Skype and microphones?

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Saturday, 01-Sep-2007 1:44:10

For some reason my microphone keeps cutting in and out on skype but if I use it on sound recorder or Audacity it works normally. I'm using my computer's internal microphone and it worked fine before. What volume should I have it and why does it cut out on skype?

Post 2 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 02-Sep-2007 0:24:08

You didn't give machine specs, internet connection type, etc. you may need to adjust your buffer size for skype. If it's at 128, set it to 256 for example. Do you get any interfearance with the incoming audio signal? Also, if your windows firewall is not set to ignore skype, that could be causing issues.

Post 3 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 02-Sep-2007 0:32:38

Also I'll add to the poster before to set Skype so that is ajust your sound settings. It's under options under sound options, just check the box. It does a great job.

Post 4 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 1:28:47

buffer size? How do you change that. I'm on high speed internet, not sure of the number. people tell me I sound find on skype but they can't hear me all the time. I did the skype test call and the recording playback i get is the one that keeps cutting in and out. BTW, no firewalls are blocking it. If this helps. This computer has sigma tell audio for it's sound.

Post 5 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 18:38:04

Hmmm. How much ram do you have? can you check your CPU usage when skype is running? When is the last time you cleaned your machine with compressed air? do you have issues with any other applications/processes?

Post 6 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 18:39:01

also, have you tried using a USB headset? Just curious.

Post 7 by YankeeFanForLife! (Picapiedra: king of the boards!) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 18:41:30

Funny I use to have that same problum. I never found out what the hell was wrong with it. I just changed computers.

Post 8 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 18:43:26

It's a new computer and skype is right now 23rd on the processes list, and that's out of 64. I have no clew what the other stuff on there are.

Post 9 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 19:08:09

What's this recording level in the skype options? It stays at 0 no matter what I do.
Now I switched from the internal microphone to a headset. Same result, slightly worse.

Post 10 by shadow of john (Veteran Zoner) on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 20:06:47

it's your connection. what's your internet connection type

Post 11 by ¤§¤spike¤§¤ (This site is so "educational") on Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 21:34:32

I currently use skype on cable, I know its my soundcard which doesn't like my external mic, so I just use a USB headset, which works just fine, my laptop is 2.00 ghz, 2 gb ram, 80 gb hd, 128 mb vid card, gigabit ethernet, wireless card, xp pro, to the original poster, you said you had 64 processes running, you might be running outa ram since on my machine skype uses between 30-48 mb. hth

Post 12 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2007 13:03:28

My computer ignorence is showing. What are all those numbers?
Does a USB Microphone work better? How much do they cost and where Can I get one.

Post 13 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2007 14:18:40

you've got anti virus and anti spyware running and it's all set to auto update correct? Are you plugged straight into the ether net connection on your cable modem, or, are you using a wireless router?

Post 14 by ¤§¤spike¤§¤ (This site is so "educational") on Wednesday, 05-Sep-2007 20:15:41

Yeah, a wireless router if the original poster is indeeed using one might be a reason why the connection drops, or sounds bad.

Post 15 by chocolab (move over school!) on Thursday, 06-Sep-2007 15:14:21

guys you've confused her to the point of no return here. For one thing guitar god instead of slamming her with numbers, explain some of them not just ingore it. Genie, sorry if I got that wrong, a USB it a bit more expensive, if you go wit the headset variety, but well worth it. unless you're an idiot like me who tripped, ripped the plug outof the port, which is the little hole it goes into and killed it. walmart, amazon, target, bestbuy, circuit city are some palces to look for the microphones. I have a logitech 350 and the best things about that one is it has volume right on the headset so you don't have to mess with anything. sorry I can't help more, goodluck.

Post 16 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Thursday, 06-Sep-2007 15:23:41

thanks poster 15.
this whole thing can probably be figured out without all the specs.

Post 17 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 06-Sep-2007 21:03:32

She presented a problem and I gave possible solutions and things to check on. If someone is lacking basic computer knowledge, there are many places they can go to become familiar with terms they may not understand etc. Don't bitch at me due to other people's lazyness. And don't tell me that's not what it is. I see it with students all the time.