Audacity Forum

I looked around and couldn't find my problem on this forum...

Okay, I've been using Audacity for a few years now, and haven't had any problems up to now. One day, randomly (for no apparent reason), my mic wouldn't record. It would record your voice if you got really close to it, but it wouldn't recording any distance. Even a television turned up all the way (it's really loud), and the playback after recording is dead silent. It barely picks up an acoustic guitar strummed hard when the mic is literally an inch from the strings. Putting the microphone inside made the sound really distorted sounding. So I bought a new mic, and I had the same problem, I tried the mic on another PC, and it the new mic worked well, but for my computer, it has the same old problems. I re-installed Windows even, and I still have the problem. This guy (http://www.guitarnoise.com/forums/viewt ... 26&t=42216) has a similar problem (I don't have the playback delay though).. Any help, please? I've been recording my guitar for years and I've never had this problems.

Thanks a million, and sorry if this question's been here before.

<<<the new mic worked well, but for my computer, it has the same old problems.>>>

<<<sorry if this question's been here before.>>>

Hard to tell since you haven't asked a question yet.

"I'm having trouble getting my [make a model number] microphone to work with my [make and model number] computer."

There must be thousands of these out there and they all work differently. You can't be too specific.

Koz

Apologies, I didn't realize I had to specify that I didn't want it distorted.

Logitech ClearChat Stereo Headset, w/ Noise Canceling Microphone. P/N: 981-000009 using with Service Pack 2

We progress. That's a straight analog headset and microphone, without doubt powered from the microphone connection on the sound card (pink, maybe). The headset is pretty ordinary except for the volume control.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media ... F8&index=0

We note that the little volume control pod has a switch to turn the microphone off if you need to cough or sneeze during a performance.

This is a detail of how the microphone works. See bottom illustration. Your headset plug works as the top illustration.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audioconnecto ... ctors.html

The microphone will fail if either one of two things happens. The battery supply which the computer supplies and the microphone need to work fails, the sound connection itself fails, or both. This can be caused by a dirty connection. Swab the plug with glass cleaner or vodka (not kidding) and fresh paper towels -- not tissues.

Plug and remove several times and clean it again. Be very firm but not brutal. When you plug in, turn slightly to insure a perfect contact.

The microphone will also fail if the Windows Sound Control Panels are set wrong.

Windows Control Panel
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... trol_Panel

The microphone has its own volume control and in some computers, there's a volume boost switch, too.

If the microphone works a little bit, then chances are something in the Windows adjustments is wrong. Windows panels are a common place to get lost. I never change anything in my Windows machines because it always takes me days to get it all back working again.

Koz