microphone problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter patsy sullivan
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patsy sullivan

I have just bought my first computer and am trying to get a microphone to
work I've plugged it in to the port on the back of my tower which has the
mic icon and colour matches but it doesn't seem to work.I've tried to use
the sound recorder to test it and it doesn't seem to be connected? I'm using
XP.....please make it simple I'm very new to all this and in my sixties!

Patsy
 
-----Original Message-----
I have just bought my first computer and am trying to get a microphone to
work I've plugged it in to the port on the back of my tower which has the
mic icon and colour matches but it doesn't seem to work.I've tried to use
the sound recorder to test it and it doesn't seem to be connected? I'm using
XP.....please make it simple I'm very new to all this and in my sixties!

Patsy
Click to expand...
I assume that your speakers work; and I assume that you
have "on board sound." That means that you didn't
install your own sound card nor did the computer come
with a separate sound card installed. There are usually
4 or 5 silver slots in the back of your computer; if you
plug in your sound accessories on a row of plugs showing
through one of these silver slots (or windows), then you
have a sound card. This can be replaced if the
microphone isn't working. If the plug isn't completely
separated from the other plugs (for printer, monitor,
etc), then it's part of the mother board and called "on
board" sound. In this case, you may still add another
sound card (either pci or isa -- probably pci) but you'll
have to disable the "on board" sound in CMOS so that the
computer will use the new sound card. My new motherboard
(about 1 year old) had a defective microphone plug but my
speakers worked fine, so I had to add a sound card and
configure it this way. One way to determine if it's your
hardware (sound card or microphone) or software (wrong
drivers or installation) is to go to control pannel,
sound accessory, tab to voice, and test microphone. If it
even appears to be waiting for you to talk (you can
change volume, etc) then it's not the software (the
computer thinks it's working). Probably need a new mic.

You can also try plugging the microphone into the other
plug (labelled line in, input or a symbol opposite of the
speaker plug) and changing your recording device (in
whatever program your using to record) to "line in"
instead of "microphone." They function the same as long
as the hardware matches the settings in the software.
 
Thankyou both, it was the computer using the wrong jack , sorted now thanks
for your help!
 
try double clicking on the volume control in the taskbar and see if the
microphone has a check against the mute box if so uncheck it
 
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