USB microphone on a Chromebook? More problems

[Mr Allen]

I know how to use Google.

Tried it in every USB 3.0 port on 2 different Chrome OS PCs, and it doesn't work.

Short of buying a new microphone, is there anything we can do.

 

[LogicalMind]

Have you checked the volume settings? Maybe the microphone is disabled or set to a low volume.

 

[Mr Allen]

Have you checked the volume settings? Maybe the microphone is disabled or set to a low volume.

We'll have a look.

Thank you for not just telling me to Google the problem.

Apparently it's a problem with the latest version of Chrome browser, they're working to fix it.

 

[Judge]

Not all USB hardware devices are created equal. Especially the cheap ones.

Even if you have undamaged, backwards compatible USB 3.0 ports on several Chromebooks, there's no guarantee your USB microphone is equally compatible. No matter how backwards compatible the Chromebook's software drivers may be to accommodate such a device relative to that USB 3.0 port. Perhaps the only way to truly determine this may be to use Google, and specify the make and model of the USB microphone relative to how compatible or not it may be to USB 3.0 specs. You might just find a lot of customers with the same problem, unless the port or the drivers on the Chromebook are somehow compromised.

Once again, why not simply daisy chain a functional existing USB 2.0 port to a hub so that you can access a USB 2.0 microphone and other USB 2.0 devices? If the problem is the microphone's incompatibility, this may be the simplest way to bypass the problem. A USB hub doesn't cost much. Besides, if a USB 2.0 hub doesn't work in a USB 2.0 port, it's likely that the port and/or software drivers are damaged in some way. Yet another way to logically deduce your troubles. Of course if the issue is relative to updated drivers there's not much you can do unless Google already has them to download to your Chromebook.

Personally I simply continue to avoid using USB 3.0 ports or their hardware peripherals. Too problematic and they may interfere with other hardware devices. The transfer rates are great if you can get them working, but the technology just seems to prone to problems. Even my new 2018 model car manufactured only a month ago states not to use USB 3.0 devices period. Go figure.

 

[s3_gunzel]

Quite sure the Chromebook has a microphone built in.

 

[Mr Allen]

Not all USB hardware devices are created equal. Especially the cheap ones.

Even if you have undamaged, backwards compatible USB 3.0 ports on several Chromebooks, there's no guarantee your USB microphone is equally compatible. No matter how backwards compatible the Chromebook's software drivers may be to accommodate such a device relative to that USB 3.0 port. Perhaps the only way to truly determine this may be to use Google, and specify the make and model of the USB microphone relative to how compatible or not it may be to USB 3.0 specs. You might just find a lot of customers with the same problem, unless the port or the drivers on the Chromebook are somehow compromised.

Once again, why not simply daisy chain a functional existing USB 2.0 port to a hub so that you can access a USB 2.0 microphone and other USB 2.0 devices? If the problem is the microphone's incompatibility, this may be the simplest way to bypass the problem. A USB hub doesn't cost much. Besides, if a USB 2.0 hub doesn't work in a USB 2.0 port, it's likely that the port and/or software drivers are damaged in some way. Yet another way to logically deduce your troubles. Of course if the issue is relative to updated drivers there's not much you can do unless Google already has them to download to your Chromebook.

Personally I simply continue to avoid using USB 3.0 ports or their hardware peripherals. Too problematic and they may interfere with other hardware devices. The transfer rates are great if you can get them working, but the technology just seems to prone to problems. Even my new 2018 model car manufactured only a month ago states not to use USB 3.0 devices period. Go figure.

The problem is a bug in the current version of Chrome browser

.

Did you miss that bit? The mic works, I used it on a Facebook chat one night last week, it's just on the singing site that it doesn't work, apparently they're working on the problem.

 

[Judge]

.

Did you miss that bit? The mic works, I used it on a Facebook chat one night last week, it's just on the singing site that it doesn't work, apparently they're working on the problem.

Looks that way, LOL.

I went back and saw they're having some software issues, but couldn't tell if it internally involved USB driver concerns or simply the browser itself. After all, both are integrated into the same product for a Chromebook. I can only guess though that the problem would reproduce itself on other such websites.

Weird. But then that's one of the issues with extremely proprietary software I suppose. Reminds me sort of when Windows 8 came out and not all their drivers worked consistently with broad lists of hardware. But yeah, in either case it sounds like all you can do is wait until they have a patch whether it's the driver or the browser. At least you know the hardware works for sure.

I've just had a wide variety of issues with USB devices. Some work fine to date without incident, while others have died in a matter of weeks. I've used my computer's USB 3.0 ports just a few times, but only with USB 2.0 devices.