How to Hook Up Vocals and Music Through a Computer
Desktop computers do not automatically come with built-in vocal or music equipment, such as microphones and speakers. To record vocals and listen to audio with your computer, you'll need to connect a computer microphone to the microphone hook-up and a set of computer speakers to the speaker hook-up. Both hook-ups are 3.5 millimeter connections; the main set will usually be on the back of the computer case. Most computers will also have a set of additional hook-ups on the front. Use either set.
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Instructions
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Hook up your Microphone and Speakers
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Insert the green, 3.5 millimeter plug on the end of the speaker cord into the identically-colored 3.5 millimeter connection on your computer.
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Insert the pink 3.5 millimeter plug on the end of the microphone cord into the identically-colored 3.5 millimeter connection on your computer.
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Turn on your computer, right-click on the “Volume” icon in the system tray, and then select “Playback devices.” Your new set of speakers will now appear at or near the top of the list, indicating that they are hooked up and working.
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Click “OK” to close the dialog box, right-click on the Volume icon again, and then select “Recording devices.” Your new microphone will appear at or near the top of the list, as above.
Record and Listen to your Vocals
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Go to the Start menu, click on the "Search" box, type "sound recorder" into the box, hit "Enter," and then click on "Sound Recorder" in the list of search results.
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Flip the power switch on your microphone to "On" and then say or sing the words or music you want to record to an audio file on your computer. To pause the recording, click "Stop Recording" and "Cancel." To resume the recording after pausing, click "Resume Recording."
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Click "Stop Recording" when you are finished recording and type a name for your recorded vocals in the "File name" text field. Click "Save" to save it to an audio file.
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Navigate through your computer to the location where you saved your recorded vocals audio file and double-click on it. It will open up with Windows Media Player by default as this audio/video playing program is included will all versions of Windows. Press the "Power" button on your speakers to turn them on; you will now hear your recorded vocals through your speakers.
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