connecting headset and mic

Trying to connect headset and mic to my pooter, can't get it to w**k
one in mic and other in green slot next to it.

I have done a Skype test and can only hear it through the speakers, it
doesn't come through the earphones , I could hear my voice on playback in
the test.
The set doesn't have an on/off switch only volume.

noreen...

Sometimes they can be a pest Pat don't know why but if you want to come on
msn or skype will testr them with you ;-)))

linedancer...

Sorry Noreen, I could hear you, but you could not hear me :-(
I have to go out at one

noreen...

Right will try later have you tried your wizard ;?;-)

linedancer...

Which wizard ??
we have had it in two lots of sockets, the last one which was when I skyped
you didn't w**k on the Skype test

linedancer...

OK now, the speakers were in the wrong hole !!
off linedancing now

noreen...

Oh brilliant ;-))))

datasmog...

Stab in the dark here since I don't use Windows, but 2 thoughts.
Sound preferences in Windows, or your sound card prefs. Is the output
set to external?
If so is it possible to have sound routed to speakers AND earphones
simultaneously?
I ask the last as you seem to indicate this is what you are trying to
do.

datasmog...

Scrub that, I see you fixed it.

linedancer...

Thought we had, the speakers don't w**k now, is it posible to have both
speakers and headset/mic connected and just put the speakers off at the
on/off switch on them, don't know where to find sound preferences I have

pmj...

Yep.
That's how I have Mine Set up.

But it all depends on what sort of SoundCard (& how many Output
Sockets) you have Fitted in/on your PC - *some* can handle more
than one Output, so then, you *could* have both Speakers & HeadPhones
Plugged in at the same time.

Most, however only have one Output (even if there are 2 actual Sockets)
& when you Plug HeadPhones in, it cuts out the Speakers (or you have
to physically *UnPlug* the Speakers to Plug in the HeadPhones - if
there's only one Output Socket)

Windows XP professional.

MCC...

I don't think your speakers will work, Pat, if your headphones are plugged
in at the same time.

John the R-T...

Mine do.
Speakers plugged in at the back and headset the front.

MCC...

Oooh! There's posh now! Don't have that facility on my machine - just two

John the R-T...

It's a toy from Toys-R-Us.

USB sockets at the front in addition to the four at the back.

John the R-T...

Quick scan of destruction book

linedancer...

Oh dear, then they aren't a lot of good, might as well srtick with speakers
and a seperate mic, can't keep turning the pooter around to take the plugs
out :-(

Troy's Human...

You need one of these Pat :-

I had one but when I got a USB headset I didn't need it anymore and gave it
away.

OTOH you could solve your problem with a USB headset.

linedancer...

Thank's Troy, I bought the headset and mic combined to do away with the

pmj...

Which is a very good idea, cos if you use Speakers (as opposed to
a pair of Headphones) for listening to the other person when trying
to talk using the PC (Skype/M$N/NetMeeting or whatever), you (or rather
*they* will hear a lot of "Echo" - cos your Microphone picks up what
they are saying to you (coming out from your Speakers) & Sends it back
to them.

It makes sense when you use Headphones to use a pair that *also* has
a microphone as well (as opposed to using a *separate* Microphone),
cos then you don't need to hold the Microphone cos (the Mike is on
a "Boom", attached to the HeadPhones & that means that the Microphone
is always near the Mouth, so doesn't pick up extraneous noises, which
a separate Mike would.

speaker feedback, don't feel like spending much more money on something I
won't use very often, but it looks very good, btw if I bought a webcam

pmj...

Well, you *can* use ordinary Speakers & a (separate) Microphone, but
it will always be much worse than a pair of HeadPhones with a Mike.

You don't need a fancy or expensive pair - any old "El Cheapo" ones
will do, but what *will* be very useful (& again, very cheap - only
about 99 Pence!) is to just use them with a "3.5 mm (Mini) Jack Plug
Splitter" - that's what to ask for in any ordinary Electrical (or
Computer) type Shop.

That will let you have *both* the HeadPhones & the ordinary Speakers
Plugged in at once - & you just turn the Volume down (on the Speakers
themselves & not in the windoze Volume Control thingy ), when you're
using the HeadPhones, so the Mike doesn't pick up the sound from the
Speakers.

pmj...

That "MultiMedia Hub" thingy is basically a fancy (& more expensive)
type of Splitter & it has more Sockets (& some Switches/Selectors)
& also a Volume Control on it.

But a basic 99 Pence Splitter thingy will do you, since you say your
Speakers already have a Volume Control Knob on them.
But that "MultiMedia Hub" thingy is only about a Tenner, so that may
not be too expensive?

Either way it's cheaper than a Pair of Heaphones (with Mike) that will
Plug into the USB Socket.

would that complicate it further ?

pmj...

LOL!
Yep!
:-)

But not very much!
:-)

WebCam probs are an altogether different kettle of worms!!!
But you can worry about them, when you get the WebCam.

The probs you have (if any) with a WebCam will depend on what WebCam
you end up getting.

Some work fine & others are a lot of hassle.

Looks like I bought the wrong thing, should have just got the usb headset

pmj...

Nope.
Ordinary, basic "El Cheapo" type headPhones, (with a Microphone)
are fine!!!

But (if you haven't got separate Jack Sockets on your PC for HeadPhones
& Speakers, which I gather you haven't), then you *also* need a (99 P)
"3.5 mm (Mini) Jack Plug Splitter", so you can have both the HeadPhones
& the Speakers Plugged in at once.

pmj...

Well, that's an *alternative*, but they are more expensive & they
introduce problems & complexities of their own (& need Drivers
Installing etc,) & that would really be just *duplicating* what you
already have (the HeadPhones with Microphone)

So the only thing you really need is a basic "3.5 mm (Mini) jack Plug
Splitter", for 99 P (or (if you want a flash version) something like
that "MultiMedia Hub" (for about a Tenner)

:-( I already have a mic.

pmj...

A *separate* Mic isn't really very good - cos it's difficult to
properly hold it close to your mouth & if you *don't* have it close
to your Mmouth, it then picks up the extraneous & ambient noise in
the room.

If your HeadPhones don't have a Mike with them, it's worth getting
a pair that *do* (they only cost about a tenner - you don't need to
pay silly money for anything fancy.

Sorry I missed you on Skype, I don't hear it ringing when the speakers are

pmj...

Which (again!) is why it's a good idea to use a Splitter! - So you
can have the Speakers Plugged in (& Switched on/turned up) *&* have
the HeadPhones Plugged in. Just turn the Speakers down (no need to
UnPlug them) when you answer the call & talk using Skype

not on, I was away answering the door at the time.

pmj...

Ah...
So what you *really* neeed then, is a pair of *Bluetooth* (Wireless)
HeadPhones, with Mike!!!
:-)

Or a "Wireless" Skype HandSet! - Or "Wireless Skype Adaptor".
:-)

So you *can* answer a Call, even when you aren't near the PC!

But both of those Options cost (a fair bit) more money.

pmj...

It's more a matter of what *SoundCards(s)* you have.

You can get a little thing called a "3.5 MM (Mini) Jack Splitter"
Which has one (3.5 mm - Mini) Jack Plug on it & *2* (3.5 mm - Mini)
Jack *Sockets* on it, so you can Plug HeadPhones & Speakers in at
the same time to one Socket - those "Splitters" only cost about
99 Pence or so!!!
:-)

linedancer...

Hmm 99 pence, went to Comet they are two for the price of one �4. 99

pmj...

Sheesh!!!
That's incredibly expensive!!!

I wouldn't have recommended Comet, though for that sort of thing,
Cos they *are* very often expensive for those bits & pieces) but
if that's the nearest/most convenient place for you, then fair enough.

Have you not got an ordinary, general "Electrical" type Shop, that
sells all that sort of stuff?

Oh no, you prolly haven't, cos many of those very useful sort of
"Electrical" Shops have gone out of business over the last few Years.
:-(

Well they are 24 kt gold LOL

pmj...

Maybe not actaully "24 Carat", but many of those sort of things *do*
actually have (a very thin layer of) Gold on them!

Gold makes a very good Coductor & it's good for Connections, such as
Audio (& other Signal) Plugs & Sockets, cos it doesn't "Tarnish" or
"Oxidise".

Anyway the good news is that it all w**ks fine now :-)

pmj...

Great!!!

(although they didn't plug into the sockets that they were supposed to that

pmj...

Oh!!!

Maybe that's cos those are the "OnBoard" ones & (if you have a separate
Soundcard), then the OnBoard Audio should be turned off in the BIOS.

So, yes, they won't work.

& if the ones you are talking about (which don't work) *are* the ones
on the SoundCard, then maybe the OnBoard Sound *hasn't* been turned
off in the BIOS & the SoundCard isn't bein gused?

said mic and spk)

So now I can switch my speakers off while using the headset, I am told that

pmj...

Great!!!
:-)

Yep, that was the main reason for using a Splitter, wasn't it?...

So you could have the Speakers & the HeadPhones both Plugged in together
& just Turn the Speakers off/down, when you're using the HeadPhones.

the sound is a little muffled when I speak, I think maybe a headset with a
curved mic that is in front of my mouth may be better than this one which
sticks out straight from the earphone.

pmj...

Yep, maybe...

Try it with several different people though, in case it's just the
person who siad that who has a prib wit hmuffled sound *their* end!
:-)

Some Microphones *do* sound muffled though - but you can't tell by the
price - Cheap Mikes can sound great & expensive mikes can sound muffled.

It seems that the Price of a pair of HeadPhones with Microphone is no
indication of the Microphone *Sound* Quality - though it may affect
the Spoeaker Sound, slightly.

It's more usually just a matter of branding (& possibly the *build*
quality (not the sound quality) of them).

Thank you very much for your help PMJ :-)

pmj...

I'm glad it *did* help!
:-)

Or you could get a pair of USB HeadPhones (with Microphone) - which
basically includes a (sort of ) "Soundcard" & then that means you can
use a USB Socket for them, getting round the prob of only having one
Jack Socket on the Machine/SoundCard.

linedancer...

Thank's PMJ I will have to have a rethink about what to do, I don't use

pmj...

Maybe that's cos (at the mo) it's a bit awkward, trying to do it the
way you are?

Skype very often, just thought it would be a good idea to have a speaker and
mic all in one as it wasn't very successful with a mic and seperate

pmj...

Yep...

But have a *Pair of HeadPhones* & Mike, all in one, not a Speaker.
(Cos (as mentioned previously) using a *Speaker* instead of HeadPhones
will cause Echo & havin ga *separate* Mike will mean that it picks up
room noise etc.)

pmj...

Exactly!

speakers, the splitter sounds a good idea though.

pmj...

Yep!
It's the quickest, simplest, easiest (& cheapest!) way & works
very well & is all you really need.

I (& several other people I know) use Skype (& other similar VoIP
(Voice over Internet Protocol) things, such as M$ NetMeeting or M$N
Messenger, AOL AIM, ICQ, Apple iChat etc), with that sort of thing
("El Cheapo" HeadPhones with built-in Microphone & a 3.5 mm Jack Plug
Splitter) & it really does work fine.

linedancer...

We are going to buy one today, but I will describe what sockets are on the
back

Under the panel with the usb's etc are three sockets pink,green, blue, the

pmj...

OK...

The convention (which most, but not *all* PC (& Soundcard) Manufacturers
stick to) is that Pink (or Red) is MicroPhone In, Green is Speaker/
HeadPhone Out & Blue is Line In (that would be used for example,
if you were Plugging an External Source, such as a Cassette Player
or Radio or Record Player etc, in)

speakers will only w**k in the green one that is in the middle.

pmj...

Yep, which is what they *should* work in!

They won't work in either the Microphone In or Line In Sockets.

(We have tried them in all the sockets)

pmj...

Have you not got a Manual or Diagram that came with the PC or the
MotherBoard or the SoundCard, which says which is which?

But anyway, even if you haven't, it doesn't really matter, cos the
Colour Coding Convention is almost Universal.

& it won't (normally) damage anything if you accidentally Plug the
Speakers into the wrong Socket.

lower down are two sockets green and pink, the pink says line, the green

pmj...

Which is odd - normally Pink is for Microphone Input - but never mind,
that's prolly a *Line* Input - it's not likely to be a Speaker (or
Headphone *Output* Socket (unless it's for one of the Surround Channels)
- either way, you don't want that one, for the Speakers/HeadPhone.

pmj...

Yep.
That's normal.

says sp and in between them it says mic.

pmj...

Yep.
That's normal.

But, if there are *2* lots of everything, then it *might* be that one
group is for the "OnBoard" SoundCard & the other group is the (separate)
SoundCard (if your PC has a Separate SoundCard) - otherwise they may be
for the Surround Speakers.
It's difficult to tell, without actually seeing the PC.

The headset which does have a mic attached, has a red and a black lead

So which one would we put the splitter in ?

Frogman...

If the speakers and Mike are working use the same socket for your
splitter and then put the speakers/mike/headset into the splitter

linedancer...

That's the problem, the only socket that they will both work in is the green

pmj...

Which is the one they *should* work in, cos Green is the Colour
normally used (by convention) to signify the "Speaker" (or HeadPhone)
Output Socket on a PC

socket, so if we put the splitter in that one, we can't plug the two leads

pmj...

Nope.
You only Plug *one* Plug from the HeadSet (the one that carries the
Sound to the HeadPhones/Speaker part of the headSet) into the Splitter!
The other one (the MicroPhone one) doesn't need to go into the Splitter.
It goes directly into the MicroPhone Socket on the PC.

pmj...

Why not?
That's what the Splitter is for!
:-)

from the headset and the speaker lead in the splitter together,

Frogman...

Right you should have 2 leads going into the PC now 1,speakers, 2,
Microphone, is that correct?
If so remove the speaker lead and put the splitter in it then put 1
speaker lead into splitter and 1 lead from the headset, the other lead

pmj...

Actually, it's best to Plug the Plugs from the Speakers & the
Headphones into the Splitter *first* & then Plug the Splitter into
the Socket on the PC...

I only say that, cos if you Plug the Splitter into the Socket on the
PC first (& then Plug the Plugs from the Speakers & HeadPhones into it),
it's *very* easy to bend it all & damage the Socket on teh PC

on the headset is the microphone so that goes into the microphone

pmj...

Yep!

socket on the PC.
All should work now :-)

pmj...

Yep!
:-)

It all seems obvious, once you've done it, but if you haven't done it
before, it's easy to get Confuzzled.

incidentally the socket which says spk (speakers ?) does nothing at all.

pmj...

The Red Plug (on the HeadSet) is the Microphone Plug.

& the Black Plug (or sometimes it's Green) is the Speakers of the
HeadSet

TIA
Pat