Microphone input

Posts: 61
thinkpada21
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
#1
I have never used the microphone before today, when I was in a meeting on Webex.com.

While I could hear both the audio from the conference and the audio from my microphone, no one else in the conference could hear me.

I did check all my mixer settings and everything seemed ok.

And, as I said, I did hear my own microphone audio. It's just seems that the application was not receiving the microphone audio.

I asked Webex for support, but they siad they only support Ubuntu, Red Hat and Suse, so were not able to help me.

For testing, what audio app would any of you suggest I try? Nothing fancy. As I said, I have never used nor needed to use microphone input before now.

Otherwise, any ideas why I can hear my mic audio, but not the application?
Posts: 1,520
eriefisher
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
#2
You could try a recording app like audacity to see if it's working correctly. Could just be a setting.
Posts: 61
thinkpada21
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
#3
I finally got around to trying Audacity. Same problem.

I am running Audacity 1.3.5 on antiX 7.5 with Debian Lenny repositories on an IBM Thinkpad A21m (PIII, 750MHz, Sound Fusion CS46xx).

I can load sound files into Audacity and they play just fine, however, while I can hear the microphone input through my headphones, the microphone audio does not get to Audacity.

Initially, I used the default settings (/dev/dsp). I then tried the various ALSA settings. Same result: Play ok, no audio to record.

In the Audacity wiki, I read a note about a BIOS option to disable the modem in Thinkpads could cause problems when the modem is disabled. I made sure that the modem isnot disabled.

Also, I checked my mixer settings (aumix) and tried various changes. Still no audio to record.

Also, I was able to capture the following error messages:

(while using the default /dev/dsp)
Expression 'tempDevHandle = open( deviceInfo->name, flags )' failed in 'src/hostapi/oss/pa_unix_oss.c', line: 687

(while using any of the ALSA settings)
Expression 'ret' failed in 'src/hostapi/alsa/pa_linux_alsa.c', line: 1034
Expression 'AlsaOpen( hostApi, parameters, streamDir, &pcm )' failed in 'src/hostapi/alsa/pa_linux_alsa.c', line: 1066
Posts: 1,081
OU812
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
#4
Hello. Try using aumix instead. It's under the multimedia > audio menu. Use it to set your recording source and then adjust the volume level.

john
Posts: 61
thinkpada21
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
#5
Already tried aumix. The setting of the record source selector made no difference. In fact, I tried it in all of the possible selections.

I have attached a screen pict of aumix.
Posts: 1,520
eriefisher
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
#6
Try clicking on the green button beside"line". This should turn it red and in turn make the"mic" green.
Posts: 1,520
eriefisher
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
#7
I just dug out my headset only to find mine's not working either.
Posts: 61
thinkpada21
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
#8
eriefisher wrote:Try clicking on the green button beside"line". This should turn it red and in turn make the"mic" green.
As I said, I already tried every selection, including this one. Same result: I can hear my microphone input, but the microphone audio does not get to the application.

I have not tried line input as I do not have a line level source convenient. Maybe I'll string a cable from the stereo system.
Posts: 61
thinkpada21
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
#9
eriefisher wrote:I just dug out my headset only to find mine's not working either.
Are you also hearing your own microphone input?
Posts: 1,520
eriefisher
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
#10
Yes, I can here myself but I'm not able to record it with audacity.