Need Help on Microphone Input for Laptop

[billyo]

you wont get a quality sound that way, like i said if you get yourself and affordable mixing board, amp & a set of speakers, then buying hoster lite is money well spent

[marklwood]

I use an external soundblaster live box for this very thing. Mic input and better sound quality. About the size of 2 decks of cards.

[ALAN E NORTH]

Mark,

After playing with this thing extensively, I don't think there is any way to get the mic input to come out of the same speakers as the music. It seems that the mic on the laptop is strictly for recording-or maybe for telephone calls. There doesn't seem to be any way to have the mic output join the music output.

My aim here is to not carry a whole bunch of extra equipment around. Your suggestion sounds like it might fit the bill for me.

Please give me some details as to model number-hook up, etc.

Thanks for the help.

[Roy Dennis]

If you are after something just for home use, try this: Click on this link, Don't paste it into your browser.
http://solodeals.com/Behringer-502-5...oogle-GB&id=uk

This site is from the UK but is shipped under Amazon for less than $45 but you may be able to find the same unit nearer home if you search the Internet.
Obviously you still have to plug this into an amplifier or have a sound source with an aux in connections.

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by ALAN E NORTH

Mark,

After playing with this thing extensively, I don't think there is any way to get the mic input to come out of the same speakers as the music.

My aim here is to not carry a whole bunch of extra equipment around. Your suggestion sounds like it might fit the bill for me.

I haven't used it in a couple of years. I used it that way for a family get together one year and just hooked it to the TV. I don't remember having any trouble with it. You may be missing something. Did you follow Dale's instructions in post #3? The only thing I did was adjust the mic volume in audio properties. You may just have it set to mute, or the volume all the way down.

I don't have the sound card with me right now, it's at the bar. I looked at the current soundblaster live box online, and the only difference between it, and the one I have, is the output. Mine has RCA outputs. Mine is also 16-bit and the current one is 24-bit.

[ALAN E NORTH]

Mark,

This may be exactly what I am looking for-but I have to clear up one important point.

You said that you hooked it up directly to the TV. That would be wonderful because I wouldn't have to lug extra speakers around.

If I understand you correctly, I could connect the 'speaker' (line out) plug to the live box and also plug a mic into the live box; both sound sources would then be transmitted to the TV.

If that's correct, then this is just what I want !

I did some poking around on the internet and found a number of comments on this item. The one that concerned me was that it doesn't work with Vista-then again somebody else said it did.

I'll call Creative directly to find out-but please let me know if my above assumptions are correct.

[ALAN E NORTH]

Roy,

Thanks for your input on this situation; please read my comments (above) to Mark and let me kow if this item will do what I want.

I appreciate your help.

[Roy Dennis]

Hi Alan
As you say you have a new computer I presume it is Vista.
I have the a sound blaster card which I have had some years and you can do as Markelwood says, I use mine for recording mostly. The software that came with it no longer works on Vista machines but the product still works, but what I would say about it is it can be a bit of messing around with the sound controls in vista to get it working. Alright once you get used to it.

With a mixer such as I pointed out there is no software needed, just plug the required leads in and power adapter and you are ready to go.
I have not got the actual mixer myself, so I can't say how good it is but there are a couple of reviews on the site to help you with your decision. It can be connected to a TV with phono (rca) connectors.

Should you opt for one of the newer sound blaster options, read the computer requirements first because even some of the newer ones don't mention Vista.