Need Help on Microphone Input for Laptop

[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.

[ALAN E NORTH]

Roy,

Thanks for your help; I will look into both items. My primary concern is getting both the music from Hoster-Lite and the voice from the singer out of the TV-as I don't want to drag extra speakers, etc around if I go to a friend's house.

[Lonman]

Have you went into sound properties via the control panel? Look under the recording tab when the mic is plugged in, does it recognize anything plugged into that port? If it does, then go back on the taskbar in the lower right where the little speaker (sound) icon is & right click open volum mixer, you should also see the mic input here as well.
If it doesn't recognize the mic via the control panel, that mic is not compatible with the computer (Vista).

For best sound quality you might consider a small mixer, plug & your mic & laptop into it & then the mixer to a stereo system (preferred) or tv.

[ALAN E NORTH]

Lonman,

I know now that the mic is working OK because I ran a test and recorded my voice on the computer and it played back OK.

It appears that you & Dennis & Mark have answered my main question-how I can get the mic output and the computer output both into the TV ?

I will look into the sound card/mixer situation and when at home, I will plug it into my stereo system. When at a friend's house, I will use whatever they have-stereo system or TV.

I want to thank all three of you for your wisom and experience. This stuff is all new to me. I've been an MTU customer (and fan) for several years now-although I am not a karaoke pro.

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by ALAN E NORTH

Lonman,

I know now that the mic is working OK because I ran a test and recorded my voice on the computer and it played back OK.

Sorry it took me so long to reply, but it looks like you got there. As Roy said, the soundblaster software doesn't play well with Vista. It doesn't stop me though. I don't load the software in XP either. I prefer not to add the extra load to my computer. The hardware will plug and play in Vista or XP, you just can't use the software.

[ALAN E NORTH]

Mark/Roy,

Now that I have an answer to my question, I need to know which model to buy. I prefer the soundblaster external to the English model because it has an external protective case, whereas the English model appears to be a board w/o any protective case.

However, there are very few of these soundblaster models around and the Creative web site doesn't even show it any more. It must be an older model no longer supported by Creative.

If it's not asking too much, please go to the Amazon.com website using the URL below and see if this is the model I should buy-or if you think that Creative now has a different, more current model that would do the same job.

I appreciate your input-as I sure don't want to buy something that won't work-because of my limited knowledge in the area.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...3127433&sr=8-1

Thanks for your help,

Al North.