How to setup a microphone on "Windows 7": instruction

Today, most people prefer to communicate over the Internet. This is mainly done through the Skype program. The trouble is that, despite the popularity of calls over the Web and the improvement of technologies, the audibility of the interlocutor still leaves much to be desired. And it's not in the program and not as a connection.

Cheap microphones that are built into the motherboard are not capable of providing a comfortable volume level. How do I set up a microphone on Windows 7?

Select a device

Among a large number of models there are several options:

• Ordinary analog microphones;
• Microphones integrated in a webcam;
• Microphones USB.

Analog Models

This type includes both conventional microphones on the leg, and more expensive. Among the inexpensive one can find the most sensitive ones that will fit for more sound solutions. All computer microphones have electret capsules, and it will be difficult to apply them without an amplifier.

Analog microphones are connected to the socket of the system unit, which happens on the front or back panel and is usually painted in pink. In order to have a good audibility, you need a good input in the sound card. Without it, audibility will be below an acceptable level.

A microphone built into the camera and a USB microphone

An analog type of microphone is often built into the camera. In this case, the connector will be standard - 3.5 mm or USB. The second type is better, since such models have a built-in amplifier that is powered by a USB bus. It is able to provide in most cases a comfortable sound level.

But there is a nuance - on the bus, you can not just transfer the sound, because before that you need to convert it to digital form. Cheap cameras have low-quality converters, because of what the interlocutor's voice is heard badly.

A USB microphone without a camera has a higher sound quality, but there are few such models on the market.

How on "Windows 7" to adjust a microphone system means?

For example, the popular Realnek HD codec will be used. The device must be connected to the input before setting up the microphone. "Windows 7" when connected will start the codec manager, which will ask about the type of the connected device. Select "Mic input". Now you can configure it.

To do this, you can use the Realtek sound manager or the sound management console of the operating system, which is also called the volume mixer. To open the dispatcher, you need to click its icon in the tray, and to start the mixer - right click on the corresponding icon and select the item "Recorders".

If the microphone does not work, "Windus 7" must first find it. Depending on the name, the names may differ. But there must necessarily be something like Mic. If the device is not connected, then it will not be displayed in the window. In order to see all the inputs, including those disabled, you need to right-click on the free space in the window and put the appropriate checkboxes. So, the microphone is connected.

Now you need to open the "Levels" tab. The audio setup program allows you to set the input signal level to "100", and the gain level to 20-30 dB. This is the main reason for the quiet operation of the device - a small level of amplification. For most of the models, 20 dB is enough. With a larger value, the volume will increase, but noises will also increase.

How to set up a microphone on "Windows 7" without them? To combat noise, you will need to go to the "Improvements" tab and tick the box that is responsible for suppressing them. Immediately, you need to uncheck all sound effects. In the event that there is an echo effect, you can also turn on the appropriate setting.

After noise suppression has been enabled, the voice may change and acquire a coarse hue. This happens because of the poor quality of the microphone.

How on "Windows 7" to configure a microphone with Realtek?

To do this, the sound manager starts. Next, you need to find a tab that contains the name of the microphone. Here you can also adjust the input level, gain, if the microphone is working quietly. The program is very convenient, and it is visually clear. You can also suppress echo and noise in it without any problems. It should be noted that this method of configuration is equally suitable for all versions of the operating system "Windows".

What else can you do?

If the above measures did not help to achieve a comfortable microphone volume, then it's better to buy a webcam with a built-in device. If you do not want to do this for one reason or another, then you need to change the microphone to a more expensive model or purchase a separate sound card with a high-quality input. A good solution is to buy a USB microphone, as its quality is several times higher. Another option may be the purchase of a microphone amplifier, but they are worth a lot. Someone manages to find printed circuit boards in order to independently manufacture the amplifier and decide how to set up the microphone on "Windows 7". But in order to collect such a device, you need at least an amateur level to understand this.

Checking the quality of communication with "Skype"

For this purpose, a sound testing service was specially created. After installing the program in the contact list by default, it is it. In order to check the connection, you need to call this service and do what the instruction says. If the sound quality suits, you can use the microphone without problems.