How do I get my microphone to work?
May 24, 2010 8:38 PM Subscribe
How do I make the microphone in my computer headset work?
I recently bought a computer headset to use for skype on my new computer. The sound works fine, but the microphone isn't recording anything when I use the test service on skype. All the settings are enabled in the control panel. When I took the headset back to the store, it tested fine on their computer. I can't remember what brand it is as I bought it a few months ago, but it's a low to mid range model which uses analog connections. I have a desktop PC with Windows 7. Any ideas?
I recently bought a computer headset to use for skype on my new computer. The sound works fine, but the microphone isn't recording anything when I use the test service on skype. All the settings are enabled in the control panel. When I took the headset back to the store, it tested fine on their computer. I can't remember what brand it is as I bought it a few months ago, but it's a low to mid range model which uses analog connections. I have a desktop PC with Windows 7. Any ideas?
Make sure that the microphone is plugged into the "mic in" jack on your sound card, rather than line-in. If it's just a 3.5mm plug from the microphone, it'll be giving a mic-level signal. If that's plugged into your line in port, it will seem like the microphone isn't working.
posted by aaronbeekay at 1:36 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by aaronbeekay at 1:36 AM on May 25, 2010
Some computers have a line-in, some have a mic-in. My iMac has only a line-in, f/ex. An un-amplified mic's output is too low for a line-in. If that's your situation, the only remedy is to put a microphone pre-amp between the mic and the computer's line-in.
posted by TruncatedTiller at 4:56 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by TruncatedTiller at 4:56 AM on May 25, 2010
Is your computer a desktop or a laptop? If desktop do you know the type of sound card?
posted by MrBobaFett at 5:00 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by MrBobaFett at 5:00 AM on May 25, 2010
I don't know about Widows 7, but in XP you'd want to make sure the mic (or line in or whatever) channel was turned on by clicking the little speaker next to the clock.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:43 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by Sys Rq at 7:43 AM on May 25, 2010
In Windows 7: Right-click your volume control icon in the tray and pick "Recording Devices". Set your microphone to the default. Here you can also see if Windows is picking up any sound from the mic (with the little sound meter to the right). You can also click Properties to check recording levels, etc.
Your sound card's driver software might have a separate application (in your tray) that sets recording levels, etc. Also be aware that some sound cards have "flex" jacks which means the purpose of each jack can be software-configurable, so your "mic" jack might actually be set to be something else.
posted by neckro23 at 1:40 PM on May 25, 2010
Your sound card's driver software might have a separate application (in your tray) that sets recording levels, etc. Also be aware that some sound cards have "flex" jacks which means the purpose of each jack can be software-configurable, so your "mic" jack might actually be set to be something else.
posted by neckro23 at 1:40 PM on May 25, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by defcom1 at 8:41 PM on May 24, 2010