Headset Microphone Problems

silent87 · 06-09-2005, 06:13 PM

Hi..

I recently purchased a nice Altec Lansing headset a month ago and was disappointed to find out that my computer would not play it correctly. When I went to Sound Recorder to test it out, all I got was an extremely muffled static with very little of my voice coming up.

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 (laptop) with onboard sound and run on Windows XP.

The headset does however work on other computers? What could be up?

Thanks!

ebackhus · 06-09-2005, 07:09 PM

Normally I'd just say it's because it's a Dell, but that's just mean.

Have you checked all the input levels for the audio mixer? You may also want to test it with a standalone mic.

silent87 · 06-09-2005, 08:49 PM

I played around a lot with the different audio levels and nothing seemed to do the trick.

I don't really have a standalone mic or I would try that out.

Thanks for the suggestions.

ebackhus · 06-09-2005, 09:18 PM

What's the age of this laptop?

silent87 · 06-09-2005, 09:56 PM

3 years.

jimscreechy · 06-10-2005, 12:28 AM

You haven't said if it is usb or 3.5mm jack type, please advise.

Are you sure the corect device has been selected in sound recorder? Edit/Audio properties/Sound recording - on the sound recorder program.

ebackhus · 06-10-2005, 09:39 AM

I'm guessing this is a standard 1/8" phono jack. Since you can't try with another mic it's hard to say if it's something like bad contacts or just failing hardware.

silent87 · 06-10-2005, 09:54 AM

The only device listed in Audio Properties is Crystal WDM.

I will try to buy another mic sometime within the next few days so that should help to narrow down the problem.

Again, thanks for the help.

jonharris · 06-10-2005, 11:13 AM

If you have another set of headphones, plug them in to the microphone port and talk in to them. Headphones can be used as microphones very easily and often have better quality than normal mics. If the sound is still there then the issue could be in the plug, the hardware, or the software.

jimscreechy · 06-10-2005, 03:25 PM

The old headphones in the Micophone socket aay!

jonharris · 06-10-2005, 04:42 PM

Haha. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Headphones have saved my life so many times. Mid-lecture panic recordings on mini-disc, covert conversation recording (only did that once, thankfully), convenient dictation (hang them around your neck), so many possibilities. 7/8" drivers on headphones have an excellent pick-up range for brass instruments.

So many people don't know that you can reverse them though. I'll openly admit that I found out by accident when I plugged my headphones in to the mic port on my MD accidentally. It has come in handy so many times since.

jimscreechy · 06-12-2005, 04:19 AM

I think Mr Harris is trying to say you have your Mic and headphones plugged into the wrong sockets and should reverse them

jonharris · 06-12-2005, 02:22 PM

No man, not at all.
Headphones operate as microphones if you plug them in to a microphone port. To avoid having to buy another microphone to test whether the problem is in the plug or not, just plug a set of headphones in to the microphone jack, record some talking, and see if the sound is there or not.

ebackhus · 06-12-2005, 02:39 PM

I hear it can create a very convincing "telephone voice" effect!

06-09-2005, 06:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
silent87 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Headset Microphone Problems Hi.. I recently purchased a nice Altec Lansing headset a month ago and was disappointed to find out that my computer would not play it correctly. When I went to Sound Recorder to test it out, all I got was an extremely muffled static with very little of my voice coming up. I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 (laptop) with onboard sound and run on Windows XP. The headset does however work on other computers? What could be up? Thanks!

06-09-2005, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,313 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Normally I'd just say it's because it's a Dell, but that's just mean. Have you checked all the input levels for the audio mixer? You may also want to test it with a standalone mic. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

06-09-2005, 09:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,313 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	What's the age of this laptop? __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

06-10-2005, 12:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
jimscreechy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 372 OS: xp	You haven't said if it is usb or 3.5mm jack type, please advise. Are you sure the corect device has been selected in sound recorder? Edit/Audio properties/Sound recording - on the sound recorder program. __________________ []Intel Q6600 []2GB Samsung DDR3[]EVGA 790i Motherboard[]2 x Asus Geforce 8800GTX, Thermaltake Duorb VGA coolers[]OCZ 850 GameXtreme[]Adaptec 3805 Raid adaptor A Custom made car is always better than its production alternative.

06-10-2005, 09:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,313 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	I'm guessing this is a standard 1/8" phono jack. Since you can't try with another mic it's hard to say if it's something like bad contacts or just failing hardware. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

06-09-2005, 08:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
silent87 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4 OS: XP	I played around a lot with the different audio levels and nothing seemed to do the trick. I don't really have a standalone mic or I would try that out. Thanks for the suggestions.

06-09-2005, 09:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
silent87 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4 OS: XP	3 years.

06-10-2005, 09:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
silent87 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4 OS: XP	The only device listed in Audio Properties is Crystal WDM. I will try to buy another mic sometime within the next few days so that should help to narrow down the problem. Again, thanks for the help.

06-10-2005, 11:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
jonharris Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 91 OS: XP	If you have another set of headphones, plug them in to the microphone port and talk in to them. Headphones can be used as microphones very easily and often have better quality than normal mics. If the sound is still there then the issue could be in the plug, the hardware, or the software.

06-10-2005, 03:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
jimscreechy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 372 OS: xp	The old headphones in the Micophone socket aay! __________________ []Intel Q6600 []2GB Samsung DDR3[]EVGA 790i Motherboard[]2 x Asus Geforce 8800GTX, Thermaltake Duorb VGA coolers[]OCZ 850 GameXtreme[]Adaptec 3805 Raid adaptor A Custom made car is always better than its production alternative.

06-10-2005, 04:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
jonharris Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 91 OS: XP	Haha. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Headphones have saved my life so many times. Mid-lecture panic recordings on mini-disc, covert conversation recording (only did that once, thankfully), convenient dictation (hang them around your neck), so many possibilities. 7/8" drivers on headphones have an excellent pick-up range for brass instruments. So many people don't know that you can reverse them though. I'll openly admit that I found out by accident when I plugged my headphones in to the mic port on my MD accidentally. It has come in handy so many times since.

06-12-2005, 04:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
jimscreechy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 372 OS: xp	I think Mr Harris is trying to say you have your Mic and headphones plugged into the wrong sockets and should reverse them __________________ []Intel Q6600 []2GB Samsung DDR3[]EVGA 790i Motherboard[]2 x Asus Geforce 8800GTX, Thermaltake Duorb VGA coolers[]OCZ 850 GameXtreme[]Adaptec 3805 Raid adaptor A Custom made car is always better than its production alternative.

06-12-2005, 02:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
jonharris Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 91 OS: XP	No man, not at all. Headphones operate as microphones if you plug them in to a microphone port. To avoid having to buy another microphone to test whether the problem is in the plug or not, just plug a set of headphones in to the microphone jack, record some talking, and see if the sound is there or not.

06-12-2005, 02:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,313 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	I hear it can create a very convincing "telephone voice" effect! __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.