Condensor microphone for Acer Aspire

[irlandes]

A friend here in Mexico recently bought an AOA150 Acer Aspire netbook with Linpus Lite. It seems to be an excellent machine, except it has the dreaded microphone problem, which seems to be fixable, a lot of solutions on Google. So, I don't want to get into that now.

My question is, some are having luck with external mike, (others aren't.)

I happen to have a Mitzu "stereo condensor microphone" can't remember where I got it, still in the package.

It warns the computer must have a sound card input for it.

So, how do I find out if it does? Googling just keeps kicking out more solutions.

I guess the obvious thing is simply to try it. Can a microphone hurt the computer?

Thanks.

[JohnT]

As far as I know this notebook has a built in microphone.....unless you can visibly see a microphone and external speaker ports there is no direct solution. Possibly there is a USB adapter for a microphone...I know there is for speakers, but it could be a WIN onlysolution.

[irlandes]

This netbook has a known microphone problem. There is indeed a web cam and a microphone built in, and there is a jack to plug in an external microphone.

The question I have is, will a condensor microphone harm the computer in any way? If not, then the answer is to plug it in and try it and see if it helps.

As far as the mike problem, that is a separate issue, and there are plenty of solutions on the Web if the external mike does not fix it.

[JohnT]

I can't think of any known way that it would be harmful under normal conditions. The only problem you might possibly encounter is a configuration one.

[irlandes]

I can't think of any known way that it would be harmful under normal conditions. The only problem you might possibly encounter is a configuration one.


Okay, that is an opinion I wanted. Since this is not my computer, I had a strong desire to avoid doing something without at least asking a question first. It has been many years since I studied electronics, which included information on types of microphones, and I had no way to know I wasn't about to put a mike with a zillion audio volts output into a circuit designed for millivolts. Thanks.

[JohnT]

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/us_pro_ea_connectingmics

[irlandes]

That is a great article. It needs studying, not just a quick read.

I can see I need more information about the Acer jack. She did not bring her manual with her, so I will need to look at it in case it gives me more information.

Thanks!


This mike does require 1 to 10 volts bias, with 3 considered standard, and it definitely is a computer microphone, which does not tell me it will work on all computers.