how to connect a microphone to a computer

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Many laptop computers and Chromebooks have a microphone built into them. How can I connect my speaker to my laptop if I am already using the headphone port for a microphone? Make sure your volume is turned up. Click the Record button to test. In case of a Wireless Microphone, you need to follow the steps below. Open Sound Recorder. Where can I hook up my mic if I don't have a mic jack? By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Be sure that you connected your mic before testing/configuring it. Some condenser mics, and speaking microphones will have a variety of toggle settings, some of which might be louder, or feature a wider range of sound than others. These cables are usually quite cheap, no more than a few dollars. On a desktop computer, the microphone jack is often on the back and identified by the pink color, as shown in the image. Would the Behringer U-Phoria UMC 202 be considered a mixing board with a USB output? If you're not getting a signal, skip to the next section for troubleshooting tips. If the jack is a quarter-inch, the size of a guitar cable, you'll need to purchase an adapter cable that will convert into either USB or (more usually) eighth-inch size, and plug it into the mic port or the headphone port. Make sure the microphone has the appropriate connector. On a Mac, you can do this in the System Settings, under "Sound. If you have more than one input device, you can switch to another by selecting it, and then clicking the button and then the button. ", On a PC, you can do this in "Hardware and Sound," under "Sound.". Adjust the microphone gain to a reasonable level. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. How can I use this mic? Fortunately, we have pages with these instructions, which are listed below: Many microphones utilize a mini-plug connector, similar to that which you would find on your mobile phone, tablet, or iPod. If you're using an XLR microphone, a quarter-inch jack, or some other variety of mic, skip to the next section. Purchase an adapter if needed. I have a mic but a broken mic port. After the software is installed, you can verify the microphone is ready for use by accessing the sound settings and looking through the options. Physically connect the microphone to the computer via USB. Connect an XLR microphone to a laptop or computer The easiest way to connect an XLR mic to a computer is by using an XLR to USB adapter like the one pictured below. This should help you figure out whether it is the computer or the microphone which is at fault. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Where you connect a microphone to a computer depends on the connector the microphone utilizes. All you really need: A small audio interface, which allows you to connect two microphones to your computer. Ensure the proper drivers are downloaded/installed (a one-time event). First, locate any available USB port and plug the microphone into it. Doing so could damage the microphone or the port. Both types can connect to nearly any computer as most machines (including some laptops and Chromebooks) have both. How to tell if my computer has a microphone. If your microphone isn't listed or still doesn't work then check whether it requires software or drivers to run. Go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices and click on Add Bluetooth or other device option in the right-pane. Quarter-inch to eighth-inch converter cables are widely available and pretty cheap to buy. To create this article, 32 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. 4. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. For the best sound quality, invest in a mixing board with a USB output. 6. The instruction manual should list it. The sections below have images and descriptions that help you determine which type of connector your microphone uses. Select the interface (USB microphone) to be the audio input of the computer and/or software. If you see a triangle of prongs on the end of the end of the microphone, that's an XLR mic, and you'll need to get either a cable which converts the XLR jack into the eighth-inch port, a converter box which will convert it into USB, or a mixer. The PIN is usually something simple, like 0000 or 1234. (Quality and … Once you've figured that out, follow the instructions on how to get it connected to your computer. an analog-to-digital converter to turn the analog signal into bits and bytes, some kind of digital interface (such as USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt) to deliver those bits and bytes to your computer. Get a adapter (try eBay) and put it into the headphone port. XLR mics can be adapted relatively cheaply with cables or a USB converter box, but some users find that this can be "crackly," losing some of the presence of good microphones. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 613,735 times. If the computer does not automatically detect your microphone and install the software, you may need to download the drivers yourself. If you're struggling to figure out why you're not getting a signal, you can also learn to troubleshoot in the final section. Enter the microphone's PIN to connect it to the PC. To create this article, 32 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. If the Microphone is wired, simply plug the Microphone into the Audio Port of the computer. Generally, most basic computer microphones will have one of two varieties of jack: an 1/8" TRS jack, which is essentially the same kind of jack you would find on a pair of headphones, or a USB jack, which is flat. If you have a USB jack on the end of your microphone, most computers will have two or more USB ports on the side, or the back of the computer. Most likely if you do have a condenser microphone for USB, it's already running phantom power. After it has successfully connected, ensure that the microphone is set as the input device in your sound settings. Laptops and some more contemporary computers don't have microphone ports, because they're generally outfitted with internal microphones. You can purchase an adapter. Go into Settings -> Bluetooth, then Scan or Add Device (depending on your OS). USB is also an option for connecting microphones to your computer. They are found on the front, back, or sides of desktop, laptop, and all-in-one computers. How do I locate software or drivers for my computer? How to install and update a computer driver. Is it necessary to use phantom power for a mic connected to a desktop PC? Use the computer's USB port to connect a simple passive (unpowered) microphone directly for simple audio work. Simply plug the USB jack into one of these ports.