http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=65843
 
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar05/articles/pcmusician.htm
 

Once upon a time, soundblaster cards were not a horrible option for the budget conscious hobbyist. They were certainly an upgrade over built-in in sound. I had decent success with the kx drivers. I suspect I would find it useless now

Yes the sound blasters and some on board audio chips had the ability to record "what You hear" I don't think any proper ASIO interface can do this unless it's via a software mixer feature.
But it's pretty easy just to patch your outputs back to your inputs. Just make sure to set your monitoring so it doesn't loop back, Don't turn on input echo. 
 
What I do now is just go record the "what you hear" on my office computer. Don't care about quality as it's just to listen to a cover tune while learning it. 
 
Re installing XP and optimizing the PC for audio is what will save you time in the long run. 
Make sure and run the DPCLAT test too. 
 
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
 
 

There are many services that let you download mp3s or even WAVs of youtube vids. Not sure if that'd improve your workflow, but at least it seems an alternative.

Sanderxpander
There are many services that let you download mp3s or even WAVs of youtube vids. Not sure if that'd improve your workflow, but at least it seems an alternative.

Really? Can you recommend one? (It's difficult to avoid the malware infested downloads)

I use one called the YTD Video Downloader, and it was downloaded from the CNET site: www.downloads.com
 
It is important to note that the software from the CNET site comes in a bundled installer, and all kinds of crap is sneakily presented during the install process, so that unless you are VERY vigilant, you will install some extra crap.
 
I have installed this software many many times, without problems, BUT I read every single screen presented in the install process.  For this software, the default install options include you agreeing to install some extra software and to make Chrome your default, etc etc, so you have to do a custom install, and STILL you have to uncheck the boxes for the unwanted extra stuff.  
 
Then, it STILL tries to trick you, by presenting a screen asking you to click Next to accept terms, but if you look at the top of the screen, it is for some additional extra software you do NOT want to install, so you have to decline in order to continue on to the actual install of the YTD Video Downloader software.
 
MUCH of the freeware out there these days has install processes such as above.  The YTD Video Downloader itself is a fabulous program - you just have to be very vigilant during the install process, and the same is true for ANY freeware you install.
 
Bottom line - be careful with whatever you install.  I DO recommend the above software, as long as you pay attention and read ALL before clicking on anything during install.
 
Bob Bone
 

Sculpt7
(Thank you for the clock rate & buffer information!)
 
I'm still getting dropouts. (It's improved, but still dropouts)
 
I have a question on using ONLY my PreSonus driver(s): 
 
When I removed my Creative sound card, and tried using Presonus drivers only, I was not able to record audio originating from my PC (let's say from Youtube). So I reinstalled my motherboard sound drivers (Realtek High Definition Audio Ver 5.10.0.5874, Device Manager: Realtek for Audio Devices, Mixer Devices & Line Input Devices). Then I was able to record youtube in Sonar5.
 
Is it possible to record PC source audio (youtube) with ONLY using my Presonus Firepod & Presonus drivers? If so, what was I doing wrong, or what did I forget?
 
When I only had the Presonus Firepod and Presonus drivers installed (no Realtek), the only thing connecting my PC (youtube source) to my Firepod is the firewire. I could heard PC/youtube audio coming out of my Firepod (headphones), but no matter what I set in Sonar5, I could not get an audio signal in Sonar5. All the drivers in Sonar5 were set to Presonus, but nothing. There's no "Fire Wire" option (in Sonar drivers list) like there is for Firepod in 1&2, Firepod in S/PDIF L.  Sounds like you're telling me it's possible (use presonus ony), so I must be missing something.  (Remember, need to avoid feedback.) Can you advise me?
 
Thank you! Greg
 
http://www.presonus.com/products/FP10


 

Most of those 3rd party capture programs for youtube and other streaming services are unecessary, IMO.  MOST modern soundcards have options to record what's playing.  When you have your presonus connected, click on the "I" (for input) on the audio track and list all of the possible inputs available.
 
on my MOTU, the last set of inputs are called "SENDS", there's one for left, one for right and one for stereo.  if I select that input for the audio track, arm the track and click record, it will record whatever is playing currently in the MAINs output of the MOTU.
 
there might or might not be one for the presonus, but check in both WDM and ASIO driver modes because they might have put it in one but not the other.  sometimes driver writers do that.

dubdisciple
Once upon a time, soundblaster cards were not a horrible option for the budget conscious hobbyist. They were certainly an upgrade over built-in in sound. I had decent success with the kx drivers. I suspect I would find it useless now

same here, the kx drivers blew the creative ones out of the water

I sometimes use a site called vid2mp3. I'm sure there are more. Not sure I'd go for free software requiring installation on my computer.