UPDATED-Default Audio Input in the Standalone, Mac & Win

Discussions that relate to all of SoundSpectrum's visual offerings.

Moderators: BTT, andy55, b.dwall

Post Reply
User avatar
b.dwall
SoundSpectrum
Posts: 97
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 11:30 am
Location: Austin TX.
Contact:

UPDATED-Default Audio Input in the Standalone, Mac & Win

Post by b.dwall »

The following "how-to" is intended for informational purposes, to assist our Platinum license holders with accessing the "default audio mix" for availability as an audio input source in the Standalone application.

Background: It is frequently pointed out that the default audio mix (the sound playing through your speakers) isn't available as an audio input source in the Standalone application. The question we normally get is "why can't I visualize the default audio?"... YOU CAN, but it does require a little extra effort for the time being. SoundSpectrum's Standalone app will display/operate with any sound source made available by your computer, sound-card, or other audio interface (including line-in audio, CD audio, microphone input, usb interface, etc). The "missing" computer default audio mix is an unfortunate result of OS manufacturers deliberately disabling (or not providing) functionality in their drivers and software by default (largely for DRM purposes, so you can't go making infinitely reproducible recordings of the audio playing through your computer). For Mac users, we have discovered a free and open source solution, with configuration instructions below. For Windows, we have finally been able to engineer a solution (SoundSpectrum Audio Cable) as an optional install that must be configured.

----------------- Windows / SoundSpectrum Audio Cable Driver -----------------

Option 1, Enable Stereo Mix (Win 7):
1. Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage Audio Devices
2. In the "Playback" tab > keep your default audio device selected (audio should play normally)
3. Click the "Recording" tab > right click in the Recording window and select “Show Disabled Devices"
4. Select “Stereo Mixâ€￾. It should now be an option in the Recording Tab
5. Stereo Mix should now show up in G-Force

If you do not see an option to enable "Stereo Mix", then the newly supplied Virtual Audio Cable, may be the best alternative.

Option 2, Configuring the SoundSpectrum Audio Cable driver supplied in any Platinum install (Win 8/10): [/b]

Working with a very talented audio kernel engineer, and longtime SoundSpectrum user, we are now including a SoundSpectrum Audio Cable driver in each Platinum installer (thanks Anup!!). This audio loopback driver will enable the routing of your computer's audio signal to our Standalone applications on Windows, allowing you to visualize audio from any application (VLC, Media Players, Browsers, etc).

Here is the step by step procedure to set up the driver on your Windows computer:

- In Windows, open Control Panel > Sound (or search "Sound" in system settings)
- Select the Plackback tab
- Right click on Stereo In and select Set As Default Device
- Select the Recording tab
- Right click on Stereo Out and select Properties
- *Within the General Properties tab, select Use this device (enable)*
- Select the Listen tab
- *Check the box Listen to this device*
- *Under Playback through this device, select your desired playback device/speakers*
- Press the "OK" button (exiting the Properties window)
- Press the "OK" button (exiting the Sound window)
- Restart Standalone and change the audio source to Stereo In.

You should now be able to hear and visualize the default audio signal (what you hear through your speakers).

If you do not complete the starred steps, your configuration will fail. You can and should blame Windows for the overly involved and confusing set up procedures that are *required*. Mac users will have to rely on third party software for a similar solution, such as Loopback (by Rogue Amoeba) or LineIn + SoundFlower (older, but free / open source).

----------------- Mac / SoundFlower / LineIn -----------------

Mac Instructions: In order for your default audio to be made available in the Standalone app, you will need two additional (currently) open source applications. Here's what you will need to do:

1. Download and install "LineIn" by Rouge Ameba
2. Download and install "SoundFlower" a github project
3. Open System Preferences -> Sound and select the Output tab -> select "SoundFlower" as your sound output
4. Open "Line-In" application (this app must be kept running during use) -> Select Input From "SoundFlower -> Select Output to: Built-in Output
5. Open SoundSpectrum's Standalone application -> right click on the screen or go to 'Settings' -> "Audio Input Source" and select SoundFlower.

You should now be able to hear your default audio through speakers while also sending the same audio to the Standalone application! Keep in mind that this is not an endorsement for these applications, and we can not provide any official support for them.

Please feel free to discuss and provide comments/feedback on your experiences with this work around.
Last edited by b.dwall on Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:00 pm, edited 6 times in total.

iflip92
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:12 pm

Alternative to SoundFlower

Post by iflip92 »

Hi, my problem lays with Windows. I have found an alternative to SoundFlower which is called VB-Cable Virtual Audio Device and it is a Donationware type of software.

If you follow the guide you can make it do what both LineIn and SoundFlower do in your tutorial:

forums.blinkinlabs.com/index.php?p=/discussion/68/windows-soundflower-alternative-vb-audio-virtual-cable

Transcript:
1. Download the VB-Audio Virtual Cable driver:
2. Unzip the download and run VBCABLE_Setup or VBCABLE_Setup_x64
2. Go into your Sound settings in Control Panel
3. In the Playback tab, right-click "CABLE Input" and select "Set as Default Device"
4. In the Recording tab, right-click "CABLE Output" and select "Set as Default Device"
5. Go into "CABLE Output" properties to check "Listen to this device" and select your usual output device in the drop-down menu (the device previously set as the default playback device on the Playback tab)

So essentially this configuration changes the path of your computer's sound output from

Windows -> Speakers

to

Windows -> CABLE Input -> CABLE Output -> Speakers

User avatar
BTT
Administrator
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Post by BTT »

Hello iflip92

Thanks for your informative post.

We normally only allow links to SoundSpectrum on the forum. I am sure most members could quite easily search for the programs you mention using Google or similar.
.
Regards BTT

ColorMap Creator for G-Force and Aeon --- SoundSpectrum Forum Administrator.

sharok
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:31 pm

Post by sharok »

I installed the SS virtual cable and it seems to be setup correctly. When I open G-Force stand alone, the input is set to SS virtual cable and the sound section of my laptop (Windows 7) which includes Recording, ... seems to be setup right. But still the sound does not get to the G-Force through "line-in".

How can I fix that?

User avatar
BTT
Administrator
Posts: 2162
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:34 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Post by BTT »

Hello sharok

Not able to help you my friend. Your best bet would be to contact Brandon at SoundSpectrum.

http://www.soundspectrum.com/support/contact.html

Hope you are keeping well.
.
Regards BTT

ColorMap Creator for G-Force and Aeon --- SoundSpectrum Forum Administrator.

Post Reply