Recording from a sound card

Is it possible to record the output of a sound card (SoundBlaster Live!) directly to a file? What software is needed?

If I would like to do that from an external source (an elctrical instrument), is it possible to simply connect the headphone output of the instrument to an input port of the sound card?

@Gregor

Yes, AHIRecord

I used it to back up cassettes and records in the past a lot.
You only need a working replayer (record, cassette player) of the media plugged into your sound card, then set the input source in the program, monitor the input (from within the program), play something back and once the monitor shows playback you can record it (even automate it to an extent).

Great little tool

@Gregor

HDREC and Audio Evolution are also options.

I would connect the line out of the instrument to the line in of the sound card. (Blue input?)

assuming OS4, there's also a "barebones" method requiring no additional software.
please read sys:documentation/AHI/ahiusr.guide.
System Description, AHI Handler

To record directly from a sound card input:

Copy AUDIO:SECONDS/10/TYPE/AIFC/B/16/F/44100/C/2 sample.aifc

All the options are described in that document.
Actually, I'm not sure if it'll record from the sound card input or the sound card output, but I'm not thinking terribly well today.

in any case, it's a rather direct method.

Have Fun,
Lyle

@Raziel/Broadblues/LyleHaze

Thanks for all for advice! I think I will test first Lyle's tip... Not much to really record yet, though, as it takes still long time before I learn to get anything tolerable out of my instrument ;)

@LyleHazeQuote:
I tested this now, using simply a radio (with headphone connector) as a source. It worked but the sound quality of the sample was very poor... ("rough" ) Is there anything to do to improve the quality, or is this a limitation of the method itself?

There are many possibilities, I can only guess which one(s) might apply.

The example uses "aifc". I usually use other formats, though 16 bit and 44100 should be fine. (note, newer USB based audio seems to default to 48000 instead of 44100)

The input you used was either microphone or line input, either of these can be overloaded by a headphone connection. I suggest trying lower volume levels on the source device. A "best possible" solution would be to use line level outputs to the blue connector. It would be SO MUCH EASIER if we had proper "VU Meters" for AHI inputs and outputs. (note, we DO have proper VU meters for X1000 and A1222 builtin audio. I've used them extensively for about a year now. They just haven't been distributed yet)

The method itself is solid. The noise is either a level problem (most likely) or a poor connection, or possibly a noisy source. The "device level" software is doing a simple copy, it's not adding or subtracting any noise.

Using "better software" might give better control or at least better visualization of the levels, but having to work through AHI makes everything a bit generic.

@LyleHaze
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How about the cable...? I used a simple 3.5/3.5mm (m/m) one without any 'disturbance removers'. Should it have those?

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I tested only the line input, not the microphone one. What is the difference between these two...?

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Ok, that's good to know.

The instrument I have uses a preamplifier ("Control box") which has three different outputs: headphone, unbalanced and balanced output jack (https://uk.yamaha.com/files/download/o ... 9/SV250_WT66620_R1_en.pdf). But I do not have suitable cables to test any of them - even the one I used with radio is far too short for this purpose. As I am not at all familiar with electrical instruments, I have not yet figured out what type of cables should be used, and which of these options would work best.

@Gregor

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Signal level. Line signal is "hotter", so connecting a line-level source to a microphone input will cause distortion because the line signal is well beyond what the microphone input accepts.