Dear Ask-a-nerd, feedback from microphone on PC.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Just keep the volume down or the speakers well away from the mic.

[DaveD]

Headphones.

Yep, if I'm the only person in this room. I have 3-4 headphone/mic combos, but if Ayaan wants to hear the other person too, there's a problem.

Did the problem occur while you were using Skype, or was it with another program, because...

Unless you get a very narrow-range, directional microphone, I don't think there's an easy cure (short of headphones). Most programs that use audio input (e.g. Skype) don't transmit the microphone input back out of the speakers while in operation, but if you're using something that immediately adds the microphone input to the audio output (and your mic is a normal one) you're going to need headphones.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Headphones.

Yep, if I'm the only person in this room. I have 3-4 headphone/mic combos, but if Ayaan wants to hear the other person too, there's a problem.

Did the problem occur while you were using Skype, or was it with another program, because...

Unless you get a very narrow-range, directional microphone, I don't think there's an easy cure (short of headphones). Most programs that use audio input (e.g. Skype) don't transmit the microphone input back out of the speakers while in operation, but if you're using something that immediately adds the microphone input to the audio output (and your mic is a normal one) you're going to need headphones.

Happens with the webcam gear starts up, or I use sound recorder, or just plug it in. Mai's microphone worked fine, maybe I can cone this one.

[Calilasseia]

Apart from Hack's solution, one possible way is to try and make your microphone more directional with some sort of wrap around. Which would have a number of beneficial effects. It seems you're already planning something of this sort though.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Apart from Hack's solution, one possible way is to try and make your microphone more directional with some sort of wrap around. Which would have a number of beneficial effects. It seems you're already planning something of this sort though.

Mai's mic was perfect, but I didn't get the name or the model number. She's off somewhere now, I guess I have to wait for her to come back.

And yes, I tried a "Victorian collar" on my mic. Tripled the feedback.

[Calilasseia]

Weird. Suggests to me that you have some, shall we say, interesting acoustic features in the room. Such as the speakers being positioned in such a way as to create resonant spots. Might be worth experimenting with changed speaker positions in this case.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Weird. Suggests to me that you have some, shall we say, interesting acoustic features in the room. Such as the speakers being positioned in such a way as to create resonant spots. Might be worth experimenting with changed speaker positions in this case.

Yeah, I have some "interesting" positions for my speakers, and tons of electronic gear within twenty feet of me.

[Calilasseia]

Oh that's going to complicate matters enormously. I'm reminded here of what one book on surface ships of the world said about certain Soviet ship classes with massive clusters of aerials and antennae upon them (the Kara class springs particularly to mind here) ...

"Integrating this large collection of disparate electronic systems is a complex task".



If you have a workstation area that looks like the net surfer's version of the Kara class, it's no wonder you're experiencing, shall we say, interesting integration issues.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Oh that's going to complicate matters enormously. I'm reminded here of what one book on surface ships of the world said about certain Soviet ship classes with massive clusters of aerials and antennae upon them (the Kara class springs particularly to mind here) ...

"Integrating this large collection of disparate electronic systems is a complex task".



If you have a workstation area that looks like the net surfer's version of the Kara class, it's no wonder you're experiencing, shall we say, interesting integration issues.

I got some very good pictures of a Kara once upon a time.

[hackenslash]

I have one of these:

http://www.behringer.com/en/Products/HA4700.aspx

Problem solved. About £30 GBP when I purchased, IIRC. Looking on Google, the price has gone up to about £70. I suspect you'd find one on E-bay cheap enough with a bit of rooting around.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I have headphone/mic sets, three of them. Fine if I'm alone, less than fine with other people here, like during the Train Wreck.

[hackenslash]

Yes, but do you have a headphone amp? I've recorded bands with that little beastie.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Yes, but do you have a headphone amp? I've recorded bands with that little beastie.