microphone thru speakers?

[nanok66]

Hi, I am curious how to direct my microphone to project right out to my speakers. I don't wanna record it or anything, just make my computer into a makeshift PA system. Hopefully it can be done with existing windows software but if an external program is needed thats ok too. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[AndyH]

You need a full duplex sound card for this. Most are these days but there are still some around, like at least some models of SoundBlaster, that are not.

The soundcard uses a software mixer, either the Window's Mixer or its own, depending on the soundcard's manufacturer. This software mixer must be adjusted to 'monitor' the input.

I don't use the Window's mixer so I'm not sure what you select but it is most likely on the Recording view. For others you need to see the manufacture's instructions. Once the mixer is set up properly for this task, whatever comes in on the input jacks is routed to the output jacks for monitoring. It is also passed through to the recording software, but no such software need be active to receive it if you do not intend to record.

[nanok66]

There has got to be a simple program for this, I don't think one would need a sound card. Most programs do half of this task, ie recording programs but can only spit the sound out when you play it back. It shouldn't be any kind of difficult task for a program to loop it right through to output. At least I hope not!?

[robertruetz]

What Andy is saying is that your soundcard has to support Duplex audio. He's right, most Soundblasters will only do one or the other (record or playback) at one time. Most recording software supports monitoring, but if the hardware doesn't, you're out of luck.

Le_Singe

[Bops2000]

Soundblasters have a 'what you hear' setting so you can hear what it is recording, or whatever, at least pre-audiology

[AndyH]

The only audio you can get out of a computer without a soundcard, no matter what program you attempt to use, is through the build in speaker. This is extremely limited, mainly being limited to beeps.

In order to do what you described, no program is necessary. The general procedure for monitoring while recording, where you also wish to listen to something previously recorded, is exactly the process I described above PLUS playing the existing recording to the soundcard mixer. There both are mixed together and sent out to your speakers. In other words, even in that situtation it is not an application program that is letting you hear your input at the same time, it is the mixer (software or hardware). That is all yoou need if you want to do the PA thing.

I presume you are attempting this route because you have a gaming soundcard, such as a SoundBlaster, that has a microphone preamp built in AND you have no other way to use your microphone. If you had a more normal microphone and preamp, you could just feed the output of the preamp to your speakers and forget about the computer.

[af-sabianq]

also, there is going to be a very noticable delay in your computer PA system.

as with delays,
when you hear yourself with a delay,
your speech becomes s l o w e r...

[Johnny Trip]

The delay... LATENCY... is the result of the time it takes the audio signal to be processed and returned to the outs. Ever soundcards costing hundreds have latency. Cheapest approach would be a $50 mixpad and powered monitors. You must have some loud monitors to overcome the natural volume of your voice and most stock computer monitors dont have the volume output.

[Johnny Trip]

sorry, 'ever' should be 'EVEN'