Mic going directly to speakers

December 2, 2006 2:22 PM

My microphone is outputting directly to my speakers. I'd like this to stop.

I can record or play something, but not both at the same time. Anything that goes in the mic goes straight through to the speakers. Since I'm trying to use some 'in between' processing, this sucks. How do I get this (cheap soundcard, AC97) to stop routing the input directly this way? Is is possible?

posted by IronLizard to Technology (11 answers total)

Best answer: You need to mute your mic output. If you're using Windows XP, go to the Control Panel, then Sounds and Audio Devices. In the Volume tab, hit the Advanced button. In the window that pops up, find the Microphone section, and check the box labeled "Mute".

If you're using an operating system other than XP, you'll have to poke around to find the volume controller for your mic.
posted by good in a vacuum at 3:40 PM on December 2, 2006

No, no, what would you recommend when he wants to use the mic? Mute the speakers? He wants the mic active. It shouldn't pass through all data.

Incidentally, I have something similar, and I have this problem. Linux reports

00:1e.2 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 03)

posted by cmiller at 4:18 PM on December 2, 2006

Response by poster: I think I may have found the problem, it seems to have something to do with the duplex capabilities of the card. These AC97 cards are apparently only half duplex, meaning they can only do one thing at a time. I hope I'm wrong.
posted by IronLizard at 4:53 PM on December 2, 2006

cmiller: What I suggested does not mute the mic input, only the output. The mic still works, you just don't hear yourself talking through the speakers when you talk into the mic.
posted by good in a vacuum at 5:26 PM on December 2, 2006

Best answer: There are two modes in volume control, recording and output. You want to mute the microphone on the output menu, the one with Master Volume, Wave, MIDI, etc. But you want to leave the microphone active for recording. When you record the microphone shouldn't repeat itself out the speakers.
posted by borkencode at 5:39 PM on December 2, 2006

Best answer: Data point: I have AC97 audio, and it is full duplex.
posted by squidlarkin at 6:09 PM on December 2, 2006

Response by poster: When I hit "mute" under the mic volume, it turns off its input altogether.
posted by IronLizard at 9:07 PM on December 2, 2006

Response by poster: Hmmmmm, I'm not sure what I did but it's working right now (maybe closing the annoying third party driver?).
posted by IronLizard at 9:09 PM on December 2, 2006

Response by poster: OK, muting the mic output is what works but only if the weird tray icon driver is off. If it's loaded, it cuts off the mic entirely. Not sure if this is making any sense. Thanks!
posted by IronLizard at 9:31 PM on December 2, 2006

Response by poster: I know this is cheating, but while I have your attention my ctrl-alt combination on the left side of my keyboard doesn't work, but it does on the right. They keys arent stuck and they work individually, any ideas?
posted by IronLizard at 9:39 PM on December 2, 2006

Response by poster: Nevermind, it's the keyboard. Probably the flex circuit.
posted by IronLizard at 2:04 AM on December 3, 2006