How to make a microphone from headphones?

Modern computer technology often has a lot of functionality and is equipped to meet the most stringent user requirements. But this is only in the situation when the PC user has acquired one of the latest models and enjoys all the “benefits of civilization”. But it happens when you just need to use a microphone to transmit information, and it is either broken, or it simply does not exist. In principle, this does not matter, because we know how to make a microphone from headphones, and in this article we will also help you deal with a pressing problem quickly and easily. We will also talk about how to make a microphone from scratch.

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No soldering

In fact, you can buy such a device in advance if you plan to use a similar function when communicating through a PC. The device will cost inexpensively. But if this is not your way, then we will now figure out how to make a microphone for a computer from headphones. Moreover, this is a fairly simple process that does not take a lot of time and labor! So, let's get closer to the point.

Instruction:

• Plug the headphones into the pink jack. This jack is specifically for the microphone. Of course, plugging the headphones into the microphone jack is wrong, but we will try to use our headphones as a microphone.
• Then click “Start” - “Control Panel” - “Hardware and Sound”. In the sound section, search for “Sound Device Management”, and then click on the “Recording” section.
• Then - in the “Recording” section, you should definitely see a device called “Microphone”.

Important! If this device is missing, it means that you did something wrong, try reading this manual again, following all the instructions correctly.

• Next, you make this device “Default Device”. To do this, click once on the device, and then click on the “Default” button.
• Then in the column “Use the device” pay attention to the column “Use this device (on)”.
• Next, go to the “Levels” section and drag the slider to the very end.

Important! In order to test the performance of a microphone made from headphones, simply check the box where it says “Listen from this device”.

Important! During the connection and configuration process, problems may arise. And so that you do not have to spend a lot of time searching for their solutions, we suggest you immediately familiarize yourself with or save information from our articles:

1. How to set up a microphone on a computer?
2. How to remove the echo from the microphone on the PC?

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Theoretical information about electret microphones

Today, electret microphones have almost completely replaced microphones of other designs. This indicates that with a relatively low price they have a flat frequency response, low weight and high reliability. If miniaturization is absolutely necessary, then for this property there are no peers.

The electret microphone is a classic condenser, one plate of which is made of a fairly thin layer of plastic film located on top of the ring. The film is subjected to a process of bombardment by a beam of free electrons, which penetrate a short distance, due to which a space charge is released, which can be stored for a sufficiently long time. This type of dielectric is called an electret, for this very reason the microphone has the name “Electret”. A thin layer of metal, which is used as one of the electrodes, is also applied to the film.

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Do-it-yourself electret microphone - manufacturing secrets

For work you will need:

• Electret microphone capsule.By and large, it is quite simple to get it from an old Chinese tape recorder or an outdated landline phone.

Important! The larger the diameter of the capsule, the greater the range of low frequencies.

• A piece of flexible thin wire.
• Ordinary jack plug 3.5 mm.
• Plastic case from the syringe.
• A small paper clip, as well as a piece of foam.

So, let's start the process of assembling a microphone for a PC with your own hands:

1. Cut a small amount of the syringe body from the side where the needle itself is attached (approximately around a 1 gram pointer) with a stationery knife.
2. Remove any unnecessary marking from the surface of the syringe body with acetone or other solvent.
3. Sand the trimmed edge with a small grain size.
4. Insert shielded flexible wires into the hole and make a small knot.
5. After that, solder the capsule so that the braid of the shielded cable is connected together with the metal case.
6. Insert the capsule into the case, and then click on the place where the needle was previously placed using the foot of a standard stationery clip.
7. On the other side of the flexible shielded wire, solder a 3.5 mm Jack plug, with the right and left channels connected together.

By and large, the microphone is already completely ready, but we’ll make one more aesthetically important part from foam rubber - a windproof cap:

• Cut a square piece of foam with a knife.
• Make a neat cylindrical recess with absolutely any sharpened tube, rotating the tip from the inside of the tube.

Important! For these purposes, sections from used broken telescopic antennas, which you can sharpen with a scalpel, are perfect.

• Cut off all that is superfluous and strive to get something resembling a sphere.

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Stock footage

Now you can quickly make a microphone for your computer in any way you like, showing your skills in electronics and enjoying the results of your experiments. Good luck