Singing into computer

[DrFaroohk]

I can't seem to figure this out anywhere, and my lack of terminology and other lingo has made it difficult to look up on google, although I have tried.

Here's what I want in the simplest terms I can think of:

I have a microphone, like a regular mic you'd use in a band. I want to plug it into my computer (with the 1/4 - 1/8 adapter of course).

I want to sing into the mic now that its plugged into the computer.

I want to hear what I'm singing AS I SING IT. "Real time", I guess.

How do I accomplish this?????

Edit: I should point out that the mic works and I can record just fine. Almost too well, as even with the microphone's volume turned waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay turn it still picks up some unbelievable volume.

[TheSHAD0W]

1. For real singing, you'll need a better quality mic than what's generally available for computers. You may also need to adjust the signal level, which means a cheap mixer. Go to Guitar Center or another local music store to see what's available.

2. Hearing exactly what the computer is encoding, in real time, is pretty nearly impossible. Some sound chipsets can loop the input to the output. If you get a cheap mixer like I mentioned above, then you can plug headphones into it. I don't think you're going to achieve what you're hoping, though.

[dmf]

Your band mic should be fine.
Open the windows sound mixer,
click on "options",
then "properties",
change the radio button to "recording" and click ok.

Click options again and check advanced is turned on.

Click on select under microphone.
Click on advanced.
If the mic boost is on turn it off. This will bring down the volume.

Click on "options", then "properties",
change the radio button back to "playback" and make sure microphone is checked in the "show the following controls" list and click ok.

Now it should play the mic through the speakers or headphones in realtime.

[Chromatix]

Just remember to avoid feedback loops. For monitoring it's best to wear headphones - and normally for a recording session the person listening is not the singer.