How to Record Computer Audio as MP3 on Windows PC (FREE) - Audacity Tutorial
Learn how to record internal computer audio as an MP3 on your Windows PC for free. This Audacity tutorial covers setup, trimming, boosting, and exporting.
Key Takeaways
How to Record Internal Computer Audio Using Audacity
Recording internal computer audio, such as system sounds, webinars, or streaming music, on a Windows PC is incredibly useful for content creators and professionals. You can do this quickly, easily, and for free using Audacity.
By the end of this guide, you will know how to capture system audio, trim blank space, boost the volume, and export your final file as an MP3.
Important Note: Only record audio that you have the legal permission to capture. Always respect copyright laws when recording internal system audio.
Step 1: Install and Launch Audacity
To get started, you need to download Audacity, a free, open-source audio editing tool.
FAQ
Is Audacity completely free to use for recording audio?
Yes, Audacity is a completely free and open-source audio editing application. You can use it to capture internal system sounds on your Windows PC without any hidden fees, subscriptions, or watermarks.
Why do I need to select Windows WASAPI as my audio host?
Windows WASAPI is the native audio pipeline for modern Windows operating systems. Selecting it in your Audio Setup allows Audacity to capture the exact digital audio stream being routed to your computer's speakers or headphones, known as loopback recording, which is required for capturing internal sound.
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Download and install Audacity for free to capture internal computer audio on a Windows PC.
Configure your Audio Setup by setting the Host to Windows WASAPI and choosing your default speakers or headphones as both the Recording and Playback device.
Clean up your recording by using the Selection Tool to delete blank space and applying the Normalize effect to safely boost low volume.
Save your finished track by navigating to File > Export Audio and selecting the MP3 format.
Fix Errors 9996 or 9997 by matching Audacity's audio quality settings (sample rate and bit-depth) to your default Windows sound device properties.
Eliminate recording echo or feedback by unchecking "Hear other tracks" and "Audible input monitoring" in Audacity's recording preferences.
Go to the Audacity website and download the latest version for Windows.
Make sure to select the download without Muse Hub option, as it is not needed for this tutorial. (If you already have Audacity installed, go to Help > Check for updates to ensure you are on the latest version).
Launch the application.
If you are greeted with a prompt asking for usage tracking, click Disable UUID.
If a cloud setup dialogue appears, check Don't show this again at startup and click the X to close it.
Step 2: Configure Your Audio Settings
To capture the audio coming out of your computer speakers or headphones, you need to configure Audacity's audio setup.
First, plug in your headphones if you plan to use them. Then, click Audio Setup in the top menu and click Rescan Audio Devices.
Use the following configuration to set up your recording environment:
Audacity Menu Option
What to Select
Notes
Audio Setup > Host
Windows WASAPI
This is the native Windows audio pipeline required to capture internal sound.
Audio Setup > Recording Device
Your Default Audio Device (e.g., Speakers Realtek Audio)
To find your default device, open Windows Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage audio devices. Play some audio and look for the device showing active green volume levels.
Audio Setup > Playback Device
Your Default Audio Device
Choose the exact same device you set for your Recording Device so you can listen to your playback.
Step 3: Record Your MP3 Audio
Once your settings are configured, recording is simple:
Click the red Record button in Audacity.
Play the audio you want to capture on your computer.
When you are finished, click the Stop button.
You can preview your recording by clicking anywhere in the middle of the audio track and hitting the Play button.
Step 4: Trim and Normalize the Audio
System audio recordings often have blank space at the beginning or end and might be quieter than desired. Here is how to clean up your track.
Trimming Blank Space
Click the Selection Tool (the text-cursor icon).
Click and drag to highlight the empty audio waves (flat lines) at the beginning or end of your track.
Press the Delete key on your keyboard to remove the dead space.
Normalizing (Boosting) the Volume
Audacity records internal audio at the same volume level it outputs to your speakers. If the recording is too quiet, do not worry, you can safely boost it.
Select the entire clip by clicking the track header (the area on the left side of the track).
Open the Effect menu.
Go to Volume and Compression > Normalize...
Keep the default settings and click Apply. This will bring your audio up to a standard, clear volume without distorting it.
Step 5: Export Your Recording as an MP3
With your audio trimmed and the volume boosted, you are ready to save the file.
Click File > Export Audio > Export to Computer.
In the format dropdown, choose MP3 Files.
Enter a file name (e.g., output.mp3) and choose your save destination, such as your Desktop.
(Optional) Click Edit Metadata... to add details about the recording, like artist or track name.
Click Export.
Once finished, simply double-click your new MP3 file on your computer to listen to your final recording.
Troubleshooting Common Audacity Errors
Sometimes, Windows settings conflict with Audacity. If you run into issues, try these quick fixes.
Error 9996 (Invalid Device) or Error 9997 (Invalid Sample Rate)
This happens when your Audacity quality settings do not match your Windows recording device settings.
Open Windows Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage audio devices.
Right-click your default device and select Properties, then go to the Advanced tab. Take note of the default format (e.g., 24-bit, 48000 Hz).
Back in Audacity, go to Audio Setup > Audio Settings.
Change the Quality settings to match the exact bit-depth and sample rate you saw in Windows.
If it still fails, check the Recording Channels in Audacity's Audio Settings. Standard stereo speakers use 2 channels. Fancy headphones or surround sound systems might require a higher channel count.
Audio Feedback or Echo When Recording
If your audio records fine but you hear a distracting echo or feedback loop while recording:
Open the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
Go to the Recording tab.
Uncheck Hear other tracks and uncheck Audible input monitoring.
Click OK.
Device Completely Fails to Record
If all else fails and Audacity refuses to record from your chosen device:
Open Windows Sound settings and play some audio.
Right-click a completely different playback device (like a different pair of headphones or monitor speakers) and select Set as Default Device.
In Audacity, change both the Recording Device and Playback Device to match this new selection.
Try recording again.
Watch Next
If you want to expand your content creation and audio production skills, check out these related guides:
Can I record my microphone and internal computer audio at the same time?
Yes, but capturing both inputs simultaneously requires a slightly different configuration than just recording system audio. For step-by-step instructions on a dual-audio setup, check out this guide on How to Record Computer Audio with a Microphone.
Can I record my screen along with the internal system audio?
Audacity is strictly an audio-recording and editing software, so it only outputs audio formats like MP3. If you want to capture video along with your system sounds, you will need to use a dedicated screen recorder. Learn more in this tutorial on How to Screen Record with Computer Audio.
Are there copyright restrictions when capturing internal system audio?
Yes. It is highly important that you only record audio you have the legal permission to capture. Always respect copyright laws and the terms of service of the platforms you are recording from (such as streaming music platforms or paid webinars) when saving internal system audio.
