Headphones Question

[Clark]

Left4Dead has made me go out and buy a pair of headphones. I want to yell back at Food Nipple while playing with him and curse Karnov for whipping my ass in yet another game.

I figure, plug and play. Wrong.

I need help. I am getting no sound in my headphones and my mic does not work. I tested the mic via the control panel, no dice. I checked all volume settings to make sure nothing was on "mute".

I went to the manufacturer's site and in troubleshooting it says "these headphones do not work with soundcards set to digital. You need to switch to analog if this is the case. Contact your soundcard manufacturer for information on how to do this."

I'd like to turn to the community that has saved me much frustration over the years before I go about figuring out what sound card I have and trying to contact the folks that made it.

Suggestions? Is is easy to switch from digital to analog? I did much digging but could not find a way to do so in the limited amount of time I had.

[GigaFuzz]

Have you got any sound-card related items in your system tray?

What operating system are you using?

[Skull3r]

I'm confused. So you plugged in the headphones and they didn't work? What kind of headphones were you using?

[Cactaur]

Not very much info to go on. Onboard mobo audio or soundblaster type? I assume your soundcard is working if you've been gaming fine before. Check BIOS otherwise to see if its been disabled.

Are they plugged into the correct ports? And check the headphones with an ipod or something to see if it works.

[biosc1]

USB or 3.5mm connections?

I'm going to assume 3.5mm connections. Drivers up to date for your soundcard? Sound card works otherwise? Are you plugging it into the back or front of your pc? (sometimes the front pins aren't connected).

[hunterx280]

Is this a computer you built yourself or did you buy it off the shelf? If it's one you built yourself and you are using the front audio ports, maybe you plugged it in wrong on the motherboard. I always seem to get at least one of those little buggers backwards when I build a system.

[KingGorilla]

Can we just sticky one of the last half dozen headphones threads?

[Clark]

Can we just sticky one of the last half dozen headphones threads?

I swear I checked the first couple of pages first.

Yes, I plugged them in and get nothing. I can't remember the brand name, but I'll check when I get home.

I'm running XP. Sound card works fine otherwise. I bought the comp from Cyberpower. 3.5mm jacks.

I am connecting it up front, but the idea that the front pins aren't connected is something I didn't think of. I don't know where else I'd plug them in if not there though... (no other spots with the headphone or mic symbol.)

[GigaFuzz]

I swear I checked the first couple of pages first.

Yes, I plugged them in and get nothing. I can't remember the brand name, but I'll check when I get home.

I'm running XP. Sound card works fine otherwise. I bought the comp from Cyberpower. 3.5mm jacks.

I am connecting it up front, but the idea that the front pins aren't connected is something I didn't think of. I don't know where else I'd plug them in if not there though... (no other spots with the headphone or mic symbol.)

There should be ports on the back. Green for headphones and pink for microphone.

[Clark]

There should be ports on the back. Green for headphones and pink for microphone.

I tried every port and got nada. A humming sound at one point, but that's it.

[GigaFuzz]

How are your speakers connected to your PC?

Also, as I said before, are there any sound-card related items in your system tray?

[KingGorilla]

I swear I checked the first couple of pages first.

I am connecting it up front, but the idea that the front pins aren't connected is something I didn't think of. I don't know where else I'd plug them in if not there though... (no other spots with the headphone or mic symbol.)

Search is wonkey, that was more a polite suggestion to any admins watching, as headphones threads crop up every couple of weeks.

With many, dare I say most, motherboards if you connect your case's audio inputs/outputs, you end up disabling the rear, integrated, sound inputs/outputs. Mine does not operate in the fashon, but I know many people who have boards that are like that. You may need to crack open the case and unplug the front audio.

It may also be a volume issue.
Double click on the speaker in the system tray(where you adjust the volume)
Go to options>>>Properties.
On Mixer device select your "Output" it may have your sound mapper device named before the output
Check every box,hit OK, and adjust each slider, making sure each is un-muted.

I have found that by default XP mutes most of my un-used sount outputs.

[Clark]

Thanks for all of your help!

The front pins on my case were connected to nothing.

Headphones work fine, but my mic is a mess. It sounds garbled and full of static. I'm so pissed. I was fired up to chat with you gents and gals while shooting zombies.

I've monkeyed with the sensitivity and volume with no luck. I'm tempted to buy a nicer headset, but don't want to spend more money and have the same problem. I'm wondering if it is due to my Comcast connection....

[Rogue_hunter]

I'm wondering if it is due to my Comcast connection....

Not likely if that's what you're hearing when testing the mic. Have you checked both the sound options from the Control Panel, as well as in game?
Just building my own, I forgot to check the sound driver before going into TF2. To no surprise, no one could hear me, even though I cranked all the sound options in TF2. Turns out the control panel options had the mic cranked all the way down to almost mute.

Though, it could also be that your mic outright sucks. In the long term, it's always better to buy the nicer sets. Less heartbreak, and you don't have to worry about constantly buying new sets.