How do I get my USB microphone to work?
Check Your Computer Recognizes the Microphone
The first step is to check if your computer actually recognizes that the USB microphone is connected. Here’s how:
– Look for the microphone in your computer’s settings or control panel. On Windows, go to Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Sound. See if the microphone is listed as an input device.
– Try connecting the USB microphone to different USB ports on your computer. Use the ports directly on the computer if possible, not through a USB hub. The microphone may work on some ports but not others.
– Restart your computer and check if the microphone shows up in the settings again. Sometimes restarting can fix connectivity issues.
If the microphone still does not appear at all in your computer’s settings, then your computer is not detecting it correctly. You will need to troubleshoot further or contact the device manufacturer. But if it does show up, you can move on to adjusting software settings to get your USB mic working.
Install Any Required Drivers
Many USB microphones require drivers to be installed in order to function properly with your computer. It’s important to download the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website and install them.
Begin by visiting the website of the company that made your USB microphone. Look for a “Support” or “Downloads” section where you can find the most up-to-date drivers for your specific microphone model. Some common microphone manufacturers include Blue, Audio-Technica, Samson, and Shure.
Download the driver installation files and run them to install the drivers on your computer. Be sure to choose the correct version for your operating system, such as Windows 10 64-bit. Allow the installation process to fully complete.
With the proper drivers installed from the manufacturer, your USB microphone should now be detected by your computer and able to record audio clearly. If issues persist, you may need to adjust your microphone settings or consult the troubleshooting tips from the manufacturer. But installing drivers is the essential first step in getting a USB mic working properly. For more information, visit the Blue Microphones Support page.
Set the Microphone as Default
Setting the USB microphone as the default input device in your sound settings ensures your computer will use the external mic instead of the built-in one. Here’s how to set the default input device on a Mac:
1. Click the Apple menu and go to System Preferences > Sound.[1]
2. Click the Input tab.
3. Select your external USB microphone from the list of devices.
4. Click the dropdown next to “Select a device for sound input” and choose your USB mic.
5. Close System Preferences. Your Mac will now use the USB mic as the default audio input.
Setting the desired microphone as default input ensures your Mac will automatically detect and utilize the correct mic for recording audio or talking to others. This prevents having to manually select it each time.
[1] “Change the sound input settings on Mac.” Apple Support, https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-the-sound-input-settings-mchlp2567/mac. Accessed [insert date].
Adjust the Input Volume
One of the most common reasons for a USB microphone being too quiet is that the input volume or gain is not turned up high enough. In your operating system’s sound settings, find the recording device properties for the USB mic. Go to the Levels tab and ensure the microphone volume slider is set close to 100. This boosts the gain so more of the mic’s input is captured.
If the mic volume is already maxed out in the system settings, double check the physical microphone gain dial (if it has one). Turn this up to about 75% initially. Just be careful not to increase the gain too high, as it could lead to distortion.
According to Microsoft’s Windows forums, dragging the mic volume slider to the maximum value in the properties can resolve issues with USB mics being too quiet. This ensures your operating system is capturing the mic’s full input signal.[1]
Change Microphone Properties
Microphone properties allow you to adjust the settings and behaviors of your USB microphone in Windows. Two key settings to check are disabling ‘listen to this device’ and enabling noise cancellation:
- Disable ‘listen to this device’ – This setting creates a feedback loop that can cause echoing. Go to Sound Settings, Recording tab, right click your microphone and uncheck ‘Listen to this device’.
- Enable noise cancellation/suppression – This setting helps eliminate background noise picked up by the mic. Check if your microphone has built-in noise cancellation features that can be enabled through properties.
Other microphone properties like boost and EQ can also be adjusted to optimize sound quality and volume. Always test settings changes by recording audio after making adjustments. Tweak settings gradually until you achieve the desired recording performance. Refer to your microphone’s manual for guidance on available properties and suggested settings.
Use a Microphone Stand
Using a microphone stand to position your USB microphone properly can help optimize audio quality and pick-up. According to experts, a good rule of thumb for positioning a dynamic microphone like the XDM-100 5-15cm (2-6 inches) from your mouth (https://rode.com/en/about/news-info/how-to-position-your-microphone-for-streaming). Condenser microphones should be placed a little further away, around 20-30cm (8-12 inches), to prevent plosives and allow for a fuller vocal tone capture.
Attaching your USB microphone to an adjustable stand gives you much more control over optimal positioning compared to just placing it on your desk. You can angle the microphone towards your mouth at the best distance for audio pick-up. Microphone stands also minimize vibrations and interference that can occur when placing the mic on surfaces like desks.
Take care to position the microphone properly towards you while using the stand. Pointing it away may diminish the audio quality substantially. Test different angles and distances while monitoring your microphone input levels to find the optimal compromise of volume and clarity.
Plug Headphones Directly Into the Microphone
One of the easiest ways to get real-time audio monitoring from a USB microphone is to connect headphones directly to the headphone jack on the mic. Many USB microphones have a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack built right into the body of the mic, which allows you to hear yourself in the headphones as you record.
By plugging headphones into your USB microphone’s headphone jack, you enable zero latency monitoring. This means there is no delay between when the audio enters the microphone and when you hear it in the headphones. The audio is fed directly from the mic into your headphones with very little delay, allowing you to monitor your sound in real time.
To set this up:
- Connect your headphones to the headphone jack on your USB microphone using a 3.5mm audio cable.
- Make sure monitoring is enabled on the microphone, either through a physical monitoring volume control knob or a software setting.
- Speak into the microphone and listen in your headphones to confirm you hear your voice instantly.
- Adjust the microphone gain and headphone volume until the monitoring level sounds good.
The headphone jack built into most USB mics allows for simple yet effective real-time monitoring while recording. Give this method a try for latency-free monitoring before exploring more complex software monitoring solutions.
As recommended by Sennheiser’s line of USB microphones, using the headphone jack for direct monitoring eliminates distracting lag while recording.
Install Audio Software/Drivers
Many audio software and DAWs (digital audio workstations) like Pro Tools, FL Studio, Ableton Live, and others utilize audio drivers like ASIO (standard formatting url citation). These drivers allow for lower latency and better performance when recording and producing music. However, USB microphones do not have specific ASIO drivers. Instead, they use a standard or universal audio driver built into Windows or Mac OS.
So while you cannot utilize ASIO with a USB microphone, you can still use audio software like FL Studio or Ableton Live to record. You will just be limited to higher latency times. If latency is an issue, try adjusting buffer size settings in your audio software. Additionally, programs like ASIO4All can help reduce latency by aggregating audio devices.
Make sure to install any software or drivers provided by your USB microphone manufacturer. This will ensure proper functionality and access to any custom control software. If issues persist, check that your operating system and audio programs are up-to-date.
Troubleshoot Interference Issues
Interference can cause annoying buzzing, humming, or static noises from your USB microphone. This electrical noise gets picked up either through the USB cable or elsewhere in the electrical wiring of your computer setup.
If you notice buzzing or other interference noises, first try plugging your microphone into different USB ports on your computer. Some ports may have cleaner power delivery with less electrical noise. As noted on MusiciansHQ, “USB microphones can pick up buzz from surrounding hardware.” Changing the USB port may help isolate the device from the source of interference.
You can also try replacing the USB cable with a shielded cable, per recommendations on Reddit. Shielded cables prevent electromagnetic interference from causing noise in the audio signal. A high-quality shielded USB cable may resolve buzzing issues.
If these steps don’t eliminate the unwanted noises, check if your microphone came with audio software that has noise reduction capabilities. You may be able to apply noise gates, noise suppression, or other effects to clean up the audio.
Contact the Microphone Manufacturer
If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps and your USB microphone is still not working, it’s time to contact customer support from the brand that made your microphone. Most manufacturers have a customer service team that can provide assistance.
Before contacting customer support, make sure you have the following information ready:
- Model name and number of your microphone
- Serial number or product ID
- Receipt or proof of purchase
You can typically find support contact information on the manufacturer’s website. For example:
When you contact customer support, clearly describe the issue you are having with your microphone and the troubleshooting steps you have already tried. This will help them diagnose the problem and provide solutions tailored to your situation.