My external microphone only records a constant hum.

try plugging in an external microphone, if that works and it records then the microphone element in your machine is bad or a wire has broken off of the microphone

sounds like a ground issue to me. that sounds like either 60 cycle hum, or a loose or broken ground. You can probably do an ohmmeter check, first, with no power, and see if you have continuity. That's not unusual for mikes of the seniority of your equipment.

Buy a better mic! This question reminds me of the musicians who invest in a nice JBL public address system but then use Radio Shack microphones. A good quality mic, not GREAT but just good will cost you a minimum of $100. Quit playing with toys and invest in real recording gear. Computers and hard drive recorders can easily record CD quality audio, and-so why would you use a $70 mic?

Noise can be a big problem when trying to record into a computer. Reducing and canceling out noise using several simple techniques will help increase recording quality and increase your satisfaction with recordings. Solutions range from complete room overhauls to simple changes in the placement of the microphone and other objects in the recording.


Use a stabilized microphone to reduce vibrations. Many hand-held or headset microphones will pick up on vibrations and movements from the user. These vibrations can carry over into the recording and reduce the quality of the recording. Using a microphone stand or stationary microphone will reduce noise while recording. Mic stands will help increase recording quality and off a possible solution that requires very little financial investment. Set up a designated sound room that is set away from the rest of your home. The farther the recording area is from windows and doorways, the better. Windows allow very small amounts of noise to filter in from the outdoors and create white noise in the recording. Hang blankets on the walls around the recording station and use many rough objects in the recording room. Sound travels in waves that bounce back and forth between smooth objects. Blankets and other rough objects will help reduce sound vibrations. These additions to the recording room will reduce ambient sounds from both the room and outside the building by blocking sound waves from bouncing back and forth in the room. If you can make a considerable investment in the room, there are several acoustic products on the market than help nearly eliminate echoes and outside noises. Install software that filters out unwanted sounds and echoes. Many computer applications exist that use programs to increase the quality of recordings and reduce the ambient noise levels in a recording room. Software is used to reduce echoes and feedback in a recording studio. Several free applications can be used to achieve the desired effects when recording. A program called Audacity is one of the most effective software packages that can help reduce noise in recordings. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Software can also be used to reduce electronic humming and other white noise that can be picked up during a recoding session. Buy a high-quality microphone with noise and echo cancellation. One of the best investments that a recording specialist can make is a high-quality mic. The microphone itself can reduce many unwanted noises and echoes in the recording room by filtering the actual sounds that are recorded.


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Noise can be a big problem when trying to record into a computer. Reducing and canceling out noise using several simple techniques will help increase recording quality and increase your satisfaction with recordings. Solutions range from complete room overhauls to simple changes in the placement of the microphone and other objects in the recording.


Use a stabilized microphone to reduce vibrations. Many hand-held or headset microphones will pick up on vibrations and movements from the user. These vibrations can carry over into the recording and reduce the quality of the recording. Using a microphone stand or stationary microphone will reduce noise while recording. Mic stands will help increase recording quality and off a possible solution that requires very little financial investment. Set up a designated sound room that is set away from the rest of your home. The farther the recording area is from windows and doorways, the better. Windows allow very small amounts of noise to filter in from the outdoors and create white noise in the recording. Hang blankets on the walls around the recording station and use many rough objects in the recording room. Sound travels in waves that bounce back and forth between smooth objects. Blankets and other rough objects will help reduce sound vibrations. These additions to the recording room will reduce ambient sounds from both the room and outside the building by blocking sound waves from bouncing back and forth in the room. If you can make a considerable investment in the room, there are several acoustic products on the market than help nearly eliminate echoes and outside noises. Install software that filters out unwanted sounds and echoes. Many computer applications exist that use programs to increase the quality of recordings and reduce the ambient noise levels in a recording room. Software is used to reduce echoes and feedback in a recording studio. Several free applications can be used to achieve the desired effects when recording. A program called Audacity is one of the most effective software packages that can help reduce noise in recordings. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Software can also be used to reduce electronic humming and other white noise that can be picked up during a recoding session. Buy a high-quality microphone with noise and echo cancellation. One of the best investments that a recording specialist can make is a high-quality mic. The microphone itself can reduce many unwanted noises and echoes in the recording room by filtering the actual sounds that are recorded.


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Sounds like it might be feedback from another source or perhaps a loose connection. Try moving the microphone away from power sources or anything that might cause feedback, such as speakers etc.

Get a much longer USB cable and distance yourself and the mic from the computer.
You could also try putting some soft services near the computer so that the noise doesn't travel.

Hi

... sound issues like you are having do pop up occasionally ... the best thing to do is to reboot the system ... sorry.

Cheers.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/ronald_f3c54257e2cc2559

Double click on the little speaker icon on the Desktop toolbar at the bottom right of your screen. The volume control window will open. Click on options then properties. Next check the small round recording button. Now make sure he microphone box is checked then click ok. Now a window will open that will show your microphone recording level. Move the slider up about half way and make sure to check the small "Select" box near the bottom of the slider. Open up sound recorder or whatever application you are using and try to record. If this does not work I would get an external microphone plug it into your laptop and try recording again. If the external mic works then I would think that you internal microphone is not working. There are some very cheap external mics on the market that sound very good. If you are doing any serius recording you may want to invest in a USB microphone. The USB mic should come with it's own software and setup should be pretty simple. I hope I have been helpful.

Good Cam