Problem with pc microphone echo

fordmanchester

Hi

I don't know much about computers so please bear with me on this.

I have a desktop PC and use MSN as an instant messenger to talk with people I meet online.

There is a voice chat option on MSN messenger so that people can actually hear your voice rather than just receiving typed text from you, and I wanted to try this.

I thought that it was be as easy as just going out, buying a microphone and then plugging it in to my PC, but it has not proved to be so! I brought a Labtec mic from Argos for about £10, plugged it in and attempted to use it. The problem I'm having is that there is a deafeningly loud echo effect, so that when I speak my voice echoes over and over and is extremely loud. It is not just a slight echo..... it sounds like a digital special effect or something. Does anyone know what could be causing this and how I might get rid of it?

From the windows control panel I found a "sounds and devices" icon, and from here I found an option where you can test microphone hardware. When I do this there is again an enormously loud echo effect which again sounds like an actual digital effect rather than just a slight hollow sound, yet it still says that all is well and the hardware is functioning normally.

I play music on windows media player and so I know that my pc sound is usually ok, and that my speakers are working properly.

Please, can anyone help? What could be causing this? All I want to do is connect a microphone and talk to my friends!

I'm not sure what other information you may need........ my pc is a desktop and the operating system is Windows XP.

Many thanks in advance.

Red_Rose_Exile

Is your friend using speakers?

Usually, the echo comes from your voice coming out of their speakers, being picked up by their microphone and being transmitted back to you.

Have your friend try changing the position of their microphone or turning down their speakers until the echo is eliminated or reduced to a bearable level.

geewhiz

Under volume controls, recording options, you need to set the input to mic input otherwise you are sending your voice plus your speakers output too

fordmanchester

Hi Red Rose Exile and geewhiz..... many thanks for taking the time to reply.

My friend tried what you suggested but it has made no difference unfortunately.

geewhiz I'm sorry to appear dense, but I don't seem to have recording options and a mic input option under volume control.

newc_2

fordmanchester wrote: »

Hi

I don't know much about computers so please bear with me on this.

I have a desktop PC and use MSN as an instant messenger to talk with people I meet online.

There is a voice chat option on MSN messenger so that people can actually hear your voice rather than just receiving typed text from you, and I wanted to try this.

I thought that it was be as easy as just going out, buying a microphone and then plugging it in to my PC, but it has not proved to be so! I brought a Labtec mic from Argos for about £10, plugged it in and attempted to use it. The problem I'm having is that there is a deafeningly loud echo effect, so that when I speak my voice echoes over and over and is extremely loud. It is not just a slight echo..... it sounds like a digital special effect or something. Does anyone know what could be causing this and how I might get rid of it?

From the windows control panel I found a "sounds and devices" icon, and from here I found an option where you can test microphone hardware. When I do this there is again an enormously loud echo effect which again sounds like an actual digital effect rather than just a slight hollow sound, yet it still says that all is well and the hardware is functioning normally.

I play music on windows media player and so I know that my pc sound is usually ok, and that my speakers are working properly.

Please, can anyone help? What could be causing this? All I want to do is connect a microphone and talk to my friends!

I'm not sure what other information you may need........ my pc is a desktop and the operating system is Windows XP.

Many thanks in advance.

if possible, try uninstalling the sound card driver, restart windows and reinstall sound card. probably something wrong with the driver/or ur setting. just a guess. hope u get rid of the echo.

vyseyboy

Geewhiz got it spot on.

Right click the "speaker" in the taskbar, "adjust audio properties" select audio tab, click the "volume" button in the sound recording section, and make sure that Microphone is the only option ticked.

fordmanchester

Hi vyseyboy

I tried what you and geewhiz suggested but the pulsating echo effect is still as bad and and loud as ever...... my voice can barely be heard. Thank you for the advice though.

newc - thank you for your advice also. I'm just a bit wary of uninstalling and reinstalling as I really don't know what I'm doing!

Thanks everyone for trying to help.

weegie.geek

Control panel.
Sounds and audio devices.
Advanced.
Tick the Mute box under Microphone.

If you can't see microphone, then go to:

Options.
Properties.
Make sure Playback is selected.
Tick the box for Microphone.

That should fix it.

The problem is your speakers playing back what the microphone's hearing, then the microphone hearing that, and the speakers playing that back, and so on.

Evil big feedback loop.

System

snap, snap and more snap!

I too run XP, I too have an under a tenner microphone and I too have experienced this.

I have been successful and been able to use my mike and hear others, BUT:-

something somewhere is just not quite right. When I see my son on cam, he isn't using a mike, but I have to otherwise I get the echo. So in a way, I'm half there.

I will follow through the previous posters suggestion and see what happens.

Oh, I bought one of the splitter things. this allows sound to be either through speakers or headphones. That way if I want to talk to someone, at least anyone in the room with me, can't here them, only me. Plus, I can listen to computer radio etc without anyone else listening.


Well Mr evilgeek, I've just followed through your tip and ticked that mute button. It's a shame I wont be able to test it with my son for the next few days. maybe someone else might like to try? if so, PM me.

albertross_2

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/610565/Labtec-Stereo-242-Headset/Product.html

fordmanchester

Hi again

I just wanted to thank everyone for all their help and advice.

I think that I just solved the terrible echo problem a few moments ago. It was through trial and error - though using much of the advice which was given. What I did was:

Right click the speaker (volume) in the task bar

Select "adjust audio properties"

Select "audio" tab

Click on "volume" button in the sound recording section

Tick only the "stereo mix" button


This seems to have fixed the problem for me (hopefully!). Thank you to everyone who replied, and particular thanks to geewhiz, vyseyboy and
weegie.geek who got me well on the way to fixing it.