How Do You Get a Computer to Recognize a Mic When You Have an Audio Card?

Connecting a microphone to your computer can allow you to chat with another person through your computer, or even make professional-quality sound recordings for your band, podcast or other audio projects. If you have an audio card already installed in your computer connecting a microphone is easy.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Microphone
• USB audio interface for professional microphones

Instructions

1. Pug in a USB microphone to an available USB port on your computer. Most consumer microphones are plug-and-play, meaning you can plug them in and start using them. If your computer does not recognize your microphone try installing any software that came with the microphone, or downloading the drivers for the mic from the manufacturer's website.

2. Use a USB audio interface before connecting it to your computer. USB audio interfaces can be purchased online as well as at most music supply stores.

3. Connect your USB audio interface to an available USB port on your computer, and install any software that came with it.

4. Plug the XLR cable from your microphone into an available port on your USB audio interface.

5. Launch your favorite audio program and start recording.

References

• MusiconMyPC.co.uk: How To Connect a Microphone To Your PC Computer
• Etcetera.co.uk: How To Connect a Microphone To Your Computer