Microphone trouble [computer related]

Factual Questions
1

I have a computer question. No, it has nothing to do with viruses or spyware.

I want to start experimenting with the speech tools that came with Windows XP. It seems, however, that my sound card doesn’t like my microphone. I have to shout in order for the computer to hear anything, and even then, the playback is so faint that I can barely hear it. I have two microphones, both are on headsets with earphones. With the second mic, I can’t get the computer to hear anything, even if I do shout.

My sound card is a Sound Blaster Live! I think it’s the 5.1 version, but I’m not sure about that. It’s a few years old, but it powers my speakers just fine. I’ve already checked the sound controls on both Windows and Creative’s program, and both have the microphone set at maximum.

Do Sound Blaster Live! cards have trouble with microphones, or is the problem probably my mics? Does anyone have any ideas about this?

2

possibly mic problems, in my experience they are pretty commmon.

find out your exact card and update the drivers

if that doesnt fix the problem then pick up a new mic, personal preference is for the plantronics brand #90, I had one for years that finally died due to me rolloing over the cord one to many times, went out and found the exact same one for about 20 bucks at Fry’s.

the first one put up with years of use, both music and Voice chat for various pvp games.

one more thing to look for is a simple recording software…I think xp has a voice recorder built in but hell if I know where it is.

3

It turns out that it was the microphone. I bought a new headset, and now everything works fine. I wouldn’t have thought that two headsets would both be faulty, but apparently they were.

Thanks for your help!