Q: I’m looking to record the sound that is playing on my computer. I know how to record audio with a microphone, but have no idea what tools I can use to just record all of the sound that is going through my sound card at any given time. Suggestions?

A: We’ve talked about radio stream recorders in the past, but what you want to do takes things the extra mile. Microphones are great for recording your voice, but they have limitations. Instead of putting a microphone up to your computer speakers and recording sound that way, you may as well just record it straight from the source - your sound card. There are several different reasons for wanting to do this. For example, what if you’re having a voice chat with someone on the computer, and you would like to archive that conversation for future playback? Well, you can just have a special audio recorder do all of the work for you.

Most of the recording applications nowadays are including the ability to record audio directly from your sound card. It’s always helpful to take a collection of these applications and read reviews and user comments on them, and because of that, viewing this page will help you to make a decision on what you want.

Preserve those precious tidbits of audio with a full-featured sound recorder.

Have a question or subject that you would like to see covered? Drop Brandon a line and maybe he can include it in a future edition of the Gnewbie Gnook! Also, don’t forget our forums (or, if you’re a Latin freak, “fora”) where Gnomies from all around the world congregate to help, be helped, and discuss issues that may or may not have anything to do with technology!