Ubuntu – Which sound profile will allow me to simultaneously hear and record system audio + microphone input

pulseaudio

I'm trying to screencast with both mic and system sounds at the same time. Previously this didn't work, but I have found that fiddling with the sound profile brings me a step closer.

To fiddle with sound profile:

  • Click on Sound menu
  • Select "Sound Preferences…"
  • Select "Hardware" tab
  • Choose the device to configure (I have two "Internal Audio" and "Logitech USB Headset")
  • Select option from Profile dropdown
  • Click "Test Speakers" to test output

So far so good. Previously I had Internal Audio set to "Analog Stereo Duplex" and the headset also on "Analog Stereo Duplex". When I recorded a screencast in Tibesti and played it back, I could hear myself but not the system sounds (for example, music player or Skype call).

I switched Internal Audio to "Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958)". Under the "Output" tab I selected internal audio as the output. When I recorded a screencast in Tibesti and played it back, I could hear myself and the system sounds. Unfortunately, I couldn't hear the system sounds while recording, which means screencasting a Skype call couldn't work.

The internal audio profiles are: Analog Stereo Duplex, Analog Stereo Output, Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input, Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958), Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input, Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output, Analog Stereo Input, Off.

The headset audio profiles are: Analog Stereo Duplex, Analog Stereo Output, Analog Stereo Input, Off.

Which profile combination and input/output selection will allow me to simultaneously hear and record system audio + microphone input?

Best Answer

No sound profile selection will achieve the results you are looking for. Instead you could mix voice and audio channels (follow link for step-by-step details).

You might want start with this article from the same blog for background High quality audio broadcasting with Flipzu and Ubuntu Linux, or this "weekend project" for a lot more technical detail: Record From Skype Calls and Other Apps on Linux.