Sound card

[Rondar]

I built a computer and I could never get the mic to work.  I only use it for Aces High.  Well, I took a 6 month sabbatical off of here to get some stuff done at home and to just get away, if you will, for a bit.  Anyway, my mic still doesnt work.  I have a GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard and I use the built in soundcard.  Also I should state that I have never ever liked anything about the realtek soundcard in either this or my little netbook.

What might be a good cheap soundcard I could buy and stick it in and work without much work?  I do have an older computer out in the barn in storage I dont use and it has a soundblaster audigy card, but I dont know what slots it has, I just know it was a p133 mhz processor.  If its compatible is it worth it to  put it in or should I just upgrade now and be done?


Currently on this new puter I use windows xp professional and a sidewinder joystick, and a logitech 5.1 soundsystem.  Thoughts?

[gyrene81]

What kind of a mic you using, and what have you tried to find out whether or not the mic input is bad or if you have a bad mic? I'm using the Realtek soundcard on my mobo with a set of TekNmotion multimedia headphones/mic and I have no troubles whatsoever. I'm also using the 5.10.0.5898 drivers from 7/20/2009.

[eagl]

Audigy2 ZX works well for a lot of people.  Try to avoid installing the included software...  Just install the drivers and nothing else.

[Rondar]

What kind of a mic you using, and what have you tried to find out whether or not the mic input is bad or if you have a bad mic? I'm using the Realtek soundcard on my mobo with a set of TekNmotion multimedia headphones/mic and I have no troubles whatsoever. I'm also using the 5.10.0.5898 drivers from 7/20/2009.

The mic "works" but I get loads and loads of feedback and screeching in game.  In windows in the sound diagnostics test where you speak in the mic and adjust volume, on first part I can hear myself talk, but when it goes into record mode, thats when the echo stuff really is bad.  If I make it loud enough to hear it, it just runs the volume up and down trying to adjust itself to the echoes and when I click on finish or done or whatever, it says all is working fine. 

[Denholm]

Is there a possibility that the microphone is being monitored? I know when I installed my current sound-card I had an echo issue. It turns out the recorded noise from the microphone was played back through the speakers (Monitored) and then entered back into the microphone.

[Rondar]

where would I check for that at?  any idea?  thanks.

[Bino]

where would I check for that at?  any idea?  thanks.

In Win XP:

Navigate to Control Panel... Sounds and Audio Devices... Audio... Sound Recording... Volume.

In the upper left, select Options.  Select Advanced Controls.

Under Microphone, select Advanced.

At the bottom of the pop-up, select Do Not Monitor.

Surely there is a shorter way to get there.  I just don't know it.   

[Rondar]

I did what you said... in control panel, but the advanced button is grayed out.

[Bino]

Hmmm... could be you are logging in as a plain user and not a member of the "administrators" group?  Can't really think of another reason off the top of my head why that button would be grayed-out...?

[715]

I have the same motherboard and use the Realtek HD Audio Manager.  Open the Audio Manager (the little brown speaker icon in your task bar) and click Mixer.  Click the right arrow at the lower right of the Playback set of controls until the "Rear Pink" and "Front Pink" Playback volumes are shown.  Then click the Mute button at the bottom of those volume controls.  This mutes Playback monitoring of the mic which would cause the feedback you are describing. 

Now here's the weird part.  Next to the Playback Mute button, for the "Pink" input your mic is connected to, there is a tiny double dot.  Click that for Advanced controls and set the microphone boost.  This is actually the mic boost for Record and Playback not just Playback.  You can't find that boost under the Record panel where you'd normally look for it.  Without the boost the mic is very weak.

[Rondar]

I have the same motherboard and use the Realtek HD Audio Manager.  Open the Audio Manager (the little brown speaker icon in your task bar) and click Mixer.  Click the right arrow at the lower right of the Playback set of controls until the "Rear Pink" and "Front Pink" Playback volumes are shown.  Then click the Mute button at the bottom of those volume controls.  This mutes Playback monitoring of the mic which would cause the feedback you are describing. 

Now here's the weird part.  Next to the Playback Mute button, for the "Pink" input your mic is connected to, there is a tiny double dot.  Click that for Advanced controls and set the microphone boost.  This is actually the mic boost for Record and Playback not just Playback.  You can't find that boost under the Record panel where you'd normally look for it.  Without the boost the mic is very weak.

By gummy 715, you have got me fixed.  What fixed it was the clicking the two mute buttons for the monitor part, and the two little dots that gave microphone boost.  I never even saw that click button til you said to look for it.  Its literally hidden.   Many many thanks to ya.