Legal issues aside, the easiest way is usually to use any loopback facility the audio interface provides, most do one way or another.

For example, with some interfaces there's a monitor bus which shows up in the DAW audio device settings which can be used. With others it might mean using the interface's driver/mixer settings application. At worst send the audio to a pair of outputs that are not connected to speakers then loop a couple of cables between those outputs and a stereo input pair on the interface then record from that pair.

Sometimes an application such as Audacity can simply record whatever Windows is sending to the default audio device.

One thing to watch is levels, sometimes the output audio volume can drive the input into digital clipping even if done entirely in the PC, so it may be necessary to set the volume of the source a little lower than maximum.

Ignoring the legalities/moral conundrums...
 
Whenever I need to do something like this (usually if I'm doing a cover and want a copy of the original as a reference in the project) I just use stereo mini jack to 1/4" mono splitter from the headphone output on my laptop into a stereo line in pair on my interface (I mostly do this through my mixer for better input/output level control) and record it into a stereo track.
 
Much simpler than screwing around with a bunch of software solutions BUT any program that is able to accept and record the audio output from Windows (or your browser) like Audacity can supposedly do OR you can route the signal using virtual cables with programs like Voicemeeter which pretend like they are an analog input that you can choose in your ASIO DAW (like Sonar).
 
Basically to do it all "In the Box" takes software routing which is... well kind of screwy and confusing which is why I've mostly avoided it and just recorded direct from an actual analog audio source from a separate computer. My laptop really doesn't have fancy audio outputs at all and the signal I get is totally fine. By putting it through my mixer first too I can even EQ it a bit to be more how I like (which I generally don't have to do). Of course once it's in Sonar I can screw with it even more with effects (but usually just correcting timing issues or even transposing to new keys to learn my parts).
 
Like I said I just do this to get audio in to the DAW to learn covers and may do some light sampling this way which I think, how I use this stuff (especially after mangling), falls under "Fair Use" laws. I would never use such samples as the foundation of a song or play them back in a club or whatever (I ain't no Vanilla Ice, yo). Not really out of some corporately defined legal "morality" but more because I've got enough art in me I don't need to swipe other people's stuff... and clubs can play their own crap and deal with the legalities/fees of it all (not that I play live anymore these days anyway).
 
Common sense and courtesy amongst artists and their works is my moral code. The law talkin' dude crap is just too stale and confusing for me to worry about and if someone gets upset (and they have a reason to) I am more than willing to put their name on the effort and give them their share or just scrap the tune altogether. I honestly don't give a sh*t. Life is too short to spend any time or effort screwing around with lawyers.
 
Cheers.

Way back, when I first installed Sonar 6, I discovered that it was possible to use it to record streaming audio. But after I got wise and added a decent audio interface with ASIO drivers, it was no longer possible. So presumably it will work if you use the computer's onboard soundcard with MME drivers.

Use Audacity.
Set the input to your playback device. Play the streaming audio. Record away.
No need to use splitters/patch cables/etc.
If you can hear it, you can record it.
 

jatoth
Use Audacity.
Set the input to your playback device. Play the streaming audio. Record away.
No need to use splitters/patch cables/etc.
If you can hear it, you can record it.
 

Does anyone know if Reaper can operate like this? I've been meaning to install it on my main DAW (just to check it out on proper hardware). Seems if Audacity can do it the Cockos guys would likely make it happen as well.

Although I don't like the company (well, I had some issues years ago), I use an Internet radio app called "stashimi" by Nero (http://www.nero.com/enu/products/stashimi/). It can record to either MP3 or WAV. It can record multiple streams. Still only the default skin, but a pretty sweet app for $10.

Beepster

jatoth
Use Audacity.
Set the input to your playback device. Play the streaming audio. Record away.
No need to use splitters/patch cables/etc.
If you can hear it, you can record it.
 

Does anyone know if Reaper can operate like this? I've been meaning to install it on my main DAW (just to check it out on proper hardware). Seems if Audacity can do it the Cockos guys would likely make it happen as well.

I'm sure if you don't use ASIO drivers, you could get any DAW to do this.  I use Audacity to keep from having to reconfigure one of my DAW apps to do it.  Audacity is FREE, lightweight and doesn't need be fed or walked every day.
 
I suppose one could set up a special portable install of Reaper configured to use onboard sound devices, but you would essentially have what Audacity does anyway.
 

BobF
I'm sure if you don't use ASIO drivers, you could get any DAW to do this.  I use Audacity to keep from having to reconfigure one of my DAW apps to do it.  Audacity is FREE, lightweight and doesn't need be fed or walked every day.
 
I suppose one could set up a special portable install of Reaper configured to use onboard sound devices, but you would essentially have what Audacity does anyway.
 

Yeah, this is why I generally just use the "two computer/record output of one into the other" system (for now). I just can't seem to really wrap my head around all the driver mode weirdness and what program can do what. I get pretty durned good sound quality anyway but it does bug me I haven't figured this out yet.
 
However I have not really tried. Mostly because I know that over the next year (well probably few months) I'm going to be installing/learning/using something like Voicemeeter so I can do a bunch of the tutorial (and vanity/promo) vids I've been planning. Combo of screen capture, live webcam and various other wackiness.
 
That way I can use ASIO all the way through (via Voicemeeter or whatever). That's gonna be brainbusting enough so just simple routing like I'm gleaning Audacity can do would hold me until I get all that other crap set up and tested.
 
I really gotta get on that shiz. I think learning the video editing software though is going to be the real bear. Maybe not. I might be able to get away with Mirillis Action (for screencap), the crummy vid recording stuff that came with my webcam (I really don't like it though) and Windows Movie Maker for editing (but I've been scoping out some more professional freeware and may even install a Linux partition to get access to some of the even better programs available on that platform).
 
Meh... lots of learnin', thinkin' and kanoodlin' so yeah... some simple routing solutions in the meantime (just to get some test material together or for quick one of shiz) appeals to me.
 
/blatherin'

It's pretty simple using Focusrite Scarlett drivers and the loopback, I would assume most other interfaces with a software mixer have similar capabilities. I do the same thing Craig does - record stuff I want to learn so I can loop and comp takes in Sonar over the "backing track". I could just as easily record the CD (yes, I buy the CD's so that ownership and fair use are a non-issue) but why bother?

wolskyr
It's pretty simple using Focusrite Scarlett drivers and the loopback, I would assume most other interfaces with a software mixer have similar capabilities. I do the same thing Craig does - record stuff I want to learn so I can loop and comp takes in Sonar over the "backing track". I could just as easily record the CD (yes, I buy the CD's so that ownership and fair use are a non-issue) but why bother?

You'd think but unfortunately the FR "Loopback" function isn't that common (has to be done with cabling).
 
My Scarlett 18i6 does not have the loopback function like the "lesser" models do like the 8i6.
 
I actually had to make a serious choice of either getting more physical ports on the 18i6 or less physical ports but access to the Loopback feature in the 8i6.
 
Apparently (and this was the explanation from Focusrite) the loopback function on the 8i6 (and other models) essentially uses the physical wiring used to allow the extra physical connections on the 18i6.
 
So they are KIND of the same physical box it's just those extra connections go outward on the 18i6 instead of going around inside the box allowing the loopback stuff.
 
At least that was my understanding of the explanation. That was years ago so I could be totally futzing it up.
 
Cheers.