PC mic: recommendations needed

[Sylvander]

I've searched here and there; nothing hits me as being particularly suitable.

Decided to go for a separate mic rather than a headset with mic.
Already have a Labtec C-324 headset with mic, and it seems the mic is not functioning.

Primary use would be for Skype.

So far I've been looking at:
1. Labtec Desktop Microphone 534 or 524. [to 16,000 Hz]

2. Plantronics Audio 300 PC mic [to 8,000 Hz]
Directional, so could cut out extraneous noise; also wouldn't pick up high frequency noise.

[Paul Komski]

I personally have had good results from Logitech products when it comes to VideoConferencing etc.

The quality of this WebCam (Microphone included) has been superb in my experience but for a standalone I would perhaps consider a USB Mic.

[Sylvander]

Is a USB mic better than one that uses the sound card?

And if so, why?

Does it need drivers? [Seems the USB drivers are native to Win2000]

USB Desktop Microphone FAQ.

Using a Logitech headset/microphone with Skype.

[Paul Komski]

Your links seem to have the answers. Quality has been fine from my standpoint and all were plug-n-play from WinXP - so W2K should be the same. In device manager they show up as HID devices so that makes it likely that they would be plug-n-play all the way back to Win98 just as most USB mice and keyboards are.

[Sylvander]

A good webpage for mic information.

See the USB Microphones section.

[Sylvander]

1. On Sat 17th Oct I placed an order at Amazon for the Logitech USB Desktop Microphone to which you [Paul] had given the link above.
Seemed like a good recommendation.

It arrived 13:45 Mon 26th Oct.
What I've done so far:
(a) connected it to a USB 2.0 socket and booted into Windows.
Windows found the new hardware and set it up for use.
All looks good in Device Manager.
And in "Control Panel->Sound & Multimedia->Audio->Sound Recording->Preferred Device = USB Audio Device" has been chosen automatically [as I'd read it would].

(b) Ran "Open Volume Controls->Options->Properties->Recording".
Adjusted the microphone volume slider to maximum; select was ticked.
Clicking the "Advanced" button there, eventually opted to tick the "1 Mic Boost" box, which produced a welcome/needed increase in volume.

(b) Used Sound recorder to make a recording of my voice and saved that in a wav file, and can play it back.
Don't see any variation of the green line during recording; stays dead straight.
During recording I was listening using my headphones and it sounded like it had a slight echo.
Playback of the saved wav sound file through the loudspeakers also had a slight echo.

(c) Ran Skype and clicked the "Echo/Sound test service".
That worked fine.
Heard the announcer, spoke at the correct time, and heard it during playback.
That to had something of an echo.
Is this a feature of the mic?

2. I'd welcome info/advice on what to do next with Skype to speak PC-to-PC and PC-to-Landline-phone [POTS?].
Where's the best place to go for info?

[Luna01]

Originally Posted by Sylvander

I've searched here and there; nothing hits me as being particularly suitable.

Decided to go for a separate mic rather than a headset with mic.
Already have a Labtec C-324 headset with mic, and it seems the mic is not functioning.

Primary use would be for Skype.

So far I've been looking at:
1. Labtec Desktop Microphone 534 or 524. [to 16,000 Hz]

2. Plantronics Audio 300 PC mic [to 8,000 Hz]
Directional, so could cut out extraneous noise; also wouldn't pick up high frequency noise.

Yeah, i think this Bendable Multimedia Desktop Gooseneck Microphone for PC Online Chat Skype meet for your need. Hope this helps.