microphone problem

[Hollywood]

I can't get my mic to work.  I notice that when I go to control panel -> sounds and audio devices -> voice recording -> test hardware the playback volume button and slider are grayed out.  I think this means that somewhere there is something disabled that should be enabled but I can't find it.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[FLS]

Is the mic selected in recording properties in Windows?
Can you record your voice in Windows?

[Hollywood]

Okay under control panel -> sounds and audio devices -> voice recording/default device I have SoundMAX HD Audio.  I think perhaps this should say microphone but there is no selection for it on the drop down list, only SoundMAX is available.

[The Fugitive]

When you open the properties window by clicking on the "sounds and audio, you should have a number of tabs across the top. The voice one has my microphone information on it.

[Chalenge]

Right click the white background of the Sounds and Audio applet and make sure "Show Disconnected Devices" and "Show Disabled Devices" are both checked. Make sure your mic is hooked up properly.

[Hollywood]

Fugitive:  yes this is exactly the window I am talking about.  Where it says "voice recording" the drop down box says "SoundMAX HD Audio" and has no other selections available.

Chalenge:  Right clicking does not do anything but bring up a "What's this" box.  I am using Windows XP perhaps you have a newer operating system.

FLS:  I am not sure which window you mean by recording properties.  No I cannot record my voice in Windows.

One thing that may be complicating this is that I have this thing called SoundMAX which appears to be a driver and user interface for my sound card.  In the window for SoundMAX there is a "record" window and I have the microphone enabled in this window.

[The Fugitive]

Fugitive:  yes this is exactly the window I am talking about.  Where it says "voice recording" the drop down box says "SoundMAX HD Audio" and has no other selections available.

ok, under that drop down box, click on the volume button. It should open a window with the different inputs. Under the microphone be sure the "select" check box is clicked. You may have to go into the advance tab to click the box for boost. After "OK" ing these swettings go back to the voice tab and click the "test hardware" button and run the windows test.

[Hollywood]

The microphone has always been checked in that window, the "recording control" window.  I have unchecked it and reselected it but that did not help.

[Chalenge]

Probably you have an onboard audio solution? HP or Compaq or I think Abit uses their chip on their MBs?

Anyway... you should go into the BIOS and make sure the onboard sound is enabled.

OR

You have a sound card AND SoundMAX onboard audio and the soundcard drivers arent installed.

[FLS]

Since you can hear sounds your onboard sound should be OK.  Did you use the sound recorder app in accessories to test the mic? Have you tested the mic on another PC so you know that it works? You might try your PC's support site for troubleshooting and updated drivers. Reinstalling the drivers may help.

[Chalenge]

Right FLS. I was just trying to point out that perhaps he has two devices and the mic plugged into the wrong one and so on.

[Hollywood]

FLS: I just tested the mic with the sound recorder accessory.  I don't see the green line move when I try to record and all I get on playback is some very quiet buzzing sounds so I would say this is not working.  The microphone does work on my other computer and I have used it to dictate documents.

[FLS]

Once you get it working in Windows it will work in AH. You seem to have it set up properly from what you've posted.

[Skuzzy]

Make sure the correct device is selected in the games "Options->Preferences->Game Sounds" panel, for the microphone.

[groundfeeder]

Once you get it working in Windows it will work in AH. You seem to have it set up properly from what you've posted.

Not so....i have had on ongoing issue with a gateway laptop for about a year now. All settings i could try have been tried without success. The type of onboard card for some reason, after research, dosent like win-7 and AH. It will work after i re-install drivers, but within 4 to five transmits , or under 2 minutes it will fade away and disappear to just key in beeps. works fine in other " non game" apps