March 21, 2009

How to record one's linux computer with pulseaudio

I posted a simple tip to an Identi.ca user (mxc) explaining how to record a skype conversation and felt that others might find the information useful. Here is an elaborated explanation of how to record the sound from a linux computer.

  1. Install pavucontrol and the gnome-sound-recorder (in the gnome-media package).
  2. Open the gnome-sound-recorder and start recording
  3. Open the pulseaudio volume control and switch to the recording tab
  4. Click on the down arrow of the "gnome-sound-recorder" Record Stream, Select "Move Stream" and move the stream to the "Monitor" stream for your sound card.
This should record all sound from your computer if you are using pulseaudio. I have not tested this with skype but it should work.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very good tip :). I'd like to record the output of only one application at the time so I need to add a virtual output and move the stream to this virtual output. It's possible to do such a thing with checking a box in the "simultaneous output" tab of pulseaudio preferences (but I don't know how to add more virtual output and configure then if I'd like).

Steven said...

@Anonymous: Sorry, I am not a pulsaudio expert and could not find a way to record the output of one application (except for simply muting all other applications). You should look at the pacmd and pactl commands.

Mark said...

Ahhhhhh, many thanks! That was just what I was looking for!

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