I need some computer help.

[Lorelei_11]

I hope this is the right place to post this. I'm trying to get my mic and speaker working so I can use voice chat.

I used it for over a year, and then my daughter took my comp to her friends to get it fixed. Brought it back and I think she hooked it up wrong. The plugs might be in the wrong place.

At first when trying to use it, I couldn't hear them and they could hear me but said it sounded really muddy with some static, couldn't make out what I was saying at all. I couldn't hear them.

Then I got on with another friend and put the plugs in different holes in the back of my comp. At first, I could hear her, but she couldn't hear me.

Then I rearranged the plugs again. This time, she could hear me, but I couldn't hear her. This is the way I left it.

Does anyone have any idea of what the problem could be? Does anyone have msn messenger so they could get on it with me and see if we can get them both working, mic and speakers. I have a headset.

 

[retd]

Try using headset without your speakers on.

 

[Lorelei_11]

Try using headset without your speakers on.

I had the speakers off and then on at one point last night as I talked with her.

I was also switching plugs at the time. I don't think it made a difference either way.

 

[Mogwai7]

[Removed]

 

[CowBoy18^]

yea, like the above guy said, all the plugs should be color coded, just match em up.

 

[Lorelei_11]

Generally audio plugs are color coded.

Green - Speaker Out
Red - MIC Input
Blue - Alt Output/Input sometimes depends.

You may want to adjust your volume levels as well. Sometimes there is a Mic boost option in your volume settings.

I have extentions. So, there is green and pink, coming from my headset. They attach to the extentions. The extentions are just black.

I"m computer illiterate.

I know the pink one is for my mic and he green one is for the speaker. Just where the hell do they go in the back.

At this point I can be heard, but I can't hear them. When I first got on voice, it was the other way around.

In tools, then properties. Its has a thing to click for mic, which is checked in. There is a box for speakers, its empty. Should the speaker one be clicked in with a check?

 

[retd]

I went to get pc mike and they said that Iwould need a splitterif I used headset. but with tower mike you just plug in to the red.

 

[fragile]

I have extentions. So, there is green and pink, coming from my headset. They attach to the extentions. The extentions are just black.

I"m computer illiterate.

I know the pink one is for my mic and he green one is for the speaker. Just where the hell do they go in the back.

At this point I can be heard, but I can't hear them. When I first got on voice, it was the other way around.

In tools, then properties. Its has a thing to click for mic, which is checked in. There is a box for speakers, its empty. Should the speaker one be clicked in with a check?

if you have speakers and a headset then either you need to get a splitter to split the sound output between your speakers and the earpieces of your headset, or get a pair of speakers that have a headphone jack right on one of the speakers. If you had a more sophisticated sound card, then you could have seperate outputs for the speakers and your headphones. I have this type, the more sophisticated. I guess most of your cheapo systems from Dell etc, come with basic on-board sound cards and just the bare minimum jacks on the back. You can PM me if you need more help with this. thanks!!

 

[Lorelei_11]

if you have speakers and a headset then either you need to get a splitter to split the sound output between your speakers and the earpieces of your headset, or get a pair of speakers that have a headphone jack right on one of the speakers. If you had a more sophisticated sound card, then you could have seperate outputs for the speakers and your headphones. I have this type, the more sophisticated. I guess most of your cheapo systems from Dell etc, come with basic on-board sound cards and just the bare minimum jacks on the back. You can PM me if you need more help with this. thanks!!

There is a jack in the speaker. I used this for over a year everyday, until my comp had problems and was fixed. It had to be re hooked up when my daughter brought it home.

 

[Lorelei_11]

I went to get pc mike and they said that Iwould need a splitterif I used headset. but with tower mike you just plug in to the red.

I had used this every day for over a year, the way it is.

 

[Lorelei_11]

Generally audio plugs are color coded.

Green - Speaker Out
Red - MIC Input
Blue - Alt Output/Input sometimes depends.

You may want to adjust your volume levels as well. Sometimes there is a Mic boost option in your volume settings.

The plugs in the back are all black. My comp is very old.

 

[Weird Harold]

The plugs in the back are all black. My comp is very old.

There should be symbols or abbreviations stamped in the metal next to each connector in that case.

A quick google search didn't turn up any images of the standard symbols for MIC, SPKR, Aux Out an Aux In, but the pictographs are fairly intuitive -- a picture of speaker, a picture of a microphone, a picture of headsets, etc.

If you're using extension cables, you need to label the extension cables with piece of masking tape once you look at the back of the computer to confirm which connection they're plugged into.

Since you can be heard, the MIC connection is correct -- don't change that cable.

Since your computer/sound card is old, it probably doesn't have a separate connection for a headset and you need to decide whether you want all sound through the headset or through the speakers -- your best option is to get speakers with a headset jack on them and use that for the headset connection so you don't have to change the connection once you get it right.

Since the MIC connection is correct, you should only have a SPKR and Aux IN to choose from for the other connection.

You should also check your Mixer settings to make sure that the needed channels aren't muted. Depending on what Mixer program you have, it may have separate volume and mute setttings for CD Audio, WAV Audio, MP3 audio and MIDI Audio. Make sure that you can play MP3, MIDI and WAV files to ensure you have all of the virtual sound devices enabled.

 

[Lorelei_11]

There should be symbols or abbreviations stamped in the metal next to each connector in that case.

A quick google search didn't turn up any images of the standard symbols for MIC, SPKR, Aux Out an Aux In, but the pictographs are fairly intuitive -- a picture of speaker, a picture of a microphone, a picture of headsets, etc.

If you're using extension cables, you need to label the extension cables with piece of masking tape once you look at the back of the computer to confirm which connection they're plugged into.

Since you can be heard, the MIC connection is correct -- don't change that cable.

Since your computer/sound card is old, it probably doesn't have a separate connection for a headset and you need to decide whether you want all sound through the headset or through the speakers -- your best option is to get speakers with a headset jack on them and use that for the headset connection so you don't have to change the connection once you get it right.

Since the MIC connection is correct, you should only have a SPKR and Aux IN to choose from for the other connection.

You should also check your Mixer settings to make sure that the needed channels aren't muted. Depending on what Mixer program you have, it may have separate volume and mute setttings for CD Audio, WAV Audio, MP3 audio and MIDI Audio. Make sure that you can play MP3, MIDI and WAV files to ensure you have all of the virtual sound devices enabled.

I can't see the symbols back there, the computer is in a place hard to get to. I can barely see the holes. Anyway, if I really move things around and squish myself in there perhaps I could see the symbols. Why not just keep trying each hole? The mic is working. I will leave it where it is.

My speakers do have a headset jack in them. The wire is plugged into them.

O.k, I have been there, in the volume control thing, and through tools and then properties in msn messenger. Thanks, I'll make sure they aren't muted.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm going to need someone to get back on msn messenger with me so I can change things around again and see if they work.

Any volunteers?

 

[MagicFingers]

Sounds good

...I can barely see the holes. ... Why not just keep trying each hole? Any volunteers?

I like the idea of trying each hole.

 

[Lorelei_11]

I like the idea of trying each hole.

Lately I have too.

So this is what you were talking about. lol

 

[Lorelei_11]

There should be symbols or abbreviations stamped in the metal next to each connector in that case.

A quick google search didn't turn up any images of the standard symbols for MIC, SPKR, Aux Out an Aux In, but the pictographs are fairly intuitive -- a picture of speaker, a picture of a microphone, a picture of headsets, etc.

If you're using extension cables, you need to label the extension cables with piece of masking tape once you look at the back of the computer to confirm which connection they're plugged into.

Since you can be heard, the MIC connection is correct -- don't change that cable.

Since your computer/sound card is old, it probably doesn't have a separate connection for a headset and you need to decide whether you want all sound through the headset or through the speakers -- your best option is to get speakers with a headset jack on them and use that for the headset connection so you don't have to change the connection once you get it right.

Since the MIC connection is correct, you should only have a SPKR and Aux IN to choose from for the other connection.

You should also check your Mixer settings to make sure that the needed channels aren't muted. Depending on what Mixer program you have, it may have separate volume and mute setttings for CD Audio, WAV Audio, MP3 audio and MIDI Audio. Make sure that you can play MP3, MIDI and WAV files to ensure you have all of the virtual sound devices enabled.

I'm going to keep the mic cable there. I just need someone to get on messenger with me so I can switch around the speaker cable in the back until I get the right one. Thats turning out to be impossible, no volunteers.

I checked and all of the above cd audio and everything on the volume control is fine. Nothing is muted. The midi balance is blocked out in grey though. The box is not usable.

 

[darkelf9]

I'm going to keep the mic cable there. I just need someone to get on messenger with me so I can switch around the speaker cable in the back until I get the right one. Thats turning out to be impossible, no volunteers.

I checked and all of the above cd audio and everything on the volume control is fine. Nothing is muted. The midi balance is blocked out in grey though. The box is not usable.

well if your box isn't usable, I'm not surprised you can't get any volunteers...you either need a new computer or a new operator...I think the computer thinks so too..

 

[Lorelei_11]

well if your box isn't usable, I'm not surprised you can't get any volunteers...you either need a new computer or a new operator...I think the computer thinks so too..

LOL.. neither of those things is going to happen. So, I'm screwed!