Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
a subwoofer. 7.1 Surround sound uses left-middle and right-middle speakers to flank the listener,
along with a subwoofer. Some cards play back 5.1 or greater Surround sound configurations with
analog speakers only, whereas others can also transmit Dolby Digital (AC-3), DTS Surround, or
Dolby EX digital audio through the SPDIF digital audio port to a home theater system.
Microphones
Some audio adapters come complete with a microphone, but most do not. You'll need one to record
your voice. Selecting a microphone is quite simple. You need one that has a 1/8-inch minijack to plug
in to your audio adapter's microphone jack (or audio in jack). Most handheld microphones have an
on/off switch. However, you can also use the Mute control in the audio mixer to shut off the
microphone. If you are planning to use audio for voice chat, recording podcasts, or interactive
gaming, consider a headset with an integrated microphone. You can use a USB-based
headset/microphone or use one that plugs into HD Audio or AC'97 jacks.
Like speakers, microphones are measured by their frequency ranges. This is not an important buying
factor, however, because the human voice has a limited range. If you are recording only voices,
consider an inexpensive microphone that covers a limited range of frequencies. An expensive
microphone's recording capabilities extend to frequencies outside the voice's range. Why pay for
something you won't be needing?
If you are recording music, podcasting, or producing other audio content that will be distributed,
investing in a more expensive microphone is usually justified. However, in that case you should
ensure that your audio adapter can do justice to the signal the microphone produces. A high-quality
microphone can produce mediocre results when paired with a cheap audio adapter.
Your biggest decision is to select a microphone that suits your recording style. If you work in a noisy
office, you might want a unidirectional microphone that prevents extraneous noises from being
recorded. An omnidirectional microphone is best for recording a group conversation.
If you're using voice-recognition software, use the microphone supplied with the software or choose
from alternative models the software vendor recommends. Run the microphone setup program again if
your software has trouble recognizing your voice. Some models feature a battery pack to boost sound
quality; be sure to check the batteries, and replace them to keep recognition quality high.
If you're talking but your voice-recognition or recording software isn't responding, check the
following:
•
Incorrect jack
—It's easy to plug the microphone into the wrong jack. Try using a magic
marker to color-code the microphone wire and jack to make matching up easier if your
microphone or audio jack isn't color-coded or uses competing standards. If your sound card or
motherboard-based audio supports the auto-recognition feature included in AC'97 v2.3, make
sure you plug in one cable at a time and select the device you connected when you are prompted
by the audio setup program.
•
The recording volume in the mixer control
—This usually defaults to Mute to avoid spurious
noise.
•
Whether the microphone is turned on in the voice-recognition or recording software
—You
must click the Record button in recording software, and many voice-recognition programs let
you “pick up” the microphone for use or “put it down” when you need to answer the phone.
Look for an onscreen microphone icon in the Windows System Tray for fast toggling between
