Microphone

[simsfreq]

I've plugged a microphone into a port in my computer with a picture of a microphone next to it, how come it won't work?

[smorodina]

First thing to check - go to control panel, sound and audio devices, and in the middle there's a button under 'device volume' labelled 'advanced'. Click this and a panel with the volume levels for all input and output devices will open. Check the 'mic volume' is turned up and not muted.

[simsfreq]

It doesn't appear in that menu, that's what I meant.

[Ralph]

On the panel that smorodina pointed you to, click Options... Properties. Make sure your sound card is in the Mixer Device box at the top, then make sure Microphone is checked in the box below for both Playback and Recording. You probably want the mic to be muted on the Playback panel because otherwise it will play the mic noises straight back through your computer speakers either giving you feedback or just annoying you. Make sure it is not muted in the recording panel and it should be fine then.

[simsfreq]

It still won't appear, its as if the computer doesn't recognise it's plugged in at all

[simsfreq]

Sorry should add that it works fine on my Mac so there's no problem with the microphone itself or cable.