How can I connect a microphone to a laptop

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Most laptops already have a microphone. This is either a separate hardware device or a device built into the webcam. However, users often have situations where the system does not see the microphone due to its physical failure. In this case, you can use an external one. But they do it not only to fix hardware failures. Easily connect a wireless microphone to your laptop for karaoke. Or use the desktop model, which provides greater sensitivity and sits comfortably in front of the user. Connecting a microphone is done in different ways, depending on its model and the type of laptop port.

Interface 3.5mm mini jack

You can use a regular, wired microphone on a laptop only if a 3.5 minijack port is available. Finding him is easy. Need:

  • inspect the ends of the laptop;
  • find two port holes marked with green and red inserts;
  • make sure that the red port is intended specifically for the microphone by the icon next to it.

microphone input

On a note! Thus, you can connect a microphone to an Asus, Acer, HP laptop. These manufacturers install exactly a pair of 3.5 mm minijack ports on their devices for connecting speakers and a microphone.

combo port

Some laptops use a combo port to connect headphones and receiving devices. It is easy to turn on the headset, from which there is one cable from the headphones and the voice recording point. However, if you take a regular dynamic microphone, you will not be able to directly connect it to a laptop.

combo port

To use an external audio device, have to buy branded. It may be from the same brand as the laptop, or it may have compatibility information. However, such a device is quite expensive. Much more attractive to the average user buy an adapter.

This adapter looks very simple. At one end there is a plug for a hybrid port, at the other there are two taps, marked in green and red for clarity. It is the latter that allows you to connect an external microphone to your laptop.

If the microphone has a different type of plug

Today, connecting a microphone to a laptop can only be done using a 3.5 minijack interface. However, there are many models of audio recorders on the market that may have a different plug. Meet:

  • TS, mono sound, 2.5 mm;
  • TRS, mono, 3.5 mm;
  • TRS, stereo, 3.5 mm;
  • stereo and mono, 1/4 inch.

To connect an external microphone, it is recommended not to experiment with disassembling its connector and soldering contacts, but to buy an adapter. It is inexpensive. The product can be extremely compact, in a rigid case. And it can offer a flexible cable outlet to the connection port, which is convenient for some users.

Adapter

Using an external sound card

What will happen if recording devices low output signal? In this case, if you connect a microphone to a laptop, the voice will be very quiet, and it may not be possible to amplify it using software. To solve this problem, you need a plug-in media device.

An external sound card is a very small device the size of a conventional flash drive. At one end there is a USB interface, at the other end there are 3.5 minijack outputs, red and blue, necessary for connecting a microphone. It is enough to plug a sound card into the port of a laptop.

Sound card

Important! Simple device drivers will be installed automatically. For more complex ones, you will need to download them from the Internet. Responsible manufacturers offer a CD with the set of software necessary for its operation.

radio microphone

The radio microphone is an extremely popular karaoke device. It consists of two functional modules. One of them, a decoder-transmitter, connects to a laptop. The second, the microphone itself, is equipped with a battery and a built-in transceiver module.

radio microphone

To connect a microphone to a laptop, you will need follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Usually you need:

  • connect the decoder-transmitter unit to a laptop using a USB port, 3.5 minijack, sometimes both at once;
  • install microphone drivers;
  • check the connection between the microphone and the data processing unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
  • check device operation.

Typically, a radio microphone has a fairly simple initialization technology. It is described in detail in its user manual.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth devices are gaining immense popularity among consumers. Although the communication range of such a wireless microphone is short, up to 10 meters without obstacles, it is enough for comfortable work with a laptop. To connect the device via bluetooth, you will need to do the following.

  1. Connect the receiver to the laptop. It can be a very small whistle, or it can be a USB-powered module that transmits an audio signal via a 3.5 mm mini-jack.
  2. Install drivers for the new device and software provided by the manufacturer.
  3. Turn on the microphone and make sure it is connected to the receiver. Usually, a small light bulb is installed for this, the nature of the glow of which indicates the state of the communication channel.

For each bluetooth microphone, the manufacturer offers detailed instructions for connecting.

Important! There are models without a receiver. In this case, to use them, the laptop must have its own bluetooth module. If the model is old and does not offer such luxury, to connect a wireless microphone, it is enough to buy and install one of the universal receivers.

How to start using an external device

The microphone on the laptop, even if it is faulty, may not work with the connected external device. It needs to be activated and installed to be used by default on the system. This is done in the following way.

  1. There is a speaker icon in the tray, next to the clock. If it is hidden, in Windows 10 and Windows 7, just press Win + B.
  2. Right click on the icon.
  3. From the menu that appears, select Recording devices.

Recording devices

After these steps, a window will open that lists all sound recording sources recognized by the system. You need to select the recently connected one by the name of its model.

If a device name is grayed out, it needs to be enabled. To do this, right-click on the name or icon next to it and select Enable. It is easy to understand that the device is working by the indicator located to the right of the name. Starting to speak or just tap on the microphone, you can see how the output level is displayed.

Turn on the microphone

Advice! In order for the system to automatically use an external sound recording source, it should be set as the main one. To do this, right-click on the model name and select Use default communication device. After that, when you connect a wired microphone, the operating system will immediately start working with it.

It is more difficult to start using wireless bluetooth devices. If the radio microphone requires only manipulation of the receiver or the manufacturer’s software, then bluetooth models need to be paired before any settings. To do this, you will need:

  • find the bluetooth icon in the form of a blue logo next to the clock;
  • right-click on it and select Search for devices from the drop-down menu;
  • find the name of the wireless model in the list of found;
  • double-click on the name with the left button or select and press the Pair button.

During pairing, you may need to enter an authorization code. The desired combination of numbers is always in the instruction manual for the device. Once pairing has been established, the wireless model will automatically connect to the system.

What to do if the sound when recording or talking is very quiet

You can adjust the volume of the microphone sound using the system tools of Windows 7, Windows 10. To do this, go to Recorder Settings windowas shown above. Here you just need to select the name of the used model with the left mouse button and click the Properties button. It is located in the lower right corner of the window.


In the device properties, sensitivity levels are adjusted on the tab of the same name. Going to it, you should use the slider to set an acceptable sound volume. To save the settings, just click the OK button and close the settings window.

Connecting a microphone to a laptop is sometimes very difficult. This is about old devices — their connector does not meet modern standards. Therefore, to use a very old microphone, qualified assistance is indispensable. The device must be given to a workshop or an electronics specialist for soldering wires to a modern interface. Only after that you can connect the microphone to the laptop using one of the methods described above.


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