How do I ??? with windows 8 non touch dell laptop.

Steven Cummings · Post by **Steven Cummings** » 16 May 2014 12:06 pm

I've just begun Skype lessons and was curious if someone can tell me how to play a backing track off the computer while running Skype so the teacher can hear me play along. I have a Windows 8 non touch screen laptop and am not to "with it" as yet on this new Windows. Surely theres a way to toggle thru Windows to get that to happen (I hope)

Thanks

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 May 2014 2:49 am

You can get to the Desktop, if that will help. You can even make it look/work like Windows 7. There are several apps out there for that. I use "Start8" in my Win 8 systems and when it boots up, it goes direct to the desktop and looks (and works) exactly like Windows 7.

Start8 is not free ($4.95) but there is a free trial version. Although there are free programs that do similar the Start8 is the best one.
START8

Make sure you have the "Stereo Mix" set as the default Recording device. Most new PC's come with that disabled. Stereo Mix is needed as it allows whatever is on the PC's speakers to be recorded or used by programs.

I'll post how to do all this later, as I'm currently using Win 7. I'll have to boot up Windows 8 to see how to do this, without Start8 or something similar.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 May 2014 3:10 am

I'm now on Win 8.

In the metro screen (with all the tiles), move the mouse to the right side, Click on Settings and then Change PC Settings. When the screen comes up, click on Control Panel at the lower left of the screen.

This will get you to the Control panel, that looks just like it does in Win 7.

To check or set the Stereo Mix, go to Hardware and Sound and finally Sound. Click on the Recording Tab. If Stereo Mix is shown, enable it and make it the default recording device. If its not shown, RIGHT click in an empty area in the panel and then click to Show Disabled and Disconnected Devices. Stereo mix should now show up and you can enable it and make it the default recording device. However, on some PC's the vendor's have disabled the Stereo Mix option (one can only guess but probably to do with "Digital Rights Management" which concerns illegal copying of music and videos.

You should be able to use Windows Media Player to play the backing track and with Stereo Mix it should be heard over Skype.

Steven Cummings · Post by **Steven Cummings** » 18 May 2014 8:29 am

Thanks a lot Jack, I'll give that a go.

All the best!