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| Fix PC Problems | |
| November 2000• Vol.6 Issue 11 Page(s) 44-45 in print issue | |
Fix Common Microphone & Web Camera Problems |
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[MICROPHONE]
[RICH]
[GRAY]
Microphones and Web cameras are similar enough in function (one allows for the input of audio, the other for the input of video) that many troubles that crop up for one can occur in some form in the other. One of the biggest sources of problems for microphones and Web cameras is they both rely heavily on other aspects of the computer (including software and hardware) to do their jobs. Successfully troubleshooting either one entails not only a consideration of the state of the device itself, but also the support system behind it.  Behind The Mic.
The support system for a microphone can compose many different
parts, including the sound board that the microphone plugs into and the
software that determines sound characteristics to the specific application
you’re using the microphone with and the speakers that the sound comes out
of. One of the most basic parts, though, is the one you should check
first: the cable, and particularly the port that it plugs into. Examine
the microphone cable and make sure it is in good shape. It shouldn’t be
frayed, laid bare in places, or bent at such an angle that it looks like
it might be damaged.It’s also important that you firmly plug the microphone into the right port (a device, resembling a plug-in, that allows access in and out of a computer for cables) in the back of the computer. Sound boards will usually come with a variety of port options, including jacks where you can plug in a microphone, headphones, speakers, and other devices. Make sure your mic is plugged into the right place (usually signified with a little microphone picture), and while you’re back there, check that any speakers you have are also plugged into the correct jack. Follow the speaker wires out to the speakers, checking to make sure they aren’t damaged. If your speakers require power to run, make sure they’re plugged into a power source and that any applicable switches (or volume controls) are turned on. Who’s driving this thing? Out of date or defective sound drivers can also be affecting your ability to record sound. Visit the Web site of the manufacturer of the device in question or visit a site such as DriverGuide.com (http://www.driverguide.com/) to search for one. |
Pump up the volume. It may seem rather simplistic to say, “Turn the volume up,” but if you’re having trouble recording and playing sound, it could be the fault of one of several volume controls. (NOTE: Depending on your brand of sound board and installed devices, the appearance of your system’s dialog boxes and the features they offer may vary a bit.) First, check your speakers, the back of your computer where you plug the microphone in, and even on the microphone itself for any volume controls. You can set the system sound, both playback and record, from the Volume Control panel. Click the Start button, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, and Volume Control to access it or right-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of the Taskbar and select Open Volume Controls. Under the Options menu, select Properties. In the Adjust Volume For box, select the Playback radio button. Then under Show The Following Volume Controls, make sure there is a check mark in the Microphone box. Do the same thing for the Recording option so it will show up in both parts of the mixer.
The Volume Control slider on both microphone sections in the mixer should be up at least halfway. You should also make sure that the master Volume Control slider on the Playback mixer is up enough so that you can hear it. Clicking the Advanced button under the master Volume Control slider will give you additional sound options (as will clicking the microphone Advanced button in the Recording section). Also, make sure to select the microphone in both mixers (check the Select box under them) and unselect the Mute All box.
You can further adjust the performance of your microphone from the Audio tab in the Multimedia Properties dialog box (Start, Settings, Control Panel, Multimedia Properties). Here you have several playback and recording options, including the ability to select preferred devices for sound control and choose performance options for recording (under the Advanced Properties button).
Sound Recorder is a good way to test if your microphone is working. Launch it by opening the Start Menu and selecting Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, Sound Recorder. This small application will let you record your voice or some other sound, rewind the recording, and play it back. You can also edit the recording, add effects, save it, and more.
Works fine, sounds bad. If your microphone is working, but the quality of the sound is not as good as you want, there could be a number of causes. It could be that you have a low-quality sound board. An expensive microphone is only as good as the sound board it plugs into. The positioning of the microphone could also affect the sound quality, particularly in applications such as Microsoft NetMeeting. If you find you’re getting a lot of echoes, your speakers may be feeding into the microphone; try to adjust the mic sensitivity or move it and the speakers away from each other. Muffled or distorted sound could be a sign that you are too close to the microphone or that it needs some form of screening (such as the spongy coverings you might have seen on some microphones).
Other things to try. Never underestimate the power of a reboot when it comes to any computer problem. If you’re having trouble recording with only one application, check its Web site for patches or information or uninstalling and then reinstalling the application. If possible, try using the mic with another computer or another mic with your system. This should give you a good idea of whether your microphone is broken, or if the problem lies elsewhere.
Web Camera Woes.
Web cameras, or Web cams, also rely on many diverse parts (the
camera itself, the software that operates it and applications you use it
with, your computer system) to function correctly. Errors in any of these
areas can adversely affect or kill Web cam
functioning.Check the cables. As with the microphone, one of the first things you should check if you encounter Web cam problems is the cable attaching it to the computer. Make sure the cable is in good shape and firmly plugged into the correct port. If you have a USB (Universal Serial Bus) camera, you can plug it in and unplug it without shutting down your computer. However, if your camera makes use of another port (such as parallel), you’ll need to shut down the computer before dealing with the cables. An error message of “Camera not ready or already in use” may be an indication of cable problems.
System sorrows. Your system can be a big contributor to Web cam problems, and making sure it’s in peak running condition will help you to avoid many problems. First, verify that your system will support the camera. Run ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter to smooth out existing problems and increase performance and reboot your system.
Your system may need a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) update, which you can verify by checking with your computer or motherboard manufacturer. Also, if you go to install a USB cam and get a message saying that the USB port wasn’t detected, you’ll need to get in touch with your computer or motherboard manufacturer to get information on how to activate the USB port in the system BIOS.
Once again, if you can test the camera on another system, you may be able to zero in on troubleshooting areas a little more closely.
Software. All Web cams need some form of software to make them work, and your best bet is to install the software that came with the camera. If you run into camera problems and you think your software is to blame, try uninstalling it, then reinstalling. You can also check the manufacturer’s Web site for any driver updates.
If you think a specific application is conflicting with your camera, try the camera with another application. Numerous freeware (software available at no cost to the user) and shareware (copyrighted software distributed on a free-will donation basis) software for Web cams can be found on the Internet; try doing a search on a site such as Download.com (http://www.download.com/). Applications such as Windows Imaging (Start, Programs, Accessories, Imaging) and Microsoft NetMeeting (Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications, NetMeeting) both come with Windows and offer free ways to test your Web cam. If for some reason NetMeeting is not on your system, you can download it from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting.
If you install your Web cam software and then have a problem with a previously problem-free program (or if installing a program causes problems with your Web cam or its software), you should check both the program and your camera manufacturers’ Web sites for patches or other information on the problem.
Conflicting devices. Another problem can occur when two video capture devices conflict with each other. To see if this is what’s causing your problem, click the Start button, select Settings, Control Panel, and double-click the Multimedia icon. Go to the Devices tab and check to see how many devices are listed under the Video Capture Devices section. If there is more than one, highlight the device you want to disable, click Properties, and in the Devices Properties window, select Do Not Use This Video Capture Device. Click Apply, reboot, and test the camera.
Check the source. Finally, it’s always a good idea to check the camera manufacturer’s Web site when any problems crop up. Most manufacturers offer software and patch downloads, as well as comprehensive troubleshooting and tech support areas, all of which are regularly updated.
by Rich Gray
| What You Need To
Know Benefits Keeping your microphone and camera working well will allow you to get the most out of your computer's multimedia capabilities Time Will vary depending on task, but usually not more than 10 to 15 minutes each Skill Level Intermediate |
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