Soundcard / Modem share microphone

[RTR]

I would like my soundcard and modem to share the same microphone so I can use the mixer for either and the voice mail capability of the modem. I understand you can connect the TAD jumper for each with a 4 wire connector. HoweverI cannot FIND a 4 wire sound cable, they all have only 3 wires and the microphone does NOT work for both the soundcard and modem when I connect them using the 3 wire. Can anyone explain the hookup and where to get a 4 wire cable, and what settings are necessary in the mixer?

... Thanks

[Paleo Pete]

The 3 wire should work for sound, to get the mic to work you run it through both the sound card and modem.

On back of the modem you should have mic in and mic out jacks. Plug the mic into the mic in, and a stereo patch cord (available at Radio Shack) from the mic out to the mic in on the sound card.

Hook the 3 wire sound cable and check the modem's manual for a jumper setting. Only 3 wires are necessary; Left, Right and Ground. The cable has 4 spaces because different cards and CD ROM's might be set up with the wires in different locations.

Mixer settings should be the same as for recording or voice chat programs.

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[RTR]

Would just like to follow up on this a bit. My modem doesn't have an external mic output. It has a mic (mic in?) and a SPK. Is the SPK the same as a mic out? And this can be patched to the mic input on the soundcard (not the line in)? Thanks again for the assistance.

... Ron


Originally posted by Paleo Pete:
The 3 wire should work for sound, to get the mic to work you run it through both the sound card and modem.

On back of the modem you should have mic in and mic out jacks. Plug the mic into the mic in, and a stereo patch cord (available at Radio Shack) from the mic out to the mic in on the sound card.

Hook the 3 wire sound cable and check the modem's manual for a jumper setting. Only 3 wires are necessary; Left, Right and Ground. The cable has 4 spaces because different cards and CD ROM's might be set up with the wires in different locations.

Mixer settings should be the same as for recording or voice chat programs.

[Paleo Pete]

Maybe you can route it the opposite direction, mic into the sound card, line out to mic in on the modem, and use the speaker out on the modem for the speakers. If it won't work, you'd have to go back to the original setup, and maybe use a separate mic and speakers, or headphones, for the modem.

This might also be where the 3 wire sound cable comes in, to send the sound out signal to the sound card, so you can route the mic through the modem, and leave the speakers plugged into the sound card. Check the manuals for the modem and sound card, maybe they will have some info.

I'm pretty sure the speaker out is a higher impedance signal then the line signal, so it shouldn't be used into the mic in. That would overdrive the channel and could cause damage.

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[herbert]

Searched using Altavista for
+TAD +connector
and found this:

--------------------------------
An Internal Modem, audio input/output connector using a 4 pin plug that connects to a sound card.

Pins
1 - Line Out
2 - Ground
3 - Microphone Out
4 - Microphone In
---------------------------------

But where to get a TAD cable? I couldn't find one anywhwere.
However, I looked at one of my CD audio leads and it has 3 signal wires plus a ground wire on pin 2. That's exactly what's needed.

Here's what it looks like:

1 - White
2 - Ground (Black)
3 - White
4 - Red

I don't know where I got this lead but it is a CD audio lead (if it was a TAD lead it wouldn't have two whites would it?). I think that CD audio inputs/outputs are/were not quite standard and white is duplicated for compatability reasons.

So if you can find a CD audio cable of this type, you're in business.

[Paleo Pete]

OK, I are corrected... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I didn't know those existed, never have seen one, even in a box full of various cables in a computer shop. My modem manuals don't have the pinouts listed either, well maybe the old Zoltrix I can't find did...thanks for that info.

------------------
My hairdresser charges me a finder's fee!!

Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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