More help with Microphone please.

froggy27_2

Hope sbdy can advise... I had problems with my Skype and microphone..which I thought might have come from an update as it was sudden. I've deleted, reinstall skype, device etc..nothing changed.. I've bought a headset in case it was my inbuilt microphone ...Ppl can hear me clearly for a bit then it gets all muffled then clear then muffle.. basically impossible to have a conversation.. I even thought it might be the headset so got a refund and bought a different one... same problem!!
I really need to sort this out as just got a work contract (not many around at the moment!!!) and they only use Skype for all contacts! Do you think it's a laptop problem ie i need to get it repaired and what? or is there something i need to do? any advice.. as I'm not even sure where i will get it repaired and what i will do without as it is my only laptop... thanks in advance...(Toshiba laptop is about 4yrs old)

fwor

It's possible that it's a sound device driver problem. If you enter your laptop model on Toshiba's support website, you should be able to download the correct sound device driver for your version of Windows (assuming of course you are using Windows).

If it's a hardware problem it's not worth trying to have it repaired, as it's essentially a chip on the motherboard, and the whole thing would typically be replaced, at significant cost.

Far easier and cheaper to buy a USB soundcard from somewhere like Amazon, as they are only a few quid to buy these days. However, do check the reviews, as the £2 ones do seem to be pretty poor for reliability.

If you do add a USB soundcard it would be worth disabling the onboard sound device so that there is no confusion about which inputs and outputs are being used - in most laptops you can do this in the BIOS settings.

froggy27_2

Thank you Fwor... my speakers work fine, loud and clear, it's just the recording/microphone which doesn't work properly... Is there a specific USB sound card to look for? and sorry silly question but how do they work? thanks for your help

fwor

Actually I need to correct what I said above. You can't disable the internal sound unless you never want to use the built-in speakers.

I'm fairly sure that any recent version of Windows can have multiple sound devices installed.

I was thinking of a product like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-External-3D-7-1-Channel-Audio-PC-Sound-Card-Adapter-/200655750145?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_SoundCards&hash=item2eb803c401

But perhaps you'd better go for something a bit more expensive if you want it to be reliable!

Any product like that will take both plugs from the headset, rather than using the laptop's built-in speakers for Skype calls.

aerostar

What are your broadband speeds ? if they are low then that could be the cause.

Also make a long local recording and play it back to yourself and see if that goes muffled. You should have a program to record on your computer if not download audacity (free), google forit.

froggy27_2

thank.. My broadband speed is fine I think.. I've used Skype for a while it's just suddenly the microphone stopped working.. from one day to another.. My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite L450d and I dont seem to find a sound driver...I can see it's discontinued... I'm using Windows 7

froggy27_2

fwor wrote: »

Actually I need to correct what I said above. You can't disable the internal sound unless you never want to use the built-in speakers.

I'm fairly sure that any recent version of Windows can have multiple sound devices installed.

I was thinking of a product like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-External-3D-7-1-Channel-Audio-PC-Sound-Card-Adapter-/200655750145?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_SoundCards&hash=item2eb803c401

But perhaps you'd better go for something a bit more expensive if you want it to be reliable!

Any product like that will take both plugs from the headset, rather than using the laptop's built-in speakers for Skype calls.

Just want to say a big THANK YOU to Fwor. I bought the sound card you mentioned and it's working fine now and people can hear me!!! It did buy the cheap version just in case... but at least I know it's working..Thanks a lot for the advice.

TakeThis

froggy27 wrote: »

thank.. My broadband speed is fine I think.. I've used Skype for a while it's just suddenly the microphone stopped working.. from one day to another.. My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite L450d and I dont seem to find a sound driver...I can see it's discontinued... I'm using Windows 7

The Drivers for your machine are here