Screen Capture X5 Audio problems

[RobertOZ]

Since I installed X5 Ultimate a year ago, I have never been able to use the screen capture function, always froze at 1 during the countdown, then displaying an error message.

Anyway, I have just installed the trial version of X6 and the screen capture function works perfectly, video and audio, so I tried again with X5, now, the screen capture function works perfectly for capturing the video component( maybe a common file has been updated) but will not capture system audio. If I select Voice over, then screen capture a video, it works fine, the voice over is recorded. So, the fact that screen capture works perfectly in X6, proves that the issue is with my copy of X5, a missing file or .dll maybe, and nothing to do with my operating system
As I am unable to email contact Technical Support, unless I pay them $20 for a one off issue, (they want me to pay them $20 to fix a problem with their program, they must be joking), as X6 has now been released I am unable to redownload X5 to see if that would correct the issue.
I did uninstall then reinstall X5, but system audio still does not record, so does anyone know how I can obtain a new copy of X5 or have any idea of how to correct this problem.

Robert

[lata]

Hi Robert

It is interesting that installing X6 seemed to correct the capture error using X5.
You do not say if you now receive errors for Audio Capture?

There have been problems capturing audio, Corel has some info via the Knowledge Base regarding setting up the pc audio properties.

VideoStudio Pro X5 - No system audio detected. Please make sure that this is enabled in your computer and try again

[RobertOZ]

Thanks for responding Trevor,

There are no error messages when screen capturing in X5. and selecting system audio
When the clip is opened in X5, you can split the audio from the video and a wmv audio file then displays, but then if you open the sound mixer, there is no wave form, only a straight line.
Yet I can capture a voice over without issue in X5 and can capture both video and audio in X6, this leads me to believe that there is a corrupt file or .dll in my copy of X5 Ultimate.

Robert

[lata]

Hi Robert

I think it may be your systems audio properties that are set wrong.

The record options can only use one input channel, in most cases this would default to Line –In or Mic. Recording System Audio should record what you hear, I think for XP its called Stereo Mix.

Even so different Audio drivers will name the channels differently.
Check that your Stereo Mix / System Audio / record what you hear is selected as the recording channel and more importantly that the channel is not muted or having reduced volume levels.

[RobertOZ]

Hi Trevor,

I don't believe that it is my system audio properties incorrectly set, when I select system audio, I set the sound level to max. Stereo Mix is enabled and nothing is muted.

Also I can capture both video and audio if I screen capture with X6, if the system audio properties are incorrectly set, then I would not be able to capture sound in X6.

Robert

[lata]

Hi Robert

Good point regarding X6

Not sure this will help as I cannot check using Windows 7……
Using X5 Screen Capture expand the panel by clicking Settings ( I assume you have done that)
Choose Sound check
The pop up window shows the Input device, is the correct channel selected.
I assume this affects system audio as well as voice, but as I say cannot check this out at the moment.

[RobertOZ]

It's only possible to sound check voice over, when system audio is selected, the sound check button is greyed out.

So, as technical support is not available anymore unless we pay for the privilege, which I will not do as this is an issue with X5, not my OS, I am still up the creek without a paddle, destined never to be able to screen capture the audio component in X5.

Having played around with the trial version of X6, I have to admit that it would appear to have some very welcome improvements over X5, but will I upgrade, knowing that technical support will not be available when needed, I don't think so. It appears that Corel no longer have any commitment to providing 'After Sales Service' as provided free by all other NLE providers, a decision that could cost them dearly in lost sales.

Robert

[Kenneth Evans]

This was posted under another topic (http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49986), but I have moved it here to keep things in one place.

In Video Studio 5 Ultimate, I am trying to use Screen Capture on an application that plays music and has a window with an animation showing the chord progression as it plays. When I try to capture it using Voice as the Audio Settings, it works but the sound is low quality. I assume the reason is that it is recording the microphone listening to the speakers. If I use System Audio as the Audio Settings, then there is no sound in the captured video. I have verified this using Windows Media Player on the clip as well as in Video Studio 5. The sound _is_ coming out of the speakers, and the video part is OK. There _is_ a stereo sound track in the .wmv file that is created, but it is silent.

I get the same result trying to capture Windows Media Player playing a video clip that has sound. It captures the window and the video successfully, but there is no sound. On the other hand, I am able to capture the sound using other programs, such as Freecorder. Thus there is likely nothing wrong with my setup or drivers (and it can be done).

This is on Windows 7, 64-bit. I do not get any message saying System Audio is not available, as I have seen in other posts.

Any help would be appreciated.

The problem is that Screen Capture using System Audio gives a silent sound track and does not capture the sound going to the speakers. I have so far nowhere seen anyone state that Screen Capture with System Audio is working for them. (The problem is usually that it isn't working at all.) The question is then what can be done about it. I understand that Corel is charging for support. However, this appears to be a bug. Is there a way to get Corel to address this problem?

I would also state that there is no point in bashing them, frustrating as it may be. It won't help solve the problem.

[lata]

Hi Kenneth

Yes Screen Capture System Audio works for a lot of users, we only hear from the users that are having problems.

I had X5 installed on a laptop Windows 7 and I can confirm I was able to capture system audio. Unfortunately I cannot give full details as I have uninstalled X5 to install X6
Maybe others will come forward and confirm they can also capture audio.

My desktop is XP---Using Windows XP System Audio is not supported, however the Voice option allows you to do a Sound Check the pop-up panel allows you to select an Input Device—the option I choose here is for a HD Audio Rear Input

Depending on the configuration of your PC’s audio Recording Properties sets the input, I choose the Stereo Mix channel not Mic or Line-In

Now when I capture I can capture what is known as for W7 System Audio.

There are many different types of Audio Drivers and what I see may not be what you see.

Kenneth at least you know that the Screen Capture is capturing audio, although it does seem as though through your Mic, I would assume all you have to do is set the recording option to the correct channel.

Again I do know there is a problem for some, but most users found their setup needed a tweak. I also know that some can tweak till the cows come home and never achieve audio capture.

Kenneth did you follow the instructions to enable Stereo Mix, posted in the previous post.

[Kenneth Evans]

Hi Kenneth
Yes Screen Capture System Audio works for a lot of users, we only hear from the users that are having problems.
Kenneth did you follow the instructions to enable Stereo Mix, posted in the previous post.

Trevor, thanks for your reply. It is good to hear that it sometimes works. As to following the instructions for Stereo Mix, I don't have that on my system, which is Windows 7. If I go to Sound in the Control Panel, I see the following:

Under the Record tab I have several items, which seem to be associated with various ports on this notebook, all of them are currently unused except the one that is checked and labeled "Microphone Array", which is the built-in microphones. When running the application I am trying to capture, the volume bar next to it indicates it is getting sound. I assume this is what is used for "Voice" in Video Studio (not what I want to use, but which works (with poor quality) if I choose it). If I set the default to any of the other devices, then it is still the "Microphone Array" that is getting the volume.

Under the Playback tab, I also have several items. The one that is checked is "Speakers / Headphones". These are the notebook speakers, what I hear the sound from. It also indicates they are getting sound (the volume goes up and down). The fact that it is checked, means it is the current default. I assume this is what is used (or should be used) when Settings in Video Studio is "System audio" and that the Record default is what is used when using "Voice". There are also 5 other devices labeled Speakers [Ws_Audio_Device(1)], etc. If I set the default to one of these, the sound I hear goes away, and the volume bar changes in the one I set to be default. I am not sure what these are, probably external ports. I did try a capture using one of them as default and using "System audio" in Video Studio. There is still no sound. I believe I have to set the default back to "Speakers / Headphones" to hear anything in Video Studio, but there is no sound with it set either way.

I will try to attach a screen dump of the Sound properties I see, a picture being worth a thousand words...

Is there a way in Video Studio to see the sound waveform from the clip. That would be the best way to see if it is truly zero.

(If you click the images, you can see them in full resolution.)

Sound Properties - Playback. There are three more Speakers items hidden that are like the ones that show.

Sound Properties - Record. There are three more Line items hidden that are like the ones that show.

[lata]

Hi Kenneth

It is the recording tab you need to set, you can only choose one option that is used to record the audio.
The Playback tab can have several selected, these you hear on the speakers.

Right click the Recording tab window, does the panel show an option to “Show Disabled Devices” if so select it.

Sorry but will be away from the pc for a while, time to shut this machine down.

[Kenneth Evans]

Hi Kenneth
It is the recording tab you need to set, you can only choose one option that is used to record the audio.
The Playback tab can have several selected, these you hear on the speakers.
Right click the Recording tab window, does the panel show an option to “Show Disabled Devices” if so select it.

I can only set one device in the Playback tab to be default at a time, the same as on the Record tab.

With Show Disabled Devices, I also get 5 MIDI devices along with the line ones. I don't think these are the ones to set or which one to set if they are. In any event I tried enabling them, and it didn't help.

I also tried setting "Rec Playback" as if it were "Stereo Mix" in the article you mentioned. It was originally set to "Default Playback Device". Setting it to "Speakers / Headphones" still gives no sound and is probably the same as setting it to "Default Playback Device". Recall that the problem in the article is that it was disabled. Mine was not disabled. Moreover, it says "You can listen to a portable music player or other device through this Rec. Playback jack." I'm not sure what that has to do with "System audio". The System audio is what is coming through the speakers. It should be associated with Playback, not Record.

BTW in the article it didn't show "Stereo Mixed" as checked. It showed the microphone as checked. I tried checking "Rec Playback" (what looks to be closest to "Stereo Mixed"). There is still no sound.

Is there some way to contact someone at Corel who knows what the software actually wants to do and what needs to be set (in terms that apply to any computer)? The only guidance I have is the instructions in the article you mentioned, and those don't apply to my computer. I've tried about all the trial and error solutions I can think of.

[lata]

Hi Kenneth

The audio channel that you are trying to capture is set via the Recording tab.
Generally you can only set one channel.

The sound you hear through the speakers is set via the Playback tab, usually the Mic is muted as you do not want to hear the mic, doing so will produce a feedback.

When you set the default Recording options to another channel, do so with Video Studio closed, after setting open Video Studio, not sure if VS sees the changes whilst running.

I have just tried my Laptop W7 running X6 newly installed W7 so everything as default.
The Mic is selected as default device and Screen Recording uses that when recording System Audio, did some tweaks

I disabled Mic from the Recording Tab
I set my Stereo Mix as default

I was using Video Studio playing an audio clip in the timeline to record via screen capture.
This recorded as System Audio, I had to increase video studio speaker level to record sound, it did not record via the mic, it recorded what I heard via the speakers.
Can you try one last time, set the default recording to each channel in turn, Increase the volume within Video Studio.

Contacting Corel via the web site from your registered account is probably the way to go, but I have to say there are many complaints regarding support not being free?

[lata]

Hi Mike

Ok I tried another tweak

Your image of the recording tab shows a pc card, third down, I see a similar icon for my stereo mix.

Right click this icon and choose Enable
Right click again and choose “Properties”.
Choose the Listen tab
Tick Listen to this Device. OK to close panel

I see my Mic as Default with Rec.Playback aka Stereo Mix as “Ready”

Try a capture, turn up the System Audio Volume

[Kenneth Evans]

Hi Mike

Ok I tried another tweak

Your image of the recording tab shows a pc card, third down, I see a similar icon for my stereo mix.

Right click this icon and choose Enable
Right click again and choose “Properties”.
Choose the Listen tab
Tick Listen to this Device. OK to close panel

I see my Mic as Default with Rec.Playback aka Stereo Mix as “Ready”

Try a capture, turn up the System Audio Volume

(I'm Ken.) I already did this as mentioned above ("Rec Playback" is the pc card, third down, that you mention. The setting I mention is for "Playback through this device" in the Listen tab which the article said to set, but which you don't mention above.):

I also tried setting "Rec Playback" as if it were "Stereo Mix" in the article you mentioned. It was originally set to "Default Playback Device". Setting it to "Speakers / Headphones" still gives no sound and is probably the same as setting it to "Default Playback Device". Recall that the problem in the article is that it was disabled. Mine was not disabled. Moreover, it says "You can listen to a portable music player or other device through this Rec. Playback jack." I'm not sure what that has to do with "System audio". The System audio is what is coming through the speakers. It should be associated with Playback, not Record.

BTW in the article it didn't show "Stereo Mixed" as checked. It showed the microphone as checked. I tried checking "Rec Playback" (what looks to be closest to "Stereo Mixed"). There is still no sound.

both with and without"Rec Playback" set to default with the exception that I didn't check Listen, since it was not checked in the article you mentioned:

VideoStudio Pro X5 - No system audio detected. Please make sure that this is enabled in your computer and try again

To do exactly what you did, I have just repeated the steps:

Right click this icon and choose Enable (Was already enabled)
Right click again and choose “Properties”.
Choose the Listen tab
Tick Listen to this Device. OK to close panel
Leave the Mic as Default.
Do a capture of an audio clip playing loudly in VS5.

There is still no sound.

On the other hand you are using VS6 which works, according to RobertOZ.

From what you have said, people have it working with VS5. I am not planning to upgrade as I have hardly used this version. This was one of the new features in VS5 and one of the reasons for getting it. It appears to me to be a bug. If so, and if, as you say, many people have it working with VS5, then there must be a workaround.

I am a long time Corel user (though not with Video Studio). In my experience they have never fixed a bug for me whether I pay for support or not. (It's not that I haven't found any. ) The only hope is to get the workaround right.

I do appreciate your help, however. I assume you have no way to get a knowledgeable person from Corel involved. It is almost surely a bug in an advertised feature that induced me to upgrade. That it is a bug is supported by the fact that it works in VS6 and that I can capture audio successfully with other programs than VS5.