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Scenario - I want to use my mic plug as a "line-in" input that will get mixed with the other audio being output to the speakers. How can this be done on Windows 7 / Vista?

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2 Answers

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In Windows 7:

  1. Click the volume control icon in the notification area

    Illustration of the volume control icon in the notification area

  2. Click the speaker icon above the slider

    Illustration of the speaker icon button

  3. In the properties dialog go the the Levels tab

  4. Unmute the Microphone there:

    Illustration of the mute button in the Speakers property dialog

In Windows Vista:

  1. Go to the Control Panel
  2. Click "Hardware and Sound"
  3. Under "Sound" click "Manage audio devices"
  4. Click "Speakers" and then "Properties"
  5. In the properties dialog go the the Levels tab
  6. Unmute the Microphone there.
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Couldn't ask for a better answer than this :) – Christothes Aug 13 at 17:16
I don't think those instructions will work. Those allow the microphone to record, but unless some application is playing back what is recorded, nothing will come out of the speakers. – Steve Rowe Aug 13 at 17:27
It definitely works here in sending what the microphone picks up to the speakers. The setting won't change the volume or mute state of the recording device. That's why it's on the speaker's property page. – Johannes Rössel Aug 13 at 17:45
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Windows 7 supports this out of the box.

  1. Right-click on the volume icon and select Recording Devices
  2. Double-click on your microphone
  3. Select listen tab
  4. Check the "listen to this device" box
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Should have known about that one. I even read Larry Osterman's blog ... Those two different ways we describe also seem to be orthogonal. Also my described way causes the output to be slightly more quiet. Interesting. – Johannes Rössel Aug 13 at 17:48
You're right, they're orthogonal. Your solution requires that the manufacturer provide hardware support for the feature, Steve's solution doesn't require hardware support (thus works in more cases) – Larry Osterman Aug 21 at 13:54

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