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Headset & Mic not working...

Forum Index > Tech Support
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Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 02:05 GMT
#1
Just got a new computer and a new steelseries headset. I tried streaming today, plugged in my headset (which has a mic) to the mic/headset jack in front of the computer and... doesn't work / mic isn't detected. Tried plugging into the headset/mic jack in the back of the computer and the mic isn't detected... tried using the headset/mic jack on my steelseries keyboard and the mic doesn't get detected.

The only way my headphones work is if I plug it into the thing where my speaker is plugged into (but there's no mic jack there).

Whatever I do, my computer isn't detecting that I'm using a mic. I tried plugging into my laptop and it works just fine. Anyone have any idea what the problem could be? Thanks!
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
skyR
Profile Joined July 2009
Canada13817 Posts
February 26 2011 02:15 GMT
#2
You need to be more specific. Did you put this PC together yourself or have it pre-assembled?

The thing you plug your speaker into?
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 02:18 GMT
#3
On February 26 2011 11:15 skyR wrote:
You need to be more specific. Did you put this PC together yourself or have it pre-assembled?

The thing you plug your speaker into?


Got it from ibuypower. There's a jack on the back of my computer, near where I plug in my monitor, that the speaker plugs into.
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Cadgers
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States514 Posts
February 26 2011 02:21 GMT
#4
Try updating your audio drivers.
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 07:20 GMT
#5
my computer is brand new o-o!
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
HuggyBear
Profile Joined November 2010
Australia377 Posts
February 26 2011 07:26 GMT
#6
Doesn't mean that the drivers aren't outdated esp pre-assembled ones
"Sleeping with SeLeCT is Standard. Once you've slept with Day9 everything else is just ..." - CatZ
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 07:27 GMT
#7
how can I check to see if drivers are updated?
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
canucks12
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada812 Posts
February 26 2011 08:34 GMT
#8
I am having the same issues, just on my 4-5 year old laptop. My new headset's mic won't work on my computer, but it works on my brother's brand new laptop. It just won't detect the mic. I thought that it may have been a broken mic jack - since I only have one - but now I'm thinking that it may be something different. I also updated my audio drivers, but it did not fix the problem.
StiM.sc2
Profile Joined September 2010
United Arab Emirates57 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-26 08:35:19
February 26 2011 08:34 GMT
#9
Hi

use this and it worked for me very well
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-vista/Tips-for-fixing-common-sound-problems

cheers
EGThorZaIN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 08:53 GMT
#10
i just updated drivers and such and it didn't fix the problem O_O~~
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
ChrisXIV
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Austria3553 Posts
February 26 2011 09:00 GMT
#11
I had the same problem. I fixed it by buying an USB sound card and plugging my headset into it. That's all I can say on the matter, sorry.
"Just stay on 1 base, make a lot of shit, keep attacking. It doesn't work? Keep attacking." -Chill
StiM.sc2
Profile Joined September 2010
United Arab Emirates57 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-26 09:04:37
February 26 2011 09:02 GMT
#12
go to start then search device manager... look for the device and double click on it > driver > update driver.
EGThorZaIN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
canucks12
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada812 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-26 09:05:14
February 26 2011 09:04 GMT
#13
I'm running windows xp, and so far I have tried a multitude of different things in order to try to get my microphone to work. As of now, I have tried reinstalling the audio drivers, fixing all of the problematic drivers, unchecking the Microphone boost found in the advanced options for the recording microphone. Actually, I know that my microphone bus is working because I can hear some noise when I plug in the headphones plug into the microphone jack. Right now I've kinda just given up on making this work, but it would be nice if anybody could provide any useful information.

I looked at that microsoft site, but I didn't find anything useful for my situation.
- Hopefully I'm not hijacking your thread here. We probably have the same issue really.

On February 26 2011 18:00 ChrisXIV wrote:
I had the same problem. I fixed it by buying an USB sound card and plugging my headset into it. That's all I can say on the matter, sorry.


I may try this... how much did it cost you?
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 09:05 GMT
#14
On February 26 2011 18:02 StimSC2 wrote:
go to start then search device manager... look for the device and double click on it > driver > update driver.


everything is updated T_T ;;
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 17:14 GMT
#15
Anybody have any other ideas?! Looking for help still (
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Mischi
Profile Joined September 2010
Germany133 Posts
February 26 2011 17:19 GMT
#16
What kind of sound card or mainboard (if onboard sound) do you have?
And what is the thing where you plug you headphones in? (I really can't tell from the things you said before, maybe you have a link?)
What OS do you use?
Cadgers
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States514 Posts
February 26 2011 17:27 GMT
#17
Are you on Windows 7? If so make sure you have the right devices enabled (as stupid as that may sound).

Go to Start, Control Panel, and than Sound.

Should look something like this. I know I have my headphones plugged in but my computer for some reason thinks they're speakers.
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 17:27 GMT
#18
Windows 7... I have a Sound Blaster Audigy card. There's a jack on the back of my computer where I plug my speakers into. The only way my headset works is if I plug it in that same jack instead of my speakers (but even then the microphone still doesn't work).

twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 17:31 GMT
#19
On February 27 2011 02:27 Cadgers wrote:
Are you on Windows 7? If so make sure you have the right devices enabled (as stupid as that may sound).

Go to Start, Control Panel, and than Sound.

Should look something like this. I know I have my headphones plugged in but my computer for some reason thinks they're speakers.


Yep... it has that. When I look at the "recording tab" I see

Microphone
SB Audigy
Currently Unavailable

Line-In
SB Audigy
Ready

S/PDIF-In
SB Audigy
Currently Unavailable
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Mischi
Profile Joined September 2010
Germany133 Posts
February 26 2011 17:36 GMT
#20
Ok, so you have stereo speakers with a 3,5mm jack that you put into your sound card?
You can't plug in your speakers and headset (for listening) at the same time in your sound card then.
You need to use your mainboards onboard sound card for that.
You can switch between speakers and headset then by right clicking the speakers symbol at the bottom right of your taskbar and selecting playback devices.
Try to plug in your headset (both jacks) into your mainboard. It should be color coded, pink is the microphone and sound should be green.
Now if you right click the bottom right symbol and select recording devices you should see a microphone with a green thing (don't know the English word for that ).
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 17:39 GMT
#21
How do I determine what's the sound card and what's the "mainboard" ?
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Cadgers
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States514 Posts
February 26 2011 17:51 GMT
#22
Sound card should be labeled as Sound Blaster and the main board with probably have a name associated with the divers like Realtek or VIA.
Mischi
Profile Joined September 2010
Germany133 Posts
February 26 2011 18:22 GMT
#23
If you meant the plugs, the sound card is farther down and is usually about 5 3,5mm vertically in a row.
Mainboard plugs should be higher somewhere next to USB and other stuff.
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 18:28 GMT
#24
Ok I know what you mean. My speaker is plugged into the sound card. When I plug anything into the "main board" it doesn't work oo!~

The headset works when I plug it directly into the sound card instead of the speaker.
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 18:31 GMT
#25
On February 27 2011 02:36 Mischi wrote:
Ok, so you have stereo speakers with a 3,5mm jack that you put into your sound card?
You can't plug in your speakers and headset (for listening) at the same time in your sound card then.
You need to use your mainboards onboard sound card for that.
You can switch between speakers and headset then by right clicking the speakers symbol at the bottom right of your taskbar and selecting playback devices.
Try to plug in your headset (both jacks) into your mainboard. It should be color coded, pink is the microphone and sound should be green.
Now if you right click the bottom right symbol and select recording devices you should see a microphone with a green thing (don't know the English word for that ).


Yeh, when I plug my headset/mic into the main board, it still says microphone "Currently Unavailable"
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Mischi
Profile Joined September 2010
Germany133 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-26 20:15:06
February 26 2011 20:11 GMT
#26
Does it always say currently unavailable?
Usually it should say plugged in or not plugged in, maybe the drivers for your mainboard aren't properly installed.
Have you tried getting the drivers for your mainboard sound on your mainboard manufacturers site?
Can you please post a screen how it looks like? Something like this: http://i55.tinypic.com/ei5he8.jpg
Did I understand correctly that your mic works on your laptop?
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
February 26 2011 20:54 GMT
#27
On February 27 2011 05:11 Mischi wrote:
Does it always say currently unavailable?
Usually it should say plugged in or not plugged in, maybe the drivers for your mainboard aren't properly installed.
Have you tried getting the drivers for your mainboard sound on your mainboard manufacturers site?
Can you please post a screen how it looks like? Something like this: http://i55.tinypic.com/ei5he8.jpg
Did I understand correctly that your mic works on your laptop?


Yes, it works on my laptop... but it ALWAYS says "currently unavailable" when try on my desktop. Already tried re-installing all the drivers for my sound card today and stuff... nothing works.

twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
gulati
Profile Blog Joined April 2007
United States2241 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-26 21:10:54
February 26 2011 21:08 GMT
#28
if you have a sound card, make sure you are plugging your 3.5mm jacks into your sound card, and not the I/O shielded onboard audio chipset (i.e. Realtek). it's a high possibility that you are trying to utilize your onboard audio with your Sound Blaster Audigy card, which is causing relay issues. you will want to disable any onboard audio chipsets, and force SB Audigy to be primary.

also, if this doesn't work, try to use a USB soundcard, similar to the ones that come with the Steelseries 5H V2, or Steelseries Siberia. If USB soundcards like that work, which are plug-n-play, that means your soundcard is defective. possibly attempt to remove it from the PCI slot and reconnect it.

Also, check your motherboard. make sure you do not have faulty wiring with your onboard audio being connected to your motherboard. since you have a soundcard, you will not want to connect your onboard audio wire at all (atleast that's how i do it with my P6X58D-E and my ASUS Xonar Essence STX).

EDIT:
On February 27 2011 03:28 Xeris wrote:
Ok I know what you mean. My speaker is plugged into the sound card. When I plug anything into the "main board" it doesn't work oo!~

The headset works when I plug it directly into the sound card instead of the speaker.


that is absolutely correct. unless you have a weird setup, you cannot output from your "mainboard" (lets call that Realtek), and your SB Audigy at the same time.
C r u m b l i n g
blue`
Profile Joined November 2010
United Kingdom119 Posts
February 26 2011 21:44 GMT
#29
Not sure I'm understanding correctly here. Does your headset have 2 jacks, one for the headphones and one for the mic?

The front panel connections might not work because they aren't connected internally to your sound card.

And when you plug both the jacks into the soundcard at the back of your PC, the microphone is unavailable? Have you tried setting it as the default device and checking your Line-In/Mic settings in the Creative Audio Control Panel?

As for connecting the speakers and headset at the same time, you may be able to do this depending on what connections your keyboard has. It should still be possible by connecting your internal front panel connectors to your sound card though
Easter has been cancelled, they found the body
canucks12
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada812 Posts
February 26 2011 21:49 GMT
#30
Does anybody know anything about Sigmatel Audio and how it may be affecting how my mic's inability to work?
canucks12
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Canada812 Posts
February 26 2011 21:56 GMT
#31
Oh, I got it to work. It did have to do with the Sigmatel Audio. Basically it was default detecting the mic as a line in device. I had to go into the specific Sigmatel options in my control panel and "Allow reconfiguration pop-ups". Basically this means that when I plug in my microphone, a pop-up appears and asks me what kind of device it is. From there I selected microphone and everything was working.\

Perhaps your sound card has a similar option in your control panel. I hope everything works out for you.
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