How to Conect an Electret Microphone to a PC
Connecting an electret microphone to your computer depends on what type of electret microphone you have. Electret microphones are often used in place of condenser microphones because they cost less, do not need an external power supply and have many of the benefits of condenser microphones. If you have a computer microphone, simply plug the microphone into the microphone jack on your computer. Chances are you have a microphone with XLR connectors or a wireless electret microphone if you are seeking an answer to this question.
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Things You'll Need
- Electret microphone (wireless or free-standing)
- PC
- Soundboard (for free-standing electret microphone)
- Appropriate cables and connectors
Instructions
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Connecting a Wireless Electret Microphone to Your PC
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1
Look at the back of your wireless electret microphone's receiver. You will see one or more of these types of outputs: RCA, XLR and/or quarter-inch. If you are using the RCA output, you need to have a cable that has RCA male ends on one side and an eighth-inch male on the other end. If you are using the quarter-inch output, you need a quarter-inch cable with a quarter-inch female to eighth-inch male adapter. If you are using the XLR output, you need to use a XLR female to a quarter-inch male, then attach a quarter-inch female and eighth-inch male adapter to the end of the quarter-inch cable. All of these plug into your microphone jack on your computer.
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2
Select "Microphone" for your input when the computer asks you what kind of input you are using.
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3
Test your microphone. You can do this with the audio program of your choosing.
Connecting a Wired Electret Microphone to Your PC
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4
Plug your electret microphone into your soundboard or interface with an XLR cable. If you are using a soundboard, you can take the outputs out of the soundboard and plug them into the microphone jack in the same way you would with a wireless microphone as described above. If you are using a FireWire or USB interface, plug the interface into the FireWire or USB port on your computer.
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5
Let the computer recognize the hardware if you are using FireWire or USB.
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6
Check to make sure your computer recognizes your interface if you are using an interface. Go to the Start menu, then to the Control Panel. Go to "Sounds and Audio Devices." Go to the "Sound Recording" tab. Make sure your device is the one listed in the drop-down box. Do the same thing under the "Voice" tab under "Voice Recording."
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7
Test your microphone with the audio program of your choosing.
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References
- Photo Credit Microphone image by t-mo from Fotolia.com
