does not. The streeo mix ability is not available. Many others on forums have reached the same conclusion.
What is promoted as an alternative is Virtual Audio Streaming, a software solution. Again, here I am out of my depth and asking questions.
There is an 'Audio/video stream recording Forum' where details are available. I only discovered this late last night. Later this morning I will delve into this Forum for comments.
regards

Hi Thoramay/Shaky.

I would confirm that Audacity 1.2.6 (running under XP) has a "Stereo Mix" facility - called just that under the last option in the input select pull down menu.

It does work on my PC, much to my delight. Thanks for advising of this option

regards
Bernard

I’m afraid that is the sort of ill-informed paranoid delusional claptrap that is sadly all too common on the internet; I have a windows 7 computer and can make recordings of streaming sources without any problems whatsoever.

This is possible but from what I can gather seems to be determined by whether you have a Realtek sound ‘card’ (actually it’s just a bit of circuitry).

To ascertain this click the big windows icon in the bottom left of your screen, then type “msc” (without the quotation marks) in the ‘search programs and files’ box that appears immediately above and hit enter.

A dialogue box will then appear; just click yes and a new window appears. In the left pane click on ‘Device Manager’ which opens up a long list of system devices in the main window, where you need to click the arrow next to ‘Sound, video and game controllers’.

What does it say in the list that opens underneath?

It says...
High definition audio device

IDT high definition audio CODEC

regards

I believe this will work. . .eventually.

First step is to make sure you have the latest drivers.

Click the big Windows button in the bottom left corner, then All Programs, and then on Windows Update in the expanded list that appears.

A new window appears; first click check for updates on the left, then click on the underlined bit in the middle that refers to optional updates.

A list should now appear; if there is anything that refers to IDT or sound drivers tick the associated box, click ok at the bottom then click Install updates and wait until the process is finished, including a reboot. (NB: Other things are likely to appear in optional updates, but please don't be tempted to touch these for now; if it ain't broke etc.)

When you have done that read through this page carefully: Help Page link

This should provide the solution.

I have to get some work out over the next few hours but I'll check back after lunch. Good luck.

I have already been through the drivers update process and also have already downloaded your link page.
Nothing works.
This experience have been recorded in many of the forums I have visited. One poster has been through the process for over a year without cracking the problem.
My friend and helpmate here has a realtec card and he is fine. It seems that this card does allow stream recording.
Have you any expewrience of Virtual Audio Streaming? From what I have read it is a software solution for sound cards that does not support streaming.
regards Thoramay.

I'm afraid not. But looking briefly at the Gaither page it doesn't appear to be a typical stream--instead it is a kind of player where you select individual tracks, and as such I am not convinced that "Virtual Audio Streaming" is the answer.

I still believe there is a fair chance to get your existing system working by tweaking the settings. If you want me to take a poke around your computer try to install a program called "Teamviewer 6", then send me a pm with your pincode/password so I can assume control temporarily.

Otherwise if this is really impossible I think your best best is to get an external usb soundcard. The Audacity people invariably seem to suggest the "Behringer U-CONTROL UCA202", but when I looked at this very briefly the "ESI Maya 44" looked more consistent with the sort of thing I am after. I am no expert on this at all though, and if you decide to go that route I would ask in the Audacity forums.

I think we have explored as far as we can and must draw the obvious conclusion.
I am working on a Dell laptop but also have a desktop machine primarily built some time ago for a media centre.
This desktop has a ACUS P5Q-EM board with onboard sound.
This also refuses me to stream. Just wondering if there is a realtek card that will fit this board and allow streaming.
Maybe I should investigate this.
I am so grateful for your patience. It's a struggle this end which has made your imput so much more a problem.

regards Thoramay.

I am +90% certain there is something trivial you're missing to get this working. At least one of your computers should be capable of running this, especially the desktop with the Asus motherboard if it is intended as a media HTPC.

But I understand perfectly if you are not happy to let me take control of your computer; I wouldn't let you do that to mine either

OK, a quick return to the site you mentioned and I now have a way for you to obtain the 'original' MP3 files directly:

1. If you are not already using the Firefox browser download it.
2. Click Tools--> Add-Ons then search for 'Flashgot'
3. Install the Flashgot add-on and restart Firefox.
4. Go back to your site then play a track. Once it is running right click on the screen and click 'Flash got media'
5. A dialogue will appear asking you where to save it, and hey presto. . .

Have been chewing this over. As I understand this, I will be downloading the video clip. I only want the music. How will this work with audacity?

regards.

Normally the Flasgot add-on grabs video clips encoded as flash; if you ever come across these the audio component only may be extracted/converted using the VLC media player I mentioned earlier.

However, in the case of your Gaither site, the player application is written in flash (strictly Actionscript), which then grabs the audio files from somewhere in MP3 format and plays them back.

Flashgot somehow grabs the MP3 files directly, and offers to save them on your hard disk.

Shaky. Not sure I fully grasp this. I will be visiting a friend who has firefox loaded. Will ask him to demonstrate this to me. I will feel more confident to have a go. Thanks for the info.
Have just discovered Jango.com streaming a lot of Gaither mmusic. This site asks me to join. Nervous at going somewhere I don't know. Do you know this site and is it safe for a newbe?

regards.

Sorry, I don't know anything about this at all.