Microphone Help

T

Tidus

EGO Is My Life!
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Just a couple of days ago, I bought a brand new headset. On my computer at my dad's house it was working great. However, when I switched to the computer at my mom's house, it doesn't work. I know it's not the headset, and my jacks where I plug it in work fine.

When I connect to Ventrilo, I can listen, but I can't talk. I get this error message:
Unable to activate DirectSound for selected device.
DirectSoundCaptureCreate failed. HR=DSERR_NODRIVER. No sound driver is available for use

But it's not just the Ventrilo that doesn't work. It doesn't work in game, or with Skype either. My computer just doesn't know that my microphone is plugged in. I've updated all my drivers, and it still doesn't help.

I'm running Vista, and I'm using DirectX. Let me know if you need more information.

Thanks in advance, and all help is appreciated!
 
Some headsets are for 32bit systems only. Tell me what kind of headset it is.
 
Off of the plantronics website:



How can I confirm that my headset was recognized by Windows Vista?

If nothing happens when the headset is plugged into a unique USB port the first time then the OS has not recognized the USB device.
If it does recognize the device a number of dialogue boxes will pop up on the system tray identifying the device as part of the New Hardware Found wizard.

Assuming the device was recognized and is installed properly it will show up in the Sounds dialogue portion of the Windows Control Panel.
However, it may or may not be the Windows default audio device depending on the version of Windows and the Service Pack installed (see below).

How will the Plantronics USB headset be identified in the Vista Sounds dialogue box in the control panel?

In some cases the headset will not be identified by name.
For example: Plantronics USB Headset. In many cases the headset will be identified in a generic form. For example: Generic USB Device, USB Audio Device.

Will my device show up as the default device for Vista sounds and audio?

This gets a bit complicated. With past versions of Windows, such as XP SP2 and before, all USB devices that are installed automatically enumerate as the default device for sounds and audio. For later Service Pack versions of XP and with Windows Vista SP1 telephony type devices and some speaker / microphone type devices do NOT install as the default audio device. The user is required to make the change manually in the control panel under sounds if desired. This was done to accommodate the use of devices such as speaker phones and USB handsets, which a user would not necessarily want as the default device for sounds.

Most Plantronics USB headsets enumerate as speaker / microphones in Windows Vista and should automatically be set as the default audio devices as part of the initial enumerating with a unique USB port. We have seen with some service pack versions in Windows Vista that this does not happen. In those cases the user needs to manually set the device as the default device for sounds if desired. The OS will then retain that setting for that particular headset when installed into that specific USB port. Windows identifies a device's setting based on the headset associated with a particular USB port. When plugged into a new USB port the enumeration process starts over again.
 
is your microphone plugged into a sound card build into the motherboard, a added soundcard or the mic jack on the case?
 
bakerthree said:
is your microphone plugged into a sound card build into the motherboard, a added soundcard or the mic jack on the case?
Click to expand...

I've tried plugging it in to both, and it makes no difference. When I check the recording devices in my Sounds, it says "No audio devices are installed".

I still haven't found a fix for this.
 
IRS, I lol'd and yea sometimes it doesn't connect to that type of system. Have you updated vent/drivers/anything that needs updating?
 
the reason why I asked which it was plugged into was that there are option to use the mic using the onboard sound, or other sound card installed. And I was going to make sure you had the right option chosen.

so lets start from the beginning how to test sound devices 101
- go to your controll panel
- select the option sound devices (if using classic theme)
- click on voice tab
- select the right playback and recording default device. ( the one your item is plugged into)
-click test hardware button
- follow directions
- if when speaking the bar does not raise very high or you find you have to be right next to your mic for it to pick things up then you have to turn on your 20db mic gain. To turn this on click the advance button below the microphone option and checkmark the box next to where it say 20db mic gain.
- if nothing seamed to work then you can try changing your default playback and recording devices and try again. Or changing the mute options in your volume control.

As a side not programs like vent also let you select your recording and playback devices aswell. So if you pass your windows mic test and vent still does not work then try setting that option in vent itself.
 
bakerthree said:
the reason why I asked which it was plugged into was that there are option to use the mic using the onboard sound, or other sound card installed. And I was going to make sure you had the right option chosen.

so lets start from the beginning how to test sound devices 101
- go to your controll panel
- select the option sound devices (if using classic theme)
- click on voice tab
Click to expand...

This is as far as I get, because my computer doesn't know that there's anything plugged in at all. When I go to the voice tab it says "No audio devices are installed". It just doesn't understand that I have something plugged in.
 
try these things:
1) Make sure that your headphones and mic are completely plugged in & that they are in the correct ports. Windows vista and certain sound cards (including onboard) are able to detect the headphones / mic being unplugged and it will result in that error.
2) Make sure that you have the latest drivers for your sound card and that the software is installed and running. There is normally a program that starts with windows for the sound that comes with the drivers. Do not delete it from the startup.
3) Make sure you are running the latest version of DirectX
4)try unplugging and reconnecting your headset to see if your operating system recognizes a new item plugged in.
5) It will not hurt to reinstall your sound drivers.
6) try changing your talk button to something else in vent.
 
bakerthree said:
try these things:
1) Make sure that your headphones and mic are completely plugged in & that they are in the correct ports. Windows vista and certain sound cards (including onboard) are able to detect the headphones / mic being unplugged and it will result in that error.
2) Make sure that you have the latest drivers for your sound card and that the software is installed and running. There is normally a program that starts with windows for the sound that comes with the drivers. Do not delete it from the startup.
3) Make sure you are running the latest version of DirectX
4)try unplugging and reconnecting your headset to see if your operating system recognizes a new item plugged in.
5) It will not hurt to reinstall your sound drivers.
6) try changing your talk button to something else in vent.
Click to expand...

I've tried everything on this list at least once. Still no luck. :crying:
 
I have a plantronic headset aswell, although its a different model and whatnot its given me issues before.

When i first used it, it was working perfectly for a good 3 weeks.
then i got my new beefy computer, and it was working fine
out of no where it suddenly had issues picking up my voice, so increased boost on windows settings, and in-game.

Then again, randomly, my mic began fading.
I would speak a sentence where it would begin clear as can be, and slowly fall off into nothingness until i let go of the chat button and started again, which it would repeat.

So i tinkered with it and BAM it just stopped picking up input into the mic period.
I tryed everything i knew to fix it, even a different headset, which had the same issue.
So i reset my comp, yelled at it to work, and when i tested the mic out, it was fine.

Honestly i dont think its your headset, because i used 2 different ones with the same results.
IMO id say its vista, maybe it just hates headsets.

The only thing i can come up with is this:
Dont un-plug your headset.
if you do un-plug your headset reset your comp upon re-plugging.
 
Last edited:
it should be fine, i have those exact same headset cept bout mine cheaper, when i plug my heardet in it never says it recognizes it, it just works, and i have vista x64bit
 
hers is a stupid question are you sure the mute button on the headphones cord is all the way on. Retry the testing of the mic in windows control panel and slide the mute button to the different positions to see if that makes any difference in the test.
 
So, It doesnt detect your mic, but your speakers. Hmmmmm. . . . Okay, Maybe you should go to Sound Settings or Speech Recognition settings and make sure that your microphone is selected. If that is fine, then I am very sorry.
 
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