How to enable, disable, and switch between internal and external microphones in Windows 7?

5

2

Im Windows 7, I use a Headset microphone to dictate to the computer. I was not sure at one point if the internal microphone was disabled or not and thought that maybe it was used instead of the headset microphone. I have tried to find a way to check this and search under Sound/Recording. There were two microphones there. I have identified the external one by the fact that if not connected the message 'not plugged in' appeared.

I have selected Properties and selected to disable it

enter image description here

Now a single (external) microphone is present under sound and there's no obvious setting there to re-enable it.

enter image description here

I went to Device manager and found two devices there, both displaying only the 'Disable' option.

enter image description here

I want to know how to enable the internal microphone and also what is the proper management of microphones for the purpose presented above.

user162573

Posted 2013-05-14T16:37:51.647

Reputation:

A piece of software can only use a single device normally ( i.e. Skype ) well written software allows you to choose which device you want to use. Why can't you use that method, why are you, choosing to disable the device instead? – Ramhound – 2013-05-14T17:52:33.007

@Ramhound - i am new to the software that i use (Dragon Naturally Speaking) and was not sure if some problems of dictation were or not possibly because both micros were activated – None – 2013-05-14T18:06:08.860

2The version of DNS I have allows you to select which Microphone it will use. That version is several years old. – Ramhound – 2013-05-14T18:07:31.037

@Ramhound - are they displayed with different names? mine appear with the same name (here)

– None – 2013-05-14T18:50:13.880

1They are listed by the device name. You are able to rename audio devices I did that with my Turtlebeach Headset. – Ramhound – 2013-05-14T19:15:41.707

@Ramhound - i did that.now it is clear to me that all this time both micros were open when i was dictating. – None – 2013-05-15T10:37:45.843

Answers

4

The first part of the question - related to re-enabling the disabled microphone was answered here.

So, I have a partial answer: In the 'Sound/Recording' window, right-click and there's an option to see the disabled devices, which then can be enabled.

enter image description here

I had expected the internal microphone to be disabled automatically when an external one is connected. For an usb microphone, it seems that this is not the case, according to a comment under here.

I do not know about the line-in jack. But mine are both active if both enabled

enter image description here

But a fair albeit manual method would be to disable/enable the micro under 'Sound/Recording' as I did in the first place.

Also, I think that it is more reasonable to un-check "Show disconected devices" on right click on 'Sound/Recording' window. In this way, a disconnected device would be absent from the list - as enabling/disabling an absent device is pointless.

user162573

Posted 2013-05-14T16:37:51.647

Reputation: