Microsoft KB Archive/272754

= Encarta Language Learning: How to Troubleshoot Microphone Related Issues =

Article ID: 272754

Article Last Modified on 1/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Encarta Language Learning French 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Language Learning French 1.0 Deluxe Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Language Learning Spanish 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Encarta Language Learning Spanish 1.0 Deluxe Edition

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This article was previously published under Q272754



SUMMARY
This article describes how to troubleshoot microphone-related problems when you use one of the programs listed at the beginning of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
To troubleshoot microphone-related problems, use the following methods in the order in which they are presented.

Reduce Background Noise

 * Reduce background noise, such as talking, children playing and doors slamming.
 * Use a high-quality microphone similar to the microphone that is included with the Deluxe version of the Microsoft Encarta Language Learning program.

Speak into the Microphone Properly
Speak properly into the microphone and make sure that the microphone is positioned correctly. Review the documentation that is included with your microphone to verify the correct position for the microphone.

NOTE: The microphone that is included with Encarta Language Learning - French Deluxe and Encarta Language Learning - Spanish Deluxe is designed to be positioned slightly in front of and to the side of your mouth within 3/4 of an inch.

The white dot on the microphone is to be positioned toward your mouth.

Verify That the Hardware Is Configured Correctly
Verify that the microphone is firmly connected to the microphone jack (some sound card jacks are marked with pictures) and not the headphone or the speaker jack.

If you cannot determine the correct jack, check the documentation that is included with your hardware, or contact the hardware manufacturer. For information about how to contact your hardware manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Configure the Microphone Volume
To configure the microphone volume:  Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.  Double-click Multimedia (Sounds and Multimedia in Microsoft Windows Millennium or Microsoft Windows 2000).

Windows 98
Click the button directly under Recording and to the right of the Preferred device box to open up the Master Record window.

Windows Me or Windows 2000
In the Sound Recording section, click the Volume button.

 Verify that the Volume slider that is directly below the Mic Balance or Microphone Balance slider is at the top and click to clear the Mute check box below the Volume slider. Click OK, and then attempt to record a wave audio file again.

Test the Microphone by Using Microsoft Sound Recorder
To test the microphone by using Sound Recorder:   Run the Sound Recorder tool:

Windows 95
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Multimedia, and then click Sound Recorder.

Windows 98
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Entertainment, and then click Sound Recorder.  Click Record (the red circle), and then speak into the microphone.

If the microphone is plugged into the correct jack, the green line in Sound Recorder moves up and down.

If the green line moves, click Stop, click Rewind, and then click Play to listen to your recording. If Sound Recorder works correctly, proceed to the next method.</li></ol>

NOTE: To install Sound Recorder:
 * 1) Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.
 * 2) Click the Windows Setup tab, click Multimedia, and then click Details.
 * 3) Click to select the Sound Recorder check box, click OK, and then click OK.

Run the Microphone Setup Wizard
To run the Microphone Setup Wizard:
 * 1) Start Encarta Language Learning and log in as a student.
 * 2) On the Options menu, click Microphone Wizard.
 * 3) Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the wizard.

Check Multimedia Properties
To check multimedia properties:
 * 1) Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
 * 2) Double-click Multimedia or Sounds and Multimedia.
 * 3) Click the Audio tab.
 * 4) In the Recording or Sound Recording section, make sure that the correct device is listed in the Preferred device box.

If you are not sure which device is correct for your computer, consult the documentation that is included with your hardware or contact your hardware manufacturer to obtain more information.

Check for Alternate Microphone setting
For additional information about how to check for an alternate microphone setting, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

270764 ELL: Microphone Wizard Does Not Adjust Volume

Determine if the Sound Card and Driver Support Full-Duplex Audio
If only one person can talk at a time, or if sounds are distorted when two people talk at the same time, your sound card may not be configured to support full-duplex audio.

To determine whether your sound card and driver support full-duplex audio:   Run the Sound Recorder tool:

Windows 95
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Multimedia, and then click Sound Recorder.

Windows 98
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Entertainment, and then click Sound Recorder. </li> Repeat step 1 to start a second Sound Recorder session.</li> In the first Sound Recorder session, play a wave audio (.wav) file that is at least 30 seconds long:  On the File menu, click Open.</li> In the Look in box, browse to a wave audio file that is at least 30 seconds long.</li> Click the wave audio file, and then click Open.</li></ol> </li> While the first session of Sound Recorder is playing the wave audio file, switch to the second session of Sound Recorder, and then click Record (the red circle) to record a new wave audio file.</li></ol>

If you can record a new wave audio file while another wave audio file is playing, your sound card supports full-duplex audio.

If you cannot record a wave audio file while another wave audio file is playing, one of the following conditions is true:
 * Your sound card or the driver for your sound card does not support full-duplex audio.
 * Your sound card is not properly configured to support full-duplex audio.

Additional query words: ells ellf

Keywords: kbhardware kbhowto KB272754

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