Using A Microphone With My Laptop?

[moggie 939]

I want to make sound files on my laptop so I purchased a (very cheap £2.00) plug in mic but speaking into it even close up only gave me an inaudible sound even with the laptop speakers set to highest level.

Is it the mic being very cheap or am I doing something wrong? The sound recording says WPA sound file.

I went into control panel - sound and set the mic up for max sound levels (I think) or was this for the inbuilt mic on the laptop?

Thanks everyone

[Old_Geezer]

If your operating system detects a microphone I'd figure that the settings would apply to it. If it isn't going well then perhaps there is a problem with the inbuilt microphone ? Can't be difficult to plug in a cheap one and see if that does better though.

[moggie 939]

It's the cheap separate mic I bought and plugged in that does not work!
Thanks

[Old_Geezer]

Oh right. I should read more carefully, sorry. But I still think the settings should apply to whatever is detected.

Is there a different PC would can try the microphone on ?

[moggie 939]

I will try on another computer perhaps - I think it is a cheap mic!

methyl
I have a Samsung Laptop and use IE10

[moggie 939]

Sorry Methyl

Yes - Windows 4 and my Samsung Laptop is:

NP305 1UA 1UA

Thanks

[moggie 939]

I meant : NP305 1UA

[moggie 939]

Sorry typo error - of course it is Windows 7!

[moggie 939]

Yes that's the laptop. it has a little mic sign on the laptop near the mouse pad but speaking into it (as with the plugin mic) shows it works by the waveform on the recording - however when I play the file back I can hardly hear it!

[moggie 939]

Hello - it's me again!

I cannot get to grips with the mic problem so can any one help please?

I have now bought a good quality usb mic which when I plugged it in srt itself up with the drivers and was ready to go. But it is no different...... when I speak into it after selecting sound I stop recording and gives me a WAV file ? which I save.
then when I open the file and play it there is no sound from my recording!

What am I doing wrong? My sound card works perfectly as I can play music and movies on the laptop.

Do I have to open a special program to record sound?

Thanks everyone

[Old_Geezer]

I don't record much so not an expert but I'd figure there must be a sound recording level setting/control that is presently set to zero ?

I'd suggest looing at he 'control panel' for an option to do with sound/recording and see if you can find anything suspicious.

[Old_Geezer]

{sigh}

"...looking at the ..." like I typed.

[bhg481]

Control Panel > Sound > Recording > Microphone > levels

[SlackAlice]

Windows 7 has it's own sound recorder. Go to Control Panel/Sound, click Recording tab, highlight the Microphone listed and click 'Properties'. In the next window click levels and ensure your microphone is set at 100%.

Some microphones can only pick up sounds from a few inches away from your mouth, these are generally headset microphones.