As the title says, I can hear my own voice in my headset. I can select
<volume control/microphone/mute> and lose it, but I'm concerned that
this mutes the microphone entirely, not just the microphone feed to the
headset. Is this true, or will friends on Skype still be able to hear
me with the mute selected?

If this doesn't solve the problem, I have some more info for you...

TIA
Myron

OK, just so you don't think this is a really trivial question...

I don't remember it doing this before, but I just installed the
software for a webcam with a built in mic. The cam was bought in Hong
Kong, and the software support materials are obviously translated, so
even though its digitally signed, its probably got its own problems.
Its a V-Gear TalkCam Pro....anyone heard of it? I started having
trouble with my sound immediately. I tried rolling back the driver, but
instead I lost all audio capacity...not even the tone at startup.

So I restored my system to where it was last week, got my audio back,
but since then I have this problem with my voice in the headset. There
is a test setting somewhere where you can select an option that enables
your voice so that you can check to see if your headset is working.
That actually adds an echo to the everpresent voice I now have, and
once the test is over, the echo goes away but the voice remains.

I think the system restore doesn't change everything, and I am
concerned that theres something installed that I am not uninstalling,
or a setting somewhere that need to be reset.

Of course, maybe all I need to do is mute the mic, and all this is one
of those stupid things you get worked up over for no reason.

-Myron

most systems have a finite amount of "Sidetone" which is your voice in your
own headset. it is there to keep you from shouting into the mike. this
came from the early days of Bell telephone. Is the amount that you hear
bothering you or are concerned merely because it exists? is there a setting
for side tone or perhaps talkback?


"riverman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> OK, just so you don't think this is a really trivial question...
>
> I don't remember it doing this before, but I just installed the
> software for a webcam with a built in mic. The cam was bought in Hong
> Kong, and the software support materials are obviously translated, so
> even though its digitally signed, its probably got its own problems.
> Its a V-Gear TalkCam Pro....anyone heard of it? I started having
> trouble with my sound immediately. I tried rolling back the driver, but
> instead I lost all audio capacity...not even the tone at startup.
>
> So I restored my system to where it was last week, got my audio back,
> but since then I have this problem with my voice in the headset. There
> is a test setting somewhere where you can select an option that enables
> your voice so that you can check to see if your headset is working.
> That actually adds an echo to the everpresent voice I now have, and
> once the test is over, the echo goes away but the voice remains.
>
> I think the system restore doesn't change everything, and I am
> concerned that theres something installed that I am not uninstalling,
> or a setting somewhere that need to be reset.
>
> Of course, maybe all I need to do is mute the mic, and all this is one
> of those stupid things you get worked up over for no reason.
>
> -Myron
>

No setting for tone or talkback...in fact, there are no settings at all
other than the usual XP ones. I never noticed the sidetone before, but
that might be because it was properly set. But now, its loud enough
that I can hear myself breathing. It goes away (back to how it used to
be) when I press the mute button...but I wonder if that completely
mutes the mic, or just mutes the mic-headset feed.

-riverman

"riverman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> No setting for tone or talkback...in fact, there are no settings at all
> other than the usual XP ones. I never noticed the sidetone before, but
> that might be because it was properly set. But now, its loud enough
> that I can hear myself breathing. It goes away (back to how it used to
> be) when I press the mute button...but I wonder if that completely
> mutes the mic, or just mutes the mic-headset feed.
>
> -riverman
>

Maybe you could use the Windows Sound Recorder. Press the Mute button and
then talk into the mike. Do you see any waveform on the recorder "screen?"
--
Bearman
If it's got tits, tires, tubes, or transistors, it's trouble.

in my XP volume control there is a slider for microphone as well as a mute
button; can you use the slider?

"riverman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> No setting for tone or talkback...in fact, there are no settings at all
> other than the usual XP ones. I never noticed the sidetone before, but
> that might be because it was properly set. But now, its loud enough
> that I can hear myself breathing. It goes away (back to how it used to
> be) when I press the mute button...but I wonder if that completely
> mutes the mic, or just mutes the mic-headset feed.
>
> -riverman
>

Yes. The slider works fine, with the mute unpressed.

--riverman

Excellent suggestion, Bearman! One I'll have to remember.

Yes, with the mute switch depressed, there is a waveform. And when I
play with the slider, the waveform is more and less sensitive. I will
assume that it means that, yes, the mute switch is merely to mute the
'sidetone' and not to kill the mic.

I guess I just never noticed that the mute switch was depressed before,
and now that I'm looking at it, it seems strange for no reason.

Problem solved....thanks!

--riverman