Windows: How can I redirect sound coming in from the mic to the speakers output

13

1

Scenario - I want to use my mic plug as a "line-in" input that will get mixed with the other audio being output to the speakers. How can this be done on Windows 7 / Vista?

Christothes

Posted 2009-08-13T16:27:24.517

Reputation: 3 597

There is a fatal flaw with all of the solutions offered. A PC mic jack, unless it's on a pro-level audio interface, is not a stereo input. Your mic's plug does have three contacts but the third (the "ring" in the plug) is for a +5VDC supply to a little preamp that's in the mic. So not only will connecting a "line" source to this not feed both speakers, the +5V may damage whatever you connect to it. This is also why some have reported gross amounts of noise from these attempts. – Jamie Hanrahan – 2016-12-12T04:47:56.097

Answers

16

Windows 8.1

  1. Right-click the volume-control icon in the notification area

    Illustration of the volume control icon in the notification area

  2. Select Recording devices in the context menu

    Illustration of the context menu of the volume control icon in the notification area

  3. Find your microphone in the list of recording devices

    Illustration of the list of recording devices

  4. Click Properties and go to the Listen tab

  5. Check the Listen to this device checkbox

    Illustration of the Listen to this device checkbox

Windows 7

  1. Click the volume control icon in the notification area

    Illustration of the volume control icon in the notification area

  2. Click the speaker icon above the slider

    Illustration of the speaker icon button

  3. In the properties dialog go the the Levels tab

  4. Unmute the Microphone there:

    Illustration of the mute button in the Speakers property dialog

Windows Vista

  1. Go to the Control Panel
  2. Click Hardware and Sound
  3. Under Sound click Manage audio devices
  4. Click Speakers and then Properties
  5. In the properties dialog go the the Levels tab
  6. Unmute the Microphone there.

Joey

Posted 2009-08-13T16:27:24.517

Reputation: 36 381

In Windows 8.1 the microphone is missing on the Levels tab. Is that my machine thing or Windows thing? – Septagram – 2014-12-01T11:18:28.550

@Septagram: I updated the answer for Windows 8.1 – Joey – 2014-12-01T11:29:30.267

2You're talking about 2 different things. Your "Windows Vista" and "Windows 7" instructions are referring to hardware sidetone/direct monitoring inside the sound card, while the "Listen" feature is a software passthrough. You should always use hardware monitoring if it is available (on any OS). Hardware sidetone has zero latency but only works internally to one sound card/device. Software playthrough has latency, but can connect different sound cards to each other. – endolith – 2015-10-01T15:47:08.237

I don't think those instructions will work. Those allow the microphone to record, but unless some application is playing back what is recorded, nothing will come out of the speakers. – Steve Rowe – 2009-08-13T17:27:43.610

It definitely works here in sending what the microphone picks up to the speakers. The setting won't change the volume or mute state of the recording device. That's why it's on the speaker's property page. – Joey – 2009-08-13T17:45:45.093

4

Windows 7 supports this out of the box.

  1. Right-click on the volume icon and select Recording Devices
  2. Double-click on your microphone
  3. Select listen tab
  4. Check the "listen to this device" box

Steve Rowe

Posted 2009-08-13T16:27:24.517

Reputation: 3 729

Should have known about that one. I even read Larry Osterman's blog ... Those two different ways we describe also seem to be orthogonal. Also my described way causes the output to be slightly more quiet. Interesting. – Joey – 2009-08-13T17:48:53.073

1You're right, they're orthogonal. Your solution requires that the manufacturer provide hardware support for the feature, Steve's solution doesn't require hardware support (thus works in more cases) – ReinstateMonica Larry Osterman – 2009-08-21T13:54:15.110

0

  1. Right-click on Sound.
  2. Select Recording Devices.
  3. Right-click on Microphone window.
  4. Click on show disable devices.
  5. Disable Microphone.
  6. Enable Stereo Mix.

Darpit

Posted 2009-08-13T16:27:24.517

Reputation: 1

Welcome to Super User! Please read the question again carefully. Your answer does not answer the original question. Please explain how disabling the microphone allows microphone input to be redirected – DavidPostill – 2016-03-10T18:09:23.670

Asked: 2009-08-13T16:27:24.517

Viewed: 49 706 times

Active: 2016-03-10T15:24:57.060