Connecting a microphone to a laptop. How to connect a microphone to a laptop for karaoke or a regular microphone to a laptop for karaoke does not work
A karaoke microphone is one of the most common and affordable types of microphones, used in almost every family and left over from the times of widespread use of DVD players and music centers with appropriate functionality. With their help, you could have a fun evening, singing famous popular songs in the company of friends and family, and the skill assessment system built into the player named the performer’s ball on one scale or another.
If you don’t have any other sound recording device, you can connect a karaoke microphone to your laptop or computer and record audio material using it. The task is complicated by the fact that most microphones of this type are equipped with a ¼” TRS connector, while computer sound cards use a standard 3.5mm TRS (known as “Mini-Jack”). The problem can be solved by purchasing the appropriate adapter and setting up the microphone.
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Adapter
In order to connect a karaoke microphone to a laptop you need to:
- Purchase an adapter from ¼’’TRS to standard Mini-Jack at any electronics and related materials store;
- Connect the microphone to the computer's sound card using an adapter. The microphone input on a sound card is usually marked with a corresponding icon or marked in red;
- Turn on the microphone;
- Right-click on the volume icon on the taskbar;
- Select “Sound recording devices”;
- Select the connected microphone in the list and click the “Default” button;
- Save changes;
- Launch the recording program and record the material.
If necessary, you can adjust the volume of the recorded material and the microphone gain level, for which you need to open the “Sound Recording Devices” menu again, double-click on the connected microphone and in the window that opens, go to the “Levels” tab.
When choosing an adapter and setting up a microphone, you need to pay attention to the following recommendations:
- You should not choose an expensive adapter made from high-quality materials, since usually the quality of the microphone itself will not justify the cost of using such an adapter. The same rule applies to the cables purchased and the software used;
- During recording, the microphone should be kept as far as possible from possible sources of interference and noise, such as a computer, speakers or mobile phone;
- When recording your voice, you should not speak directly into the microphone. To reduce recording distortion when pronouncing the sounds “P”, “T” and “S” and other similar sounds, the microphone should be positioned away from the speaker’s face.
With the spread of the Internet, many users have appreciated its advantages in the field of communication with people who live very far away, all over the country or even the world. E-mail, ICQ, Skype are convenient means of communication. And if the first two mainly support text communication mode, then with the help of Internet telephony you can use voice or even video communication, but in order for your interlocutor to hear you, you need a microphone. If you have a karaoke microphone, you can use it.
You will need
- - Jack to mini-jack adapter.
Instructions
You will need
- computer;
microphone;
sound card.
Instructions
- How to connect a microphone to a computer
- how to connect iPhone headphones to computer
So, today we will talk to you about how to connect a microphone to a laptop for karaoke. This can be done quite quickly and easily. The main thing is to know what and how to do. After all, it may turn out that something will get out of control. As a result, the device will refuse to work. Not the best solution. So let's see how to connect a microphone to a laptop: for karaoke, Skype or any other purpose.
Right choice
The first thing we have to start with is to choose a device for recording sound. The point is that this is extremely important. Especially if you plan to sing or make high-quality recordings from a microphone.
If you plan to use the audio recording device as a karaoke assistant only once or twice, then there is no point in buying expensive options. Something inexpensive is quite suitable for this purpose. Among other things, you can even use a webcam with a built-in microphone (for a couple of times). Or you can buy yourself headphones with a similar built-in device.
Otherwise, you will have to fork out for good equipment. In principle, the average sound recording device will cost you about 1000-1500 rubles. Now that you have decided which option to purchase, let's try to figure out how to connect a microphone to a laptop for karaoke.
Not always necessary
But before that, it is worth noting another rather important fact. Almost all laptops and netbooks have a built-in microphone by default. It is usually quite powerful.
If you plan to sing a couple of times and then use a sound recording device for conversations on Skype or to record let's plays, then you can get by with an internal headset. With it you don’t have to rack your brains, think about how it connects, and so on. However, sometimes you may hear interference. If you don’t know where the microphone is in the laptop, then take a close look at the front panel. This is usually where the device is built in. This is because it is in this position that the sound is best recorded.
If you don’t want to use the built-in microphone, then, of course, you’ll have to buy an additional device and figure out how to make it work. Sometimes this can cause minor problems. Nevertheless, let's try to figure out what's what.
Looking for a connector
So, the first thing we may encounter is the problem of finding a special jack for connecting a headset. As a rule, in new models this question does not arise - everything is very clear. However, pitfalls can sometimes appear.
Some users think: where to connect the microphone to the laptop? Usually there is a separate 3.5 mm jack for this purpose. You can find it either on the back panel or on the right/left side of your laptop. In other words, if you have already connected, for example, headphones, then look next to the connector for the audio recording device. A small microphone will be drawn next to it.
You just need to plug your headset in there and wait a little (if you have Windows 7 and higher) - all the necessary components will be installed and you can safely use this equipment. But everything is not always so bright and simple. Let's see how to connect a microphone through a laptop if you couldn't find the right connector.
Adapter
However, before this it is worth noting another small fact. All microphones are divided into two types. The first is 3.5 mm. So to speak, the standard. There shouldn't be any problems with such a device.
The situation is different if you bought yourself a second type of microphone - 6.3 mm. It won't fit into a standard hole. But this does not mean that the headset can be thrown away. All you have to do is go to the nearest hardware store and buy a special adapter. With him, the problem will leave you forever. All that remains is to find the right connection location - and the job is done.
If there is no connector
Well, if you are wondering how to connect a microphone to a laptop for karaoke because you still haven’t found the connector you need, don’t worry. Now some manufacturers prefer to mix and match places for connecting headphones and audio recording devices.
In other words, if you can't find where to connect the microphone, try connecting it instead of, for example, speakers. Quite often, users may notice that it is after this that the equipment begins to function properly. So - go for it.
In cases where you find that the microphone and headphone jacks are combined, it is better to abandon the idea of a separate “micro” one. Use what is called a gaming headset. It is precisely for such equipment that the connectors are combined - so as not to have a garden full of numerous wires.
In general, now we know that you can connect a microphone to a laptop through the headphone jack. Let's see what other problems may come our way.
Initialization
Well, we have almost achieved a positive result. We already know how to connect a microphone to a laptop for karaoke or any other purpose. Simply plug it into the desired socket. But our problems don't end there. As a rule, quite often users are faced with the fact that after connecting the device, absolutely nothing works for them, that is, no sound is recorded.
The thing is that for the correct functioning of any device on a computer you have to undergo some kind of initialization. So to speak, installing drivers. If you are the happy owner of Windows 7, then you don’t have to worry: the operating system tries to find all the necessary additional programs using the Internet. Otherwise, the laptop simply will not see the device. As a result, sound recording will be impossible.
What to do if the search for drivers does not start automatically? First, look carefully at the equipment included with the device. The box should contain a disc with the necessary content. If it is not there, then you will have to look for drivers on the World Wide Web. As a rule, this is done on the official website of the manufacturer. There you will have to find your microphone model, then select your operating system and download drivers. Next, install them like a regular program and enjoy the results.
Crashes and problems
So we figured out how to connect an external microphone to a laptop. As you can see, doing this is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. However, sometimes a user may encounter a situation where, for example, after connecting a sound recording device, third-party applications and programs refuse to work. For example, Skype is disabled. In this case, you will have to somehow correct the situation. Let's see what can be done.
The first option is to reinstall the drivers. Perhaps something went wrong during the initial initialization of the device. As a result, the computer conflicts with the connected microphone.
The second way to fix the situation is to try connecting other equipment to record audio. It is best to use even a headset with headphones. So don't be afraid - everything can always be fixed.
If all else fails, check your operating system for viruses, and also fix system failures. As a last resort, roll back and then reinstall the microphone drivers.
Conclusion
Our conversation has now come to an end. Now we know how to connect any external microphone to a laptop or computer. In addition, we have learned to deal with possible problems that may arise.
If you doubt that you really need a headset for karaoke, you can try using gaming headphones - they usually already have a built-in microphone. It is no worse than what is used for singing. Make your choice, find a connector, install drivers and use your equipment!
Instructions
To sing karaoke on your computer, first of all you will need a microphone. If you don't already have a microphone, it's best to buy a special computer microphone with a 3.5 jack or USB connector. You can find such a microphone in any computer store.
If you already have a karaoke microphone, you will need a 6.3 jack to 3.5 jack adapter. You can purchase it at audio-video stores or radio parts stores. The adapter is necessary so that the microphone can be connected to the computer connector on the board.
After you have selected a microphone, you need to connect it to your computer. If you have a USB microphone, you can insert it into any free USB connector. If the microphone has a 3.5 jack connector, it must be inserted into the microphone jack. It looks like a pink ring.
Find instructions on the Internet and a microphone for your sound card. Recording and playback from the microphone must be activated. Try it yourself. To do this, find the icon for the sound card control program. Usually it is located in the tray and looks like a speaker. In the menu you need to find a tab called Microphone or Input. And enable the “record” and “playback” functions from the microphone.
Once you have set up the microphone, you can start your favorite pastime - singing karaoke. To do this, go to the Karaoke.ru website, select the song you like, and open it. Click the Play icon and start singing. If you want to find your favorite song, write its name in the “find karaoke” line.
The site also has a function to record your performance. To do this, you need to click on the record button in the player (small square on the round button). You can download the recorded song to your computer and listen to it later. Or post it on the website so that others can appreciate your singing.
Not all, but many modern models equipped with a built-in microphone. However, your device may not be equipped with it, or the internal microphone may not work for some reason. Solutions to the main problems related to connecting the device to a laptop computer are described below.
Connecting a microphone to a laptop may be necessary for several reasons. This can be done for:
- communication in Skype and other voice messengers, video chats and similar programs;
- video games that can be played cooperatively or that require voice communication;
- karaoke;
- sound recording;
- conducting presentations.
Checking the internal microphone
If you are lucky and your laptop is equipped with it, you don’t have to connect anything else: you already have voice communication available or sound recording. Just check if you have it enabled.
If you cannot find the notification area on your desktop, everything described above can be done through the Control Panel. If you have Windows 7, after clicking the “Start” button, select “Control Panel” - “Hardware and Sound” - “Sound”, and then follow the instructions indicated above, starting from the first step.
How to connect a microphone to a laptop
Wired device with jack connector
Most laptops have a jack socket. Usually the entrance to it is circled in red, or there is a speaker icon next to it. If your microphone is equipped with a mini-jack connector, all that remains is to connect it to the socket - as a rule, this is enough to start working with it. If it is equipped with a jack, you will need an appropriate adapter.
What to do if your laptop does not have a microphone jack
It is possible that you will not have a socket for a recording device. Eat two options to solve the problem:
Wireless device or headset
If your laptop is not equipped with Bluetooth, buy an external module (it looks like a regular flash drive). The system (if you have Windows) will immediately recognize it the first time you connect it and will install the software necessary for its operation.
Just in case, go to Device Manager and see if the built-in or external Bluetooth module is displayed there. If not, you need to manually find the drivers for it and install it on your laptop. The necessary software can be found on the website of the computer or module manufacturer.
If everything is in order, all that remains is connect the headset to the laptop. For this:
- turn on Bluetooth on your laptop;
- hold down the power button on the headset until the LED next to it starts flashing in different colors (depending on the model);
- Find the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, go to the list of detected devices and select yours in it (it is recognized by the name of the headset).
After this, the connection between the laptop and the wireless device will be established. A wireless microphone is connected to a computer in the same way.
Please note that not all devices can be paired with each other (it is better to check information about this with the manufacturers of the laptop and headset: on their websites or in the support service).
In addition, if the devices support different versions of Bluetooth, the connection will be established early. For example, if the laptop supports protocol 3.0, and the headset supports 4.0, pairing will occur using the first of them.
To connect to karaoke One more amendment is required: usually wired microphones for karaoke are equipped with a full-fledged “jack” - therefore, to connect it you will need an adapter to a “mini-jack”. Next, proceed according to the above scheme.
Connecting a microphone to speakers via a laptop
If you have Windows 7 installed on your laptop, follow these three simple steps:
- Tap the speaker icon in the notification area. Select “Sounds”, and in the window that appears, select “Record”
- Find your device (the name of your device or part of it will be displayed in the list).
- Right-click on the line with its name, and then select “Properties” - “Listen” - “Listen from this device”. Don't forget to save your changes by clicking the "Apply" button. After this, the sound from the microphone will be output to the speakers.