Just purchased Samson dynamic microphone. Can we use this with a portable stereo or computer? If yes, how does it work? What do we do to set it up?

You can use it with a portable stereo that has a microphone input socket - just plug it in. You may need to adjust a mic volume control - this will vary from one system to another.

With a computer just plug it onto the microphone input socket (usually colour coded red or pink)

You will also need to enable it in 'control panel' - see below.

Using a microphone with computer

To use any microphone with your computer you will need to enable it in control panel. The following instructions are for Windows XP but are broadly similar for Vista and Win7

Click START, CONTROL PANEL, SOUNDS & AUDIO DEVICES

Click VOICE

In Sounds & Audio Devices Properties window locate SOUND PLAYBACK box. Click the VOLUME button. Make sure that there is not a check-mark in the MUTE box against microphone in the list of devices and that the volume slider is at the top of the scale.

Make sure the MUTE ALL box isn't checked before closing the window.

Now click the VOLUME button in the SOUND RECORDING BOX. Here SELECT microphone as an input source for recording (as opposed to un-checking mute in the playback controls).

NOTE if your microphone is not listed in the 2 sets of volume controls click OPTIONS, PROPERTIES on the tool-bar and place a check against microphone in the list entitled 'show the following volume controls' and then click OK. Same applies for Internal mic.

That should be it.

To adjust audio volume generally.

Under VOLUME tab adjust Device Volume as necessary. Also (under Loudpeaker Settings) click Speaker Volume and adjust slider to suit.

You might put a check mark in the box to show the volume control on the Task Bar so you can go straight to it to make adjustments in the future.