Recording from sound card
 

Once upon a time I used to be able to record any sound I played on my computer with the Line-in input using either WavePad or Audacity, no microphone needed. Before I switched from my old computer for some reason it stopped working, and I can't seem to do it on this one either. I do it mainly to record songs from Youtube Videos or anything else I can't directly extract it from. (My old computer had a tendency to change a random setting on occasion. It was weird.)
... or to record iTunes files.

Is there any particular thing I need to enable or download to be able to do this again?

There's a fantastic little program for Mac OS X that I use all the time to record audio from my computer called Audio Hijack Pro. It's not free, but it's exceptionally useful. It's available from the usual places (although not the current version), and I actually would recommend buying it if you can. (It's that useful.)

I don't think I'll take a whack at buying it right now, but thanks for telling me. :)

What I don't understand though is why it doesn't work with WavePad or Audacity anymore. I used to do it all the time...

It's not the software that controls it -- it's the underlying audio subsystem. Mac OS X works completely differently from Windows in that regard.

Well I found a different solution just now, a virtual sound output/input called Soundflower. Using that I can record anything through the Soundflower input that I play through its output, and I can still listen to what I'm recording with Soundflowerbed, which comes with it.

I've yet to extensively test it but all seems well.

Thanks for the help anyway. :) I'll still be looking into that program if ever I decide I want it.

Audio Hijack Pro is based on Soundflower.

On the subject of soundcards.I know nowt about computers and my laptop's sound is terrible when listening to music.Someone told me to buy a external sound card.Can anyone reccomend(sp) one and will it even fix it.The crackleness is just terrible.

Use headphones?

If your laptop sucks that much, get a new one. An external sound card might help but that would kind of suck to have to carry a box around with you all over the place that you have to use for decent sound.

Ah yes, a new, shiny, fruit-labeled laptop. How I long for one of those.

It may not be your sound card, merely the speakers. Try RV's suggestion and listen to something on it with headphones and see how it works out.

I do use headphones and my laptop is fairly new.Does a soundcard make any difference(carrying a box wouldnt bother me)or should i just suffer it and hit myself for buying a poor laptop.

Jump on the Macbook train. They have good soundcards.

Thanks. Il go see if i can get one there.

Disclaimer: The MacBook train is not a real place. By "Jump on the MacBook train," he means purchase one of these.

The fact that you even had to explain that makes me want to go burn down an orphanage.

I'll come with.

One could say you're jumping on the "Burn down an orphanage" train, which is in fact, not a real train and/or place.

Once again i fall into the lack of internet knowledge zone.Doh!!x20

Actually, that's the lack of common everyday knowledge zone.