Microphone testing and adjustment

If you are using a headset you have to make sure that your microphone is adjusted properly. With a headset you have to set both the volume of the microphone and the the sound that you hear. If your microphone is set too high it will create noise and disturb others in the classroom. 

To check your audio settings do the following:
Place your mouse pointer on the icon of the microphone, then right-click on it. 

The next dialog box will be displayed:

Set the following features:

1) Enable the Mic Noise Filter ( the word 'enable' means to put a checkmark in front of it)

2) Enable the Input Peak Meter

3) Enable Auto Select

3) Make sure that there is a dot in front of Microphone

4) Make sure that the slider switch for the volume control on the mic is all the way up.

Start speaking into the microphone. If the mike is working properly there will be a green bar on the dialog box where you are speaking.  Keep moving the microphone volume control until the color of the bar is green (do not go to yellow and especially avoid the red zone as that means voice distortion).


IF THE MICROPHONE DOES NOT WORK

 Check the following and make sure your screen looks like this one below where certain features are enabled.

Notice that in the middle of the dialog box there is a sound card driver name. Sometimes this will say 'system'. Of course that won't work. Click on the down arrow in the device window and choose another driver. Test your microphone again by speaking into it. Repeat until you get a driver that will produce a green bar when you speak into the microphone.

When you find the right driver and the mic is working properly, click on the 'Apply' button and then the 'OK' button.

To get the microphone to work in the classroom environment do the following:
 
Click once on the mic icon at the bottom of the chat screen. 

The icon will change to an aqua or dark blue color.

Make sure that your mic is placed in the right position and start counting.  A green bar will be moving at the bottom of the icon list on your chat screen as shown on the next graphic.

If you still have a problem hearing the bell you may have the following problems:

1) a sound card problem

2) you headset is plugged in the wrong holes in your soundcard

3) you have a faulty headset.

4) your headset is not placed on your head (just kidding!)