Need Help on Microphone Input for Laptop

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by ALAN E NORTH

Mark,

I appreciate your very generous offer; let's wait and see how this plays out after I get the Voco Pro-in about a week.

No problem. It will take me that long to get around to it anyways

[ALAN E NORTH]

Mark,

I finally got the mic and hooked it up w/o installing the software; it didn't work. Then I installed the software and it still didn't work.

Realizing that this was probably an 'older' model, I went to the creative website and downloaded what they say is a vista-compatible upgrade.

Much to my surprise, the mic now works with the laptop-although the volume is pretty low.

At any rate, I want to thank you and the others for your input in helping this novice work through the situation. I especially want to thank you for your offer in exchanging Soundblaster cards. While that isn't necessary at this point, the fact that you even made the offer is testimony to your willingness to help help others.

I find the lyrics to be a little behind the sound-but I see that other people are having the same problem -on another thread.

Frankly, I am really fed up with Vista. I took it off my office computer a year ago and I just may do the same thing here. XP is so much more reliable and ALL my software works with XP. Can't say that about Vista.

Thanx again !

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by ALAN E NORTH

I find the lyrics to be a little behind the sound-but I see that other people are having the same problem -on another thread.

We have found a work around if you need it. If you open up ver 3.4 there is a setting for playback offset. It is under the tools menu. These changes also effect 4.06. You could adjust this if all of your songs are behind the same rate. The good news is in the next release (don't ask me when) the sync seems to be rock solid even in Vista. You may just hang on for a little while longer and see if the next release will fix things for you.

As far as the mic low volume, what kind of battery does this take? You may be able to get a little more out of it if you use a stronger battery. Not all batteries are created equal. If it takes one AA battery and you are really industrious, you might try this.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Doub...ur_AA_Battery/
Sounds like a good little project.

[ALAN E NORTH]

Mark,

As for 'juicing' up the power by connecting two mini-1.5 volt batteries in series to get 3 volts, it looks easy enough to do, and while I might try it for a nose clipper or something similar, I would be reluctant to try this on a microphone.

While I am not an engineer, I do know enough about electricity to understand that excessive voltage can quickly burn out any device. I've done that often enough with things like light bulbs. I don't know if the mic is so sensitive that the extra 1.5 vots might burn it out-but I don't think I want to try. Do you know anybody who has done it ?

How do I 'open' version 3.40 ? The manual tells me it is included, but I can't find any way to 'open' it. I would think it would have to be installed separately, but the installation program doesn't give me any option to do that.

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by ALAN E NORTH

How do I 'open' version 3.40 ? The manual tells me it is included, but I can't find any way to 'open' it. I would think it would have to be installed separately, but the installation program doesn't give me any option to do that.

In the directory c:\Program Files\Micro Technology Unlimited\Hoster There is a File called Hoster34.exe. That is how you open it. I right clicked and made a shortcut on the desktop for quick access.

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by ALAN E NORTH

Mark,

As for 'juicing' up the power by connecting two mini-1.5 volt batteries in series to get 3 volts, it looks easy enough to do, and while I might try it for a nose clipper or something similar, I would be reluctant to try this on a microphone.

Now would be the perfect time to try it. It's still under warranty and it is not a critical operations item.

[billyo]

Originally Posted by marklwood

just have a suggestion about " still under warranty"..you would just be able to exchanged the mic, you wont get your money back..( at least in Florida " Guitar Center " ) i had a mic that i didnt like, i only had it for a few hours and i tried to return it and they wont take it back, due to "health safety reasons"..either i get the same mic or buy something that i like and pay extra...

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by billyo

due to "health safety reasons"..either i get the same mic or buy something that i like and pay extra...

You were just using this for your voice weren't you? Any other uses are not approved, nor advised

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by ALAN E NORTH

Mark,


Much to my surprise, the mic now works with the laptop-although the volume is pretty low.

One other thing have you checked the volume from the microphone properties ?
Try control panel/sound then double left click your sound from the list, from the next window click levels tab. there should be a slider for microphone.