Karaoke Forums

I have a Shure karaoke microphone that I would like to connect to my computer. The cable has the connector that can fit in computer sound boards. I connect the cable to the mic and computer, turn on the microphone, but I can't hear my voice. What am I doing wrong? Is there special software or hardware I need?

Chances are your mic is the wrong impedance for the sound card. You possibly will need a pre-amp of some kind. Here is one that I use that also works as a sound card & recording device.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--LEXALPHA
Works very well.

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Go to Control Panel - Sound and Audio Devices - Voice tab and make sure the settings are right and the volume is up for Recording Device. Also make sure you're plugging the mic into the Mic jack and not Line In.

McPostal - It's definitely plugged in the mic jack. Still not recognizing it. I even went to Sound Recorder and it didn't work.

Guess I'll have to try out the recording studio that Lonman suggested. Are there any other devices I could use that are possibly cheaper? I want to see what other options I have before deciding on what to buy next.

Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of directly connecting a regular XLR mic to a computer sound card without some kind of interface ie mixer, audio interface (like I suggested). Here is a plain jane simple connecter to convert a regular mic to a USB connector, however it's the same price as the unit I linked to & it doesn't come with the great recording software & Lexicon reverb plugins. Plus that is ALL it does is convert.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=270707

You could also try this - XLR to 1/8" TRS, however unless your sound card has a balanced input which most stock & basic cards do not, this won't work either & the sound quality is not going to be as good.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--HOSXVM49

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Well, here's the sound card that I have:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6829102006

And my mic already has 1/8" connector at the end of the cable which can easily plug into the sound card. I guess I'll have to use the Recording Studio. With it, I just plug the microphone into the jack, and it amplifies my voice? Then I can just start recording?

The unit plugs into your USB device. Once set up (easy), you plug your mic into the back of the unit. Whatever recording software you are using - it comes bundled with a nice recording program as well - it needs to recognize the unit as your recording inteface before you can jsut start recording.
I take it you already took the advice above about going through the control panel to double check that your sound properties are set correctly. That the mic input is not muted & turned up - you should be able to hear something even without the software once the mic is properly connected.
You could also try an actual USB mic, you could get something like
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Q1UCW/
A little less money, not quite as good of quality as the Shure (IMO) but will serve purpose.

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Actually, you do have a choice. Just get a XLR to USB cable by Lightsnake. Here is one for sale on Amazon.
Click here.

My friend got one and using it with Shure SM58 and he loves it. It's a bit pricey but worth the purchase.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

For the price of $40, $30 more you can get the Lexicon sound interface that will also act as a recording device & sound card, plus have inputs for other options, recording software & killer Lexicon reverb.

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Yep, that's true. However, this cable is fairly versatile. He was going to take his little Mackie mixer, mono it out, then plug in the output XLR to this cable. I haven't checked in to see if it worked for him yet.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Well he could keep the mixer stereo, run the main out to the balanced 1/4" in on the Lexi & run the output through the computer for recording or whatever. Not sure why - other than recording - one would want to do that though.

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My Lexicon Recording Studio arrived today. I installed the drivers and everything, I'm just unsure how to connect the microphone to it. My microphone has a 1/8" and 1/4" connector. Where would I connect that to? Or would I need a male XLR cable?

You will need an actual XLR-XLR cable. I'm sorry, I assumed you had that already.

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Got it and it finally works ...but only with the headphones on. I want to plug my 2.0 speakers into the box. Because it has a 1/8" connector, I use my adapter and then plug them into the first Line Out port. However, when I talk into the mic, I can't hear my own voice. All that comes out of the speakers are the fuzzy sounds. I've messed with the knobs in the front, but I can't get anything. Any advice on this?

OK you're getting there.

Now you need to convert that 1/8" stereo plugs to two 1/4" mono plug.
http://www.progearwarehouse.com/Hosa-YMP-434

Plug this into the left/right 1/4" line out on the Lexi & the 1/8" mini plug from the speakers to the jack end.

Once this is done you need to go into your control panel, sounds, hit the playback tab and make the USB audio device - it may say LExicona or Alpha as well - the default.
On the Lexi, put the monitor mix straight up, turn the output level about the same. Now turn your mic up until you hear it through your speakers.

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