Creative Sound Blaster 2 Z5 - Mic Not Functioning

ZMan · 04 Mar 2013

I was trying to get my mic to work with a sound card called "Creative Sound Blaster 2 Z5" I updated all the software and the mic is seen by the software. I attach what setting I have right now. The sound is coming out my system mobo to my speakers and mic. My mic is get power via USB and has audio and sound jacks. I have the microphone jack is plug in to the SB 2 Z5. I'm trying to run a podcast with different audio channels so that why I got this card. Thank you for any help you can give.

fireberd · 05 Mar 2013

The first thing you need to do, if you want to use the SoundBlaster Audigy 2ZS (an old model sound card that was used on many Dell Windows XP systems) is to disable the Realtek (integrated audio) in the BIOS. Two sound cards enabled can conflict and cause a lot of problems. In addition, Windows will only allow one default audio playback device.

Since you have the SoundBlaster, set the "What U Hear" as the default recording device. Then whatever device is plugged in, such as a mic or the line in, it will be heard on the speakers and available to record. In addition you need the What U Hear to be able to record streaming audio from the Internet.

I'm confused by your statements that the mic is getting power from the USB, but plugged into the mic jack on the SoundBlaster card. What type of mic do you have? A USB mic? a standard P.A. type mic? A Computer Mic? (I have a recording studio using Sonar X2 software). A standard computer mic gets its power from the "ring" connection on the sound card's mic jack. A USB mic does not even use the sound card.