How to Record Audio on Windows 7 with Microphone & System Sound

Melissa Lee updated on Apr 18, 2025 to Screen Recording Utility

When it comes to record audio on windows 7, many people are wondering how they can record audio with or without a microphone. In this article, we will show you how to record audio on windows 7, with or without a microphone.

Key Takeaways

EaseUS RecExperts provides a straightforward way to record audio on Windows 7 with simple clicks:

  • Step 1. Download and launch this EaseUS voice recorder for Windows 7 PC.
  • Step 2. Select the Audio mode and choose the sound source, like system sound, microphone, or both.
  • Step 3. Click the REC button to start recording.

Recording audio on Windows 7 is essential for tasks like creating podcasts, recording online meetings, and capturing lectures. Yet, the built-in Sound Recorder is often inadequate due to its basic settings and limited functionality. Professional audio recorders like EaseUS RecExperts provide a more user-friendly option, offering advanced features and simplicity for smooth audio recording. Let's delve into these methods.

Part 1. Best Way to Record Audio on Windows 7

Ideal for Windows 7 users aiming to record system audio, microphone sound, or both with no distortion.

The easiest way to record audio on Windows 7 is to use a powerful audio recorder called EaseUS RecExperts. You don't need to change any settings on your computer, just customize audio-recording settings on this program with one click. With this Windows 7 sound recorder, you can also screen record in Windows 7 with audio and webcam on your computer.

Also want to record Zoom meeting or other online meetings without notification on your PC? That may be a troublesome problem for business people. EaseUS RecExperts helps you record high-quality online meetings without notifying.

Features:

  • Run smoothly on 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 laptops
  • Record audio in MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, etc., formats
  • Trim audio recording with in-built editor or transcribe text with its AI feature
  • Start or stop recording with hotkey

Steps on how to record system audio and microphone on Windows 7 with EaseUS voice recorder:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts on your computer, and click "Audio" (looks like a speaker) on the left side of the main interface.

Step 2. To record the internal audio, you need to select the "System sound" option on the next window. You can adjust the volume by clicking on "System sound" > "Advanced options".

Step 3. Next, click on the red "REC" button to begin your recording. While recording, you can pause or stop the recording by clicking on the according buttons.

Step 4. Once done, you can find the recordings in the pop-up recording list window.

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Part 2. Record Audio on Windows 7 with Built-in Sound Recorder

Best for users who just need basic recording and don't want to install extra software on their Windows 7 laptops.

Windows 7 comes pre-installed with an audio capture tool called Sound Recorder. All you need is a sound card and a microphone plugged in, or a webcam with a microphone built in. Your recordings are saved as Windows Media Audio files and can be played by any media player.

However, we have to say that Windows 7 Sound Recorder is just suitable for basic audio recording. It only records an audio file up to 3 hours and saves recordings in .wma. For more advanced audio recording, like various formats and post-editing, use EaseUS RecExperts.

Learn how to use this built-in Windows 7 voice recorder to record sound:

Step 1. To record system sound and microphone audio in Windows 7, you need to set up the following:

  • Open the "Start Menu" and click on "Control Panel". Then, click "Sound".
  • Later, go to the "Recording" tab and right-click in the empty space and select "Show Disabled Devices" and "Show Disconnected Devices"
  • Look for "Stereo Mix" and right-click it to enable it.

Step 2. Find Sound Recorder on your computer. You may use the two ways listed below to do so:

  • Go to "Start > All programs > Accessories > Sound Recorder";
  • Type the word "sound" in the "Start Menu" search box. In the "Programs" list of search results, click "Sound Recorder".

Step 3. As soon as you start the Sound Recorder, you will see the green sound bar moving according to the strength of the sound.

Step 4. When you want to finish the recording, press the "Stop Recording" button.

Step 5. If you press the "Stop Recording" button, a new window pops up. You need to choose where to put the file. The file will be saved in WMA format by default.

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Part 3. Audacity Sound Recorder for Windows 7 Free Download

Best for advanced recording for professionals.

Audacity is a free and open source audio recorder software for Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit. In addition to recording audio from multiple sources, Audacity can be used for post-processing of all types of audio, including podcasts, by adding effects such as normalization, trimming, and fading in and out.

Audacity has a useful feature that can record the audio coming out of your computer—even without Stereo Mix. In Audacity, you need to choose the "Windows WASAPI" audio host and then choose an appropriate loopback device, such as "Speakers (loopback)" or "Headphones (loopback)".

Steps on how to record audio on Windows 7 with Audacity for free:

Step 1. Open the Start Menu and click "Control Panel".

Step 2. Click "Sound" and under "Recording", right-click and choose "Show Disabled Devices".

Step 3. Right-click "Stereo Mix" and choose "Enable". After that, right-click "Stereo Mix" again and choose "Set as Default Communication Device".

Step 4. Open Audacity, go to "Audio Setup > Host > Windows WASAPI".

Step 5. Click the red "Record" button to start recording. You may click the "Stop" button again to finish the recording.

Step 6. Click "File">"Export audio" or press hotkeys "Ctrl+Shift+E" to save the recorded audio file to your computer.

Part 4. How to Record Audio on Windows 7 Without a Microphone

Sometimes we don't want the recorder to record the microphone for various reasons: we don't want others to hear us, the voice from the microphone is too loud, or there is simply no need to record the microphone. Then, what should we do to let the recorder record only system sound? In fact, with only a few clicks, you can make the recorder record without a microphone.

Step 1. Click the "Headphone" button on the downright corner of your screen. It looks like a loudspeaker.

Step 2. Choose "Recording devices". In the next window, right-click Microphone and choose "Disable".

Step 3. If you see other microphones here, also right-click to disable them. Then, you may open an inbuilt audio recorder and start recording.

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Conclusion

The following is a comparison table of information about several solutions, hoping to help you choose the appropriate Windows 7 sound recording software.

Features Windows 7 Sound Recorder EaseUS RecExperts Audacity
Ease of Use Very easy for basic tasks User-friendly interface More complex
Recording Basic recording from microphone or headphones Records system audio, microphone, or both Records system audio and microphone with setup
Time Limit Limited to 3 hours No time limit No time limit
Formats WMA only MP3, FLAC, WAV, OGG, M4A, WMV WAV, MP3, OGG, etc.
Editing No editing features Basic editing (trim, split, convert) Advanced editing (trim, mix, effects)
Price Free Free/Paid Free and open-source

EaseUS RecExperts offers a simple way to record Windows 7 audio with only one click. Therefore, we strongly recommend you download this software from the blue button below.

FAQs on How to Record Audio on Windows 7

1. Does Windows 7 have an audio recorder?

Yes, Windows 7 has a built-in audio recorder called "Sound Recorder." It allows you to record audio from a microphone or other input/output devices with some settings.

2. What is the best professional recording studio software free download Windows 7?

EaseUS RecExperts is a top audio recorder software for windows 7 free download. Other options include Audacity, OBS, and Bandicam.

3. Where are the audio files stored in Windows 7?

The default sound file path in Windows 7 is C:\Windows\Media. To change Windows 7 sound files:

Step 1. Type "change system sounds" in the Start search box and hit Enter.

Step 2. Click the "Sound" dropdown, then "Browse", select the new file, and click "Apply".