In today’s article we will tell you how to choose and connect a microphone correctly to a laptop with one headphone jack, and we will write step-by-step instructions for setting up the microphone after connecting it to the computer.
Today, a microphone is an integral part of online communication. If you want to share short news with someone, then, of course, you can simply send a message, but for a long conversation, this option is not always convenient. However, connecting and setting up your first microphone can be quite challenging.
Additionally, unlike desktop PCs, which usually have every possible port available, some laptops may simply not have room to connect. In this article we will talk about how to choose the right microphone, how to connect a microphone to a laptop and, of course, how to configure it correctly.
How to choose the right microphone
In this article, we will not talk about which company you should choose, or what price to focus on when choosing a microphone. We will only talk about how to choose a microphone suitable for your computer (laptop).
As mentioned earlier, not all modern laptops are equipped with all the connectors that a user may need. This happens because the laptop is more compact than the system unit, and therefore has much less space; its creators have to sacrifice something in order to fit an extra USB port or HDMI connector.
Not many people know, but modern microphones can be connected through three contact options:
- Audio jack 3.5 millimeters.
- Audio jack 6.3 mm.
- USB serial port (not to be confused with a regular one).
Before purchasing, you should look at what types of connectors are on the body of your laptop and, based on this, select the appropriate equipment. It is worth noting that most laptops are equipped with a USB serial port and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
But the 6.3 mm audio jack connector is very rare. Moreover, microphones with this connection have better sound quality than the first two options. If your laptop doesn’t have a suitable connector, don’t worry, you can easily find adapters that allow you to connect a 6.3 mm audio jack to a 3.5 mm jack.
Wireless alternative
Almost all laptops today are equipped with Bluetooth. It would seem that if you decide to spend money on a wireless headset, you will immediately eliminate all problems with plug compatibility, plus you will gain in mobility. However, there are several nuances:
- Sound quality. All modern laptops have Bluetooth, but not all support high-quality sound. If you are a music lover, make sure that your laptop adapter supports aptX technology. Perhaps you will need to “dance with a tambourine” to activate it. Then it makes sense to buy a headset that also supports aptX or even aptX HD. Otherwise the sound will be mediocre.
- Sound delay. This mainly applies to “fully wireless” solutions like Apple AirPods and their clones. Latency can be measured in milliseconds. But if you play fast-paced FPS games or create music using MIDI instruments, then even milliseconds matter.
- The wireless headset needs to be charged. If, having worked too hard or played too much, you do not pay attention to her signals, then you will have to take a long, unpleasant pause.
If you are willing to put up with these features, then you should at least consider this alternative.
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How to connect a microphone to a laptop with one headphone jack
It’s also worth asking what to do if there is no microphone input at all and the laptop has only one headphone jack, how to connect a microphone in this case? The fact is that not all laptops are equipped with two separate connectors for a microphone and headphones; some of them have one combined connector. The main problem with such a connector is that if you connect a regular microphone to it, it most likely will not work (headphones, by the way, work fine).
You have two options for how to connect a microphone to a laptop with one headphone jack.
The first option is to buy a special adapter for this type of connector; This method is optimal due to its low cost and practicality.
The second option is to buy an external sound card; This method is not very practical, since the external card will occupy one of your USB ports and costs an order of magnitude more.
At the same time, of course, based on the allowable expenditure of funds.
Standard option for connecting a microphone
First, let's look at a fairly common method that can definitely be handled by a person who does not have special skills and knowledge. So, below are the actions, and it is recommended to adhere to them:
If we talk about standard connectors in a laptop, then it is worth remembering the figure of 3.5 millimeters. As for the output plug of the device itself, there are two holes. The first of them has a measurement of 6.5 mm, and the second - 3.5. Accordingly, we will use the last of them. Since to use a non-standard output it is necessary to purchase a special adapter. It can be purchased at audio equipment stores.
- Thus, when everything is clear with the connectors, certain parts are in service, you can start connecting the elements. To do this, you should find the necessary recesses on the side panel of the laptop. The color of the connector, of course, directly depends on the manufacturer of the design, however, most often you can notice such inherent shades as orange or pink. Consequently, the next step is to insert the plug until it makes a characteristic click.
- After this, a connection notification should appear on the device’s screen, and an icon should appear on the taskbar. It is usually located close to the specified time.
Bluetooth connection
Thanks to modern technologies, you can increasingly find a kit that consists of a microphone with a built-in speaker. This is exactly the design that is installed using bluetooth. The process of activating the equipment is as simple as possible and involves the following actions:
- First of all, the unit turns on.
- Next, on the laptop you need to click on the Bluetooth icon. After that, a list will be displayed, in it you need to mark the desired name. Pairing will only take place after the speaker is selected as the main device for sound output.
Thus, as you can see, you do not have to connect the microphone itself.
Finally, you should decide on the file and run it with the text. Receiving the voice will be done independently in the same way as receiving the signal and mixing the sound with the vocals. Due to the fact that there will be no additional transmission of voice to the speaker, the singing itself, of course, will not be delayed.
As for the controls, there are specialized buttons located directly on the device body. Most often this is the most common mixer. With its help, you can adjust not only the volume of music and voice, but also the application of various effects. So it is possible to create an interesting addition to the performance, for example, echo or distortion.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting a microphone to a laptop
It would seem that it’s so difficult to connect a microphone to a computer, plug the wire into the right connector and that’s it. But in reality everything is a little more complicated.
For the microphone to work correctly, you will first need drivers for it. There are a number of devices called Plug&Play that install drivers automatically and do not require your participation. But if you do not have such a microphone, then you will have to install the necessary software.
Most often, a disk with all the necessary drivers comes with a microphone. If you have such a disk, then all you need to do is insert it into the drive, run it and follow the instructions of the installation wizard. If there is no such disk, then you can probably find the necessary software on the microphone manufacturer’s website. Once you download them, the instructions are the same.
How to connect a webcam with microphone to a laptop
Also, some users have a question about how to connect a webcam with a microphone to a laptop. Most modern cameras are connected via a regular USB port, but some models, including most older ones, have a separate wire for connecting a microphone via an audio jack. This allows you to use the microphone separately from the camera, which is sometimes very convenient. All setup and connection are carried out in exactly the same way as when working with a regular microphone.
Choosing the Best Headset Microphone for You
An important part of this whole story is purchasing the right headset for yourself. You'll need to consider a number of factors to help you buy the best headset microphone for yourself, and we'll advise you on what you should look for in a headset before you actually buy it.
Comfort
The design of the headset must be perfect in the sense that it provides maximum comfort. Not all headphones are comfortable to wear. Or, even if they are comfortable, after you wear them for a while, they tend to hurt your ears and the areas around them.
A headset with a wire must be designed so that the cord attached to it does not dangle and interfere with operation. Additionally, a good headset will also enhance your gaming sessions. If you are a gamer, then this is true. Even if this is not the case, comfort is the first thing you should look for in headphones.
Build quality
The build quality is what makes the pair of headsets stand out. When you choose one for yourself, make sure you choose one that will last a long time and has quality in its performance as well as its aesthetics.
Additionally, this feature will affect the price and style of your headset. For even more comfort, you can buy gold-plated connectors with excellent bending resistance that provide ample strength and dexterity.
Make sure the headphone jack has oxygen-free copper braiding. The delicate and durable structure will also help him maintain balance on his head.
Brand
It's actually true when people say that the quality of the headset matters a lot. Although these brands can get expensive, the sound they provide is absolutely top-notch.
Some of the most effective brands are JBL, Bose and Sennheiser, which have the best and clearest sound that will ever grace your ears. The headphones from these brands also have built-in microphones that you can use as well. These companies make reliable and durable products that will last for a long time without the need for any replacements.
Microphone settings
Now that we have figured out how to connect a microphone to a laptop, all that remains is to configure it. The most important thing about a microphone is the sound quality it produces. To check this very quality, you can try to record your speech, and then listen to it and determine if everything is good. This is done like this:
- Open the Start .
- Open the “ All Programs ” tab.
- Find the “ Standard ” folder in the list, and in it the “ Sound Recording ” shortcut.
- A window will appear in front of you, here click “ Start recording ”, say a few phrases into the microphone and save the resulting audio file.
Now all that remains is to run your file and listen to it. If you are satisfied with the sound quality, then you do not need any adjustments. If not, then read on.
Setting for Windows XP:
- Open “ Control Panel ”.
- Go to the “ Sounds and Audio Devices ” section, and then to the “ Speech ” subsection.
- In the “ Record ” field, click the “ Volume ” button.
- In the new window, check the “ Select ” item and move the slider up.
- Click “ Apply ”.
- Check the sound again through the voice recording; if you are satisfied with everything, you can finish, if not, move on.
- Return to the previous window.
- Open the “ Options ” menu and select “ Advanced options ”.
- Click the “ Configure ” button.
- Check the “ Microphone Boost ” option.
- Click “ Apply ” and check the entry again.
Setting for Windows 7:
- In the lower right corner of the screen, find the speaker icon and right-click on it.
- Select “ Recording Devices ”.
- Click on the “ Properties ” button.
- At the top, select the “ Levels ” tab.
- Adjust the volume using the sliders.
- Check the result.
Setup for Windows 8 and 10:
- Go to the “ Start ” menu.
- In the left panel, select the gear icon.
- In the window that appears, select the “ System ” section.
- Now, in the left panel, open the “ Sound ” tab.
- Find the “ Input ” section and click on “ Device Properties ”.
- Open the “ Levels ” tab.
- Use the sliders to adjust the volume and gain levels and click “ Apply ”.
- Check the sound quality.
If, having done all of the above, you cannot achieve the desired volume, then only special applications will help you fix this problem.
Adapter
One of the most popular ways to solve this problem is to use a special adapter. Moreover, this thing exists in two versions:
Mini-jack connector - 2x mini-jack. That is, you insert this same adapter into your only socket, and at the output you have 2 additional connectors: one for a microphone, and the second for headphones. Just be careful
Pay attention to the connectors themselves so that they are for different devices, otherwise sometimes it happens that the connector is made for two pairs of headphones, then you will again be left in the dust. Universal headset. This thing is somewhat reminiscent of the connector described above, but it only has one output connector into which you can insert either headphones or a microphone
In general, it makes your nest a combination one.
How to set up a microphone for karaoke
Many people who are interested in singing, when purchasing a microphone, begin to wonder whether it is possible to make the sound come through the speakers? This is done quite simply.
- To begin, using one of the instructions from the previous section, you need to get into the microphone settings.
- Then you need to open the “ Listen ” section.
- Here, check the box next to “ Listen from this device .”
- Click “ Apply ”.
Afterwards, the sound from the microphone will be heard through the speakers and your laptop is ready for karaoke.
Now you know everything about how to connect a microphone to a laptop and configure it afterwards. As you may have already noticed, there is nothing difficult about this, the main thing is to have the appropriate instructions at hand and then anyone will be able to cope with it.
Via an adapter if you have a headset jack
In many laptops, there is a single connector for both external acoustics and a microphone (it is also called a “headset”). Inside, the pinout of the contacts has been partially changed. Therefore, to connect audio recording devices you will need to use an adapter. This is not necessary for headsets (as well as lavaliers) - there, by default, the device should be detected normally without any additional settings.
But before you connect an external microphone to the combo jack of the laptop, you must enable automatic detection of recording devices in the audio card settings (required, for example, if you are using a DAC from Conexant or Via HD).
Why doesn't the microphone work on Bluetooth headphones?
In most cases there are two problems:
- The microphone (Headset) is not displayed in the sound settings in Windows 10. Or it is displayed, but the device is disconnected (“Connection interrupted”, “Disabled”).
- The device is in the sound settings, but the microphone does not work. The scale that shows the microphone activity does not move during conversation, the interlocutors cannot hear you.
Only "Connected Music" and "Headphone" are disabled
It usually looks like this:
Status “Disabled” or “Connection interrupted”.
