voice chat / headset problem

[BigAl]

Ok, I finally bought a headset. It's from logitec(sp?) and one of the cheaper ones altho it got good reviews from the people who bought it and posted on BestBuy. (limited budget) It has the two plugs for microphone and headphones. Plugged it in, turned computer on and started WOW. I went into the sound/voice tabs, acitivated it, no sound, and my brother and friend couldn't hear me either, (same party, even tried creating my own channel). I have been trying to research what the problem might be. I finally found a referance on worldofwarcraft technical forum, that the blizzard voice chat will recognise anything plugged into a USB port. Would that be the problem? If so, would buying an adapter work? As near as I can tell, the voice chat does not recoginise that I have a headset or mike. Do I need to buy another headset that comes equiped with a USB plug? If so I would appreciate advice from someone who has a headset that works with the voice chat from blizzard, brand, model.. keeping in mind that I have a limited budget. I realise without being here it's hard to trouble shoot things. And I am currently at work so cann't give model number etc of what I have. I think it might work if I was to use vent altho I am not sure of that. Any advice for trouble shooting or things to try, or places for research will be appreciated.

Thanks

BigAl

[Kalos]

Woah, first thing is first, does basic bog standard Windows applications have trouble hearing you? If you trying making a recording of your own mic and play it back, are you hearing what you're saying correctly if at all on the playback?

It is always best to start with the simplest, non-related applications in the event of a problem, and nothing gets simpler audio-wise than MS Sound Recorder.

[BigAl]

No sound back to me when I play the mike recording.. can barely see a bar bounce up and down while recording. What basic windows application? I am not computer savy. I can turn it on.. play WOW.. that's basically it.

BigAl

looked in the general guides.. and found a guide about voice chat. gave me a couple of things to check.

[Kalos]

Sound Recorder is an application that has a shortcut under Start Menu > All Programs > Acessories > Communications. It is on nearly every Windows machine made in since Windows 95.

Also, since you bought a specific one it would be good to link us to it so we can become more familiar with it.

[Tunga]

Likely just that the input volume is turned down. Make sure Mic Boost is enabled on it too.

To confirm: yes, WoW can use devices that connect via standard 3.5mm headphone/mic jacks (what you have) so it's most likely just not to set up right.

[BigAl]

I haven't checked on the microphone boost yet.. will look at that tonight when I get home. I agree, something isn't set up right.. but every volume control I can find for speakers/microphone is at high now. I tried the sound recorder.. no joy with it either. As far as I can tell, the computer is not receiving anything I say.

My son is far more computer aware then I will ever be, he built this computer for me, and I have asked him to come over and trouble shoot it. He lives a few hours away and might be a few days before he can. Any suggestions of what else to check will be appreciated.

Logitech - ClearChat Style Premium Behind-the-Head PC Headset

Model: 981-000084
that is the headset.

not sure of the sound.. shows Realtek hd for default device, If I recall correctly.

[hreddie]

Right, first thing just check that you have the mic plugged into the mic jack and not the midi in.

I know it sounds easy but trust me, i know a few people that have done this.

Secondly check to see what windows is set up to use to output/input audio as it might be set to somthing else other than your headset or dif soundcard or somthing wierd.

main point, plug them in firstly check for audio out the headset, if thats ok then goto settings and check you can actually get a bar from the mic in, if not just double check in sound and audio properties, audio, sound recording. then click on the volume bit and make sure its up high evough.

That should pretty much do it. I think you just need to double check you got the jacks in the right holes,

Lemme know how you get on.

[Wintrow]

BTW: I believe Windows 3.11 already had MS Sound Recorder. Maybe even sooner than that, but I didn't get on the windows-train before that version.

[Tunga]

Also are you using the front or rear sockets on the case? The front sockets aren't always connected to the soundcard inside, you should use the sockets on the back.

[BigAl]

Also are you using the front or rear sockets on the case? The front sockets aren't always connected to the soundcard inside, you should use the sockets on the back.

That reminds me of the old story about P. T. Barnum (irc). He had a building with exhibits that people came to see. He put up a sign "this way to the egress" with a arrow pointing to a door. People would go thru the door to see the egress. They would find themselves outside the exhibit hall and would have to repay to reenter and see the rest of the exhibits (egress = exit)

Sockets that aren't connected to anything.. what a concept. I read this just as I had to leave for work. Took a brief moment to swap to scockets on the back of the computer, brought up the game.. sound and music thru the headphones, tried the record with the mike and it played back everything I said. I think that was it altho I will have to wait untill tonight after work or tomorrow to try the voice chat.

Thank you all for your suggestions,

BigAl

[Wintrow]

Classic! :grin:

Tunga, you're a peach :tongue:

[Tunga]

Yeah it's quite common for the front sockets to not get connected on custom built machines. Once you've installed all components pretty much the last thing to do is connect the case USB and headset sockets to the motherboard/soundcard inside. If you're like me you don't want to do this until you know the damn thing will turn on, so you turn it on first, install Windows, everything is working! Now to open it back up and...oh screw it, connecting those tiny fiddly wires is really annoying and I can't be bothered, it's not like I need to connect my headset to the front, I'm off to the pub!

Let us know if this doesn't fix it. And if you want them working you could ask your son (or whoever) to connect the front sockets up next time you see him, it should only take a five minutes (those the wires can be a bit fiddly). At the least you can blame him for it not working before :grin: .