Skype Hacks: Tips & Tools for Cheap, Fun, Innovative Phone Service

Hack 27. Choose and Configure a Microphone and Speakers

Choose and set up a microphone and speaker system for your PC or Mac and configure them to work with Skype.

Works with: Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X versions of Skype.

Microphone options are shown in Figure 3-4 and speaker options in Figure 3-5.

Given the not-very-high demands placed on sound equipment in terms of fidelity for voice communication, almost any microphone and speaker system will do the job. Your decision will be driven, at least in part, by what sound input and output ports you have available on your computer.

Nevertheless, what follows are some general guidelines that will help you make a choice that best meets your needs and your budget. If your computer has a speaker system (as most now do), but you must buy a microphone, you basically have these choices.

Handheld or clip-on microphone

These are often quite cheap (less than $10) and usually plug into your sound card using a 3.5mm plug. However, you may quickly tire of having to hold a microphone to speak, while a clip-on microphone can make you feel like you are on a leash held by your computer!

Desktop or array microphone

A desktop microphone is simply a microphone with a stand. This type of microphone typically plugs into your sound card using a 3.5mm plug, but the more modern types plug into a USB port. Good desktop microphones can be had for $30 or less. Array microphones stand on your desk, but have directionality, a high level of ambient noise rejection, and oftentimes echo cancellation built in. If you live or work in a noisy environment, an array microphone is a far superior choice to any other microphone. Connection options are the same as for desktop microphones, but expect to pay $50 or more for an array microphone.

If you don't have a speaker system and you must buy one, almost any speaker will do, as the demands for voice communication are quite low. Bear in mind that you don't speak in stereo, so a mono speaker is perfectly adequate to make and receive calls with Skype. Perhaps of more concern is how you want to connect a speaker to your computer. A 3.5mm plug is the most common way to connect to a sound card. But if you don't have a sound card and you do have a spare USB port, speakers are available that plug into a USB port and are self-configuring (as a sound-out device), and may indeed be powered only by the port itself (needing one less main power socket).

Using a microphone and speaker with Skype will mean setting up a configuration like one of those shown in Figure 3-6.

Each configuration option shown in Figure 3-6 has its pros and cons:

Option 1 and option 2

Usage

Skype used as an enhancement to your existing phone system.

Pros

You can save money off your phone bill. Simple to set up and configure. Often uses existing hardware, so reduces the costs of experimenting with Skype.

Cons

You can make and receive calls only while sitting at your computer. More likely to suffer echo problems in comparison with other sound devices.

Figure 3-6. Options for configuring Skype with a microphone and speaker

Option 3

Usage

Skype used as a replacement for your existing phone system.

Pros

You can save a lot of money off your phone bill. Simple to set up and configure. Often uses existing hardware.

Cons

You can make and receive calls only while sitting at your computer. More likely to suffer echo problems in comparison with other sound devices. No 911 emergency service. No 411 directory service. No support for a regular fax machine. Clearly, as this option eliminates your existing phone service, you'd have to be fairly dedicated to Skype or saving money, or both, to choose this option. But it is a choice!