How To Set Up a Microphone

Your computer already has a built-in microphone sufficient for all the basic tasks you need. However, the microphone might not suffice for some high-quality tasks. Usually, to do the tasks, you will need a high-quality external microphone that you can connect to your computer through USB or Bluetooth. Then you need to set up the microphone before you can use it.

We will explain how you can set up an external microphone through USB or Bluetooth. We will also explain how you can test the microphone to ensure it is working optimally.

Connecting Your Microphone to Your Device

It is not hard to figure out the type of external microphone you have. It can either be a Bluetooth or USB microphone. The first step in setting up your microphone is to connect it to your computer and install any related drivers. 

If you’re using a USB microphone, plug the USB cable into one of your computer’s USB ports. Your Windows computer will automatically search for the necessary drivers and install them. However, you can check the manufacturer’s website for the microphone’s latest driver and install it manually if it doesn’t.

If you’re using a Bluetooth microphone, turn on the Bluetooth on your computer and microphone. Open your computer’s “Bluetooth and Other Devices” menu and select “Add a Bluetooth or Other Device.” In the window that appears, click “Bluetooth.” Choose your device from the list of available devices and pair the microphone with your computer. 

After successful pairing, your microphone is displayed in the list of connected Audio devices. 

How To Configure or Set Up Your Microphone

After the microphone has been connected and the drivers have been installed, the next step is to configure the microphone. You can do that by following the steps below.

1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar and click “Sounds.”
2. Select the “Recording” tab in the Sounds window that appears. Here, you can see all the connected microphones and the default microphone.
3. To make your microphone the default device, right-click on it and choose “Set as Default Device.”
4. Click on the microphone you want to set up and the “Configure” button at the bottom left corner.
5. In the Speech recognition window that appears, select “Set Up Microphone.” It opens the Microphone Setup Wizard.
6. Choose your type of microphone from the options provided. Usually, the computer does a good job identifying the type of microphone connected. Select “Next” to continue.
7. The Setup Wizard displays a list of instructions to help you set up your microphone. Read the list and click “Next.”
8. A sentence is displayed on the screen. Read the sentence aloud into the microphone. The lower sound bar moves as you speak. Then select “Next.”
9. If the computer heard your speech clearly, a confirmation window shows that your microphone is set up. Otherwise, you have to try again. Click “Finish” to end the process.

How To Test Your Microphone

Once you’ve set up your microphone, you can test it to see if it works optimally. You may also follow this process if your microphone suddenly stops working. To test your microphone, follow the steps below.

1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar and click “Sounds.”
2. Select the “Recording” tab in the Sounds window that appears. Here, you can see all the connected microphones and the default microphone.
3. Check if the microphone is enabled. If it isn’t, right-click the device and enable it.
4. There are vertical sound bars displayed beside the connected microphones. Speak into the microphone and check if the green bars beside the microphone move as you speak. 
5. Click “OK” to close the Sound window.

How To Disable Your Microphone

After you finish the high-quality task, you might want to disable your external microphone and set the in-built microphone on your computer as the default device. You can do that by following the steps below.

1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar and click “Sounds.”
2. Select the “Recording” tab in the Sounds window that appears.
3. Right-click on the external device and select “Disable.”
4. Right-click on the internal microphone and select “Set as Default Device.”

Summary

It takes a few simple steps to connect your microphone to your computer and set it up. Follow the steps in this article to set up your high-quality microphone and have the best audio experience.