Has your microphone stopped working? It's not a common problem, but it's not particularly rare either. There are many reasons why this happened, and a banal breakdown requiring equipment replacement is just one of them. Sometimes things can be much simpler. The article will discuss options for why the microphone stopped working on a laptop or computer, what can be done about it, and in the most tragic case, how the microphone is repaired.
Microphone not included
Oddly enough, absent-mindedness is sometimes the cause of many troubles. So, the microphone may be in perfect condition and ready to work, but simply not be turned on.
How to check if this is not true and that the microphone has stopped working due to the forgetfulness of the owner of all the equipment? To do this, you need to go to the “Recording devices” tab (it can be found in the menu that appears if you right-click on the speaker image in the panel at the bottom of the screen), and the PC itself will display on the display all available microphones for recording and their current status.
The same can be checked in the “Device Manager” (you can find it by searching for “Windows”).
Driver problem
Also, the microphone may stop working if the drivers for it are installed incorrectly, are outdated, or do not exist at all. You can check this manually in Device Manager. But a microphone program can also help with this; it will automatically find the necessary executables on the Internet and install them on the PC.
There is another advantage to using it. A microphone program (correctly chosen, of course) can diagnose the condition of recording devices, identify problems and give advice on how to fix them.
Weak microphone
How will the user know that the microphone has stopped working? You can't hear him on the recording. But there is an option that the performance is not impaired, the signal is simply insufficient and the voice (or any other sound) is ultimately not perceived by the device and, as a result, is not reproduced. This problem can be solved using the option in the settings of this equipment. You will need to check the box next to the function.
Incorrect software settings
Maybe the microphone works when using the standard Voice Recorder from Windows, but does not want to do this at all in Skype? Then the problem is not in it, but in the configuration of this service.
The microphone in Skype is configured separately, using the “Tools” tab in the top menu of the program. You should make sure that everything is correct there and all the boxes are checked, so that later you won’t be surprised why the microphone stopped working.
Microphone not selected as primary device
If the microphone refuses to work in online recording services (vokaru-type voice recorders or online webcam recording), then it may not be selected as the main recording device. The best option is to agree with what the site itself suggests. This means allowing the input device (in this case, recording) and checking the boxes if the microphone is selected by default.
Line input failure (for externally connected recording devices)
If an externally connected microphone stops working, the problem may not be with it, but with the line input. It’s very easy to check: firstly, try using the PC’s “native” recording device, and secondly, you can connect an external microphone to another device (any other laptop, tablet, smartphone, computer, etc.). If there is a problem with the linear input, well, you will have to take it in for repair.
Incorrect connection
This reason also applies to microphones that are connected separately. If there is only one on a laptop - for a headset, recording device and headphones, it is very problematic to confuse it with any other. But if there are two inputs - separately for headphones and for a microphone - it is quite possible. You should make sure that the connection is correct before you start to panic.
for performance
So, if the user is actively searching for the reason why the microphone stopped working, he will be forced to constantly check it. Standard Windows capabilities (any version) allow you to do this in real time.
You just need to go to the “Recording devices” tab (how to do this was already written in the same article a little earlier), select the appropriate one and find the “Listen” option in the parameters. Place a checkmark next to it. Done - now all sounds received by the microphone will be simultaneously output to the PC speakers.
There you can also find other configurations of the recording device: experiment with microphone gain, noise reduction and everything else.
If this did happen
It is possible that there is another reason why the microphone stopped working, which was already mentioned at the very beginning. If it's broken, that's also possible.
The likelihood increases if:
In this case, the microphone (if it comes separately from the PC) or the entire laptop will have to be taken to a service center, where they can provide professional assistance.
Microphone repair can be quick or lengthy (depending on the severity of the damage). The price also varies widely, depending on which recording device needs to be repaired and why it broke.
Finally
If the microphone stops working, the main thing is not to despair and not to panic, but instead to go through the main points and figure out why this could happen. They are all presented in the article. Careful and attentive inspection will ensure (in most cases) that both the recording device and the nerves are preserved. For every case of real microphone failure, there are ten mishaps that occur due to pure absent-mindedness.
A modern person experiences discomfort if he does not have a mobile device at hand. But constant contact with technology obliges us to understand some things from scratch. This means that if you want to use modern technologies, you need to be prepared for all unforeseen situations. Devices need constant maintenance, and sometimes even repairs, which are easier to do yourself than to pay any money to fix minor problems at a service center. There is one problem that most users have already encountered - the unstable operation of the microphone that is built into the mobile phone. You may need to repair or clean the component to resolve the problem. Today we will learn how to clean and repair the microphone on your phone.
Main causes of breakdowns
There are three most common problems that can damage your audio recording device. Careful consideration of each of them will help you solve the problem on your own.
Pollution
How to clean a microphone? Accumulations of dust, skin particles, and small debris can get on the sound-sensitive head of the microphone, which leads to the loss of its useful properties. To fix this, you will need to get cotton wool, an alcohol solution and a screwdriver, and you also need to know where the microphone is located on Samsung and other models:
- Disassemble the phone, or rather its body, and take out the microphone.
- Now dip the cotton wool in alcohol, the main thing is not to overdo it.
- Use gentle movements to remove any dirt from the sound head.
Important! Make sure that no cotton particles remain on the surface of the devices.
- Now wait until the alcohol has completely evaporated and return the microphone to its place, tightening all the screws firmly.
Exposure to moisture
Condensation often accumulates between the microphone gaskets and its head. The head itself is not subject to corrosion, but moisture still does its job. Again you need to disassemble the case, free the head and put it to warm up under an incandescent lamp.
Important! An ordinary table lamp will do this perfectly. If the device is equipped with gaskets, then the same actions should be carried out on them.
Broken wiring contacts
Another reason for a recording device to fail is a break in the incoming wire. There are two options for restoration work for this case: replacement and soldering. You need to choose one of them, focusing on a specific situation:
- The best option is to use a soldering iron to repair the broken wire.
- But if the wire in the headphones has breaks in several places, then it is better to replace everything right away.
How to repair a microphone? If the problems with it are more serious than those listed above, then the entire assembly should be replaced, especially if we are talking about a smartphone. But if there are serious problems with the headset, then it’s better to just buy a new one.
Diagnostics
In order to find out if the device is working, you need to get a multimeter or an analog tester that has a built-in ohmmeter. Disassemble the phone case, remove the microphone from it and test it with an ohmmeter.
Important! A working microphone should ring like a diode in one direction, and in the other, the measuring device should show somewhere around 20 kOhm. If the values on the device are different from the nominal values, then the component is faulty and will need to be replaced.
Repair instructions
First you need to determine the exact cause of the breakdown, and the type of breakdown itself. The most common complaints usually occur about the following things:
- The microphone stopped working.
- The microphone sensitivity has decreased.
If you still undertake the recovery procedure yourself, then:
- First of all, check whether the device is connected to the phone correctly. The integrity of the wire may be compromised, then you will have to use a soldering iron.
- If the microphone does not work even after this, you should remove it from the housing and disassemble it. Check the integrity of all its contacts; you may need to bend or fix something in order to bring the device back to life.
Important! As a rule, such simple preventive work is carried out in a complex. At the same time as the microphone, other parts are also cleaned. For step-by-step instructions for doing this work yourself, read the following articles:
Replacing the microphone
In order to replace the old microphone with a new one, you need to follow the following instructions:
- Unsolder the old broken microphone using a soldering iron and a blade. If you look at the entire structure from the side, you will be able to notice the soldering of the contacts, which needs to be heated.
- Now you need to put a flat blade under the microphone, warming up all your legs. Next, we simply separate the microphone from the microcircuit without much effort.
- Inspect the microcircuit for dirt, clean it with an alcohol-containing liquid and remove the “residue” of the microphone. Now you need to prepare a platform on the chip in order to install a new microphone.
- Using a soldering iron and solder, we place the microphone on the vacant platform. If necessary, you can use old wires.
- Now you need to lightly press the audio recording device to the board and solder the wires sticking out in all directions to the contact pads.
Important! Soldering should be done quickly to avoid overheating.
- We remove excess consumables and check the device for functionality.
Important! When the inside of the device is clean and in good working order, you can pay attention to its appearance. Read about the most effective methods in the following articles:
Many people are faced with a situation where the microphone on their headphones does not work, or instead of a clear voice stream it transmits a loud, growing noise. To understand the causes of the malfunction and make repairs, it is necessary to diagnose the system and equipment.
The Internet resource WebcammicTest will help determine the cause of the malfunction. This site will help you find out whether the problem really lies in a broken microphone or whether the problem is due to incorrect settings of your PC system.
In the Windows 7 operating system, it is not uncommon for one or more drivers to fail and require reinstallation. If you are the owner of this OS, pay special attention to checking the functionality of support programs.
The verification process is as follows:
- go to webcammictest.com;
- open the “check microphone” tab;
- start speaking into your headset when the green light appears.
If there are sound vibrations on the screen, which are reflected in the corresponding window, then the device is in good condition, and its malfunction is related to the system settings of the computer.
Causes of malfunction
Some of the most common reasons why a microphone stops working are:
- lack of drivers for the system;
- incorrect connection between microphone and PC;
- lost settings.
No drivers
The situation when the necessary sound card drivers are installed incorrectly or not installed at all is a fairly common reason why, instead of distinct sounds, your interlocutor hears only long silence. As mentioned above, this problem is especially acute for owners of the system windows 7 .
In Device Manager, select the “Sound, game and video devices” tab and find your sound card in the list that opens. If this information is missing, or the sound card is defined as an “unknown device,” it means that the drivers are not working correctly and you need to install new ones by downloading them from the official website.
Switching error
In the operating system windows 7 A problem with the headset may also arise if it is connected to the front rather than the back panel. It is possible that you may have mixed up the headset connectors, resulting in complete inoperability of the headset.
Audio output settings failed
The answer to the question why the microphone does not work may be a failure in the sound card settings system. To test this assumption, in the OS windows 7 Click on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the screen. In the window that opens, you should see the connected microphone and characteristic “jumps” in the sound diagram. Click on the microphone icon and set the volume to maximum, then click the “Enable” button.
Headphones with a microphone are one of those types of equipment that often fails. If you want your headset to serve you for a long time, choose trusted companies, such as fornication, Sony, Philips, etc. An excellent solution for gamers and simply for lovers of virtual communication, combining quality and relatively inexpensive cost, is the a4tech model bloody g500. In addition to its attractive appearance, the model boasts impressive characteristics that will provide high quality sound to its owner.
In this article I will tell you how to repair headphones or a headset for a computer or mobile phone yourself. We will look at the main breakdowns and how to fix them.
Major headphone failures:
Repairing a broken headphone wire
A broken wire is the most common cause of headphone failure. To repair the wire we will need:
- solder;
- scalpel or wire cutters;
- heat-shrink tubing;
- hot glue;
- thread.
First, it is necessary to determine the place where the break occurred, since the outer rubber braid may not have externally visible deformations. You can find the location of the wire break by connecting the headphones to the sound source and bending the wire from the connector to the speakers, we find the place where bending causes sound to appear in the headphones. Having determined the location of the break, we cut out a section of the wire, taking a few centimeters before and after the break point. Next, we strip the wire from the outer insulation and tin the wires. How to tin a headphone wire is a fairly pressing question. Now I’ll tell you how to do this efficiently and quickly. For this we need: a board, flux (for example organic flux F-99), solder and a soldering iron.
We apply flux to the wire, place the wire on the board and press it for a few seconds with a soldering iron, making movements with it as if you were removing varnish from the wire.
Having tinned all the wires, we put a thin heat-shrinkable tube on each wire, solder the wires, observing the color scheme, and using a lighter or soldering iron, shrink the heat-shrinkable tube.
The heat-shrinkable tube acts as an insulator and prevents the wires from shorting together. Now we need to ensure the strength of our connection. To do this, we fold the wires in a Z shape and use a thread to make a bandage for our connection.
The last stage of repairing the headset wire is of practical and aesthetic importance. Using a soldering iron, carefully apply hot-melt adhesive to our bandage; on the one hand, the hot-melt adhesive will prevent the thread from unwinding; on the other hand, it will give a normal appearance to the connection of the wires. If you can’t get black hot glue, you can put a heat-shrinkable tube of the appropriate diameter over the bandage.
A few more words about artistic modeling from hot-melt adhesive: if you heat up the hot-melt adhesive and wet your fingers, you can use your fingers to give it any shape before it completely hardens. Irregularities can be made glossy using.
Damage to the headphone plug (connector)
Before repairing the plug, we need to carefully disassemble it; to do this, carefully use a scalpel to cut the housing lengthwise. Breakage of a headphone plug (connector) can be divided into breakdowns associated with mechanical deformation:
- the last link is broken, as a rule, this link remains in the mating part of the device and can only be removed with the help of an awl and tweezers for SMD installation. Such a breakdown can only be eliminated by replacing the plug.
- rotation of the first link (general) around its axis is characterized by a change in sound to “metallic under water” and a decrease in volume. In this case, the repair consists of soldering the contact between the link and the contact blade.
And not related to mechanical deformation of the plug - this is a wire break at the base. It is treated by shortening the wire a couple of centimeters above the break point and soldering it in place, observing the color scheme.
If you break a wire and don’t know which one was soldered where, don’t despair! Using a multimeter you can easily determine this. We put the multimeter in the resistance measurement mode and alternately find 2 pairs of wires between which you will see an equal value (depends on the resistance of the winding of your speakers and usually lies in the range of 16-100 Ohms. We take one wire from each pair, weave them together, this will be a common We solder the wire to the first (most massive) link. We solder the remaining wires to links 2 and 3. You will probably have a question about how to determine where the right channel is soldered and where the left one. You can check the correct connection by connecting the headphones to and starting the sound adjustment, alternately clicking on the left and the right column. There is a second option: we launch an audio player, for example Winamp, and adjust the balance by comparing it with what we hear and conclude that the channels are connected correctly.
Microphone failure
The headsets are equipped with capsule electret microphones. There is an amplifier inside the microphone, which makes it necessary to maintain polarity when connecting the microphone. Microphones are sensitive to diaphragm deformation, so do not try to clean the hole in the microphone. Microphones are also very sensitive to high temperatures, so you need to resolder the microphone quickly and carefully. Before you start soldering, it is advisable to apply organic flux to the microphone contacts, this will improve heat transfer and the contact time with the soldering iron necessary for reliable soldering. You can check the functionality of the microphone only by replacing it with another one, or connecting it to another device that is known to work. And yet, you can check whether the microphone is working or not, if you have an oscilloscope (or an active speaker system) and an operational amplifier chip (any), you can assemble a simple circuit (for example, an inverting amplifier with one polar power supply.
Do not forget that the microphone must be powered through a resistor, and the signal must be collected through a 0.1 µF coupling capacitor. This will allow you to clearly see whether the microphone is working or not; the amplified signal from the microphone will change the picture on the screen in time with your voice. If you don’t have an oscilloscope, you can connect the output of the circuit to an active speaker system; if the microphone is live, you’ll get a megaphone.
Headset speaker repair.
If the supplied power is exceeded, the speaker may fail; the winding wire in it burns out. Check the integrity of the speaker winding using a multimeter.
For a working speaker, the winding resistance will be equal to the winding resistance of the second speaker +\- 10%. Typically, this value is 16-100 Ohms. If there is sound in the speaker, but it is wheezing, this means that the winding is intact, but it has either peeled off from the membrane or is clinging to the magnet. This may be a consequence of an impact (displacement of the magnet), or a consequence of excess power (boiling of the varnish in the winding and “hooking” it on the magnet, as well as peeling off part of the coil from the membrane). This one requires carefulness. The coil can be glued to the membrane using superglue; it can be applied using a toothpick or a sharpened match. To avoid jamming of the diffuser, do not connect the speaker housing and the membrane until the glue has completely dried. You can speed up drying by placing the speaker under a table lamp.
Headphone volume control repair.
One of the weakest points of the headphones is the volume control, provided that it is used frequently. The volume control is a dual variable resistor consisting of 2 strips of resistive coating and 2 sliders moving along the surface of the resistive layer when the control wheel is turned. 
During operation, dust gets onto the surface of the resistive layer, which causes poor contact between the slider and the resistive layer. This failure manifests itself in the form of a crackling sound when adjusting the volume level, or loss of signal in the headphones. Repairing the volume control involves applying a resistive layer of graphite grease or technical petroleum jelly to the surface. In this case, reliable contact is restored and the crackling sound disappears when the regulator is rotated.
Repair of headphone arms (the suspension on which the speakers are mounted).
Broken headphone arms are one of the most common problems. Some manufacturers who rely on the quality of their products have already reduced the possibility of such a breakdown of their headsets to 0. Instead of classic plastic arms, they use flexible metal spring suspensions coated with a layer of PVC or rubber. But we are talking about a classic plastic suspension and a method for repairing it. 
In the photo we see that the arch is broken in half. To repair it, we will need several thin metal plates, M2 or M3 screws, 2-component epoxy glue and. To begin with, we apply our plates to the bow and, using a marker or pencil, make notes: where we have to drill holes. holes in the arms and plates and tighten the structure with screws. Please note that the metal plates are quite long and do not end immediately after the screw hole, this adds to the reliability of the design under loads. Also pay attention to the 3rd plate, which is located on the back of the headphones. It is installed before pouring epoxy glue, and is also designed to increase the strength of the headphones and resistance to future tests.
Microphone mount repair.
The microphone mount (boom, “antenna”) is usually made elastic and quite resistant to mechanical damage, but it can still be broken. In the photo we see how the plastic base of the microphone mount was damaged as a result of the headset falling. Its function was to adjust the position of the microphone in the vertical plane. Naturally, it will not be possible to restore full functionality, but it is quite possible to securely fix the microphone in one position. For this we will need: a drill, a wire with a diameter of 0.6-0.8 (mm) and hot melt glue. Having determined the optimal position for mounting the microphone, we outline the places from which we will drill holes. Next, using a wire, we tightly tighten (sew together) the base of the mount and the body of the headphones at 3-4 points. We twist the wire from the inside of the earphone using pliers. Next, we apply hot melt glue on top, giving it the shape we need using fingers moistened with water. Next, you can take nail polish or spray paint and cover the repair area.
Send us yours, or register and publish them yourself.
Modern people without phones simply feel uncomfortable, even if they hardly use them.
However, constant contact with technology requires us to have some new knowledge. That is, if you want to use equipment, be prepared for the fact that you will need to learn how to do basic repairs of your devices. A problem that is encountered very often is the malfunction of microphones in phones, headsets and microphones to computers. Note that repairing a microphone is usually not difficult, the repair is simple. However, most often we waste time, money and nerves taking the microphone to the workshop.
There are three common problems that cause microphone failure. If you consider the problem carefully, you can solve it yourself.
- The microphone loses sensitivity due to clogging. Dust, microparticles of skin, small debris fall on the sound-sensitive head and it loses its properties. To repair the microphone in this case, you need cotton wool and a screwdriver. You need to release the microphone. To do this, sometimes you need to unscrew the phone case or remove the cover from it. Then dip the cotton wool in alcohol and very carefully remove the plaque from the head. Make sure that the cotton wool does not remain on it. Let the alcohol evaporate and place the microphone back.
- The microphone loses sensitivity due to moisture. Sometimes condensation gets trapped between the gaskets and the head. As a rule, the head itself does not rust, but moisture does its job. You need to again release the head and warm it up under an incandescent lamp. If there are gaskets, you should do the same and remove them.
- The microphone fails due to a break in the incoming wire. There are two options here - change or solder. They need to be applied based on the specific situation. In phones, most often you need to solder a broken wire. In headphones, there are situations where the wire breaks in several places, in which case it’s better to change everything.
If the problems are more serious, they change the entire unit, especially when it comes to the phone. As for the headsets, it’s better to just replace it completely.
Karaoke has recently become a very fashionable entertainment. Well, what is karaoke without a microphone? This device also allows you to communicate with friends on the Internet via Skype or similar services. But the microphone, like any other equipment, tends to fail.
Instructions
The first step is to determine exactly what is wrong with the microphone. The most common is:
- the microphone stopped working -
- sensitivity decreased.
If the microphone is professional (and, as a result, expensive) or built into another device (computer, camera, stereo system), then you should not undertake repairs yourself. It's better to consult a specialist.
If you decide to repair it yourself, check that the microphone is connected to the device correctly. If this is a computer, then you need to check the availability of the appropriate drivers.
If the problem is not solved, then check the integrity of the wire. If a defect is found, replace the wire with a new one.
If the microphone still does not work, then disassemble it and check the reliability of all contacts. Perhaps it will be enough to correct or bend something to restore the functionality of the device.
If the sensitivity of the microphone has decreased, this can happen most often for three reasons: a blockage has occurred, moisture has gotten inside, or there is a break in the incoming wire. The method for eliminating the last cause was discussed in the previous paragraph.
If the microphone is clogged, disassemble it. If it is a built-in microphone, then you need to first disassemble the device itself and remove it. Next, wipe the dirty part of the microphone with cotton soaked in alcohol. Make sure that no cotton wool particles remain on the surface being wiped. Carefully reassemble the microphone in reverse order.
Moisture in the microphone is condensation that forms when there is a temperature change or high humidity. To resolve this problem, as in the previous case, release the microphone head and dry it in a dry place using an incandescent lamp or hair dryer without damaging the head. Assemble the microphone.
Loading...
