Oct 28 2008
Why won’t this $%# microphone work?
Time to put on your troubleshooting gloves. Or put it off and find something really strong to drink. It all depends on how your day is going.
If you are using a USB headset microphone we suggest that you first plug them in and wait a few seconds so that the computer recognizes them. Then start up Audacity.
On some OCDSB computers, you will get a password prompt when anything USB is plugged in. The board has put out an installer called “USB Thumbdrive…”. Install that and reboot. Jane says the computer freezes after installation. Of course that never happened to me – so either way you have to restart.
If that doesn’t work or you are using a “regular” non-USB microphone go to edit/preferences in the Audacity menu. You’ll be in the Audio I/O tab automatically. Click on playback and record menus and select a different device. In the case of USB headsets, the name of that particular headset should show up in the menu. In the “regular” microphones just try picking a different one and cross your fingers.
Perhaps this doesn’t need to be said, but check that the microphone is plugged in to the microphone jack. It is often in both the front and back of the computer. Try both if you have the patience.
Another thing about USB headsets: they often come with an on/off button that is not so obvious to those of us, like me, who don’t read instruction manuals. A solid red (or blue or whatever) light means the mike is operating. If it is blinking it is not recording.
We hope there was something there that did the trick.
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