Many microphones are "plug-and-play" but here's how to get set up and where to go if you have problems
To use Kiroku's voice features you need a microphone, which may not come built-in to your practice desktop computer.
If you are using a laptop, you will likely have an in-built microphone, but we still recommend using a wireless, lapel microphone for the best quality audio.
Understanding your microphone
Models may vary, but generally, you will find that your microphone comes with the following:
- Wireless microphone to capture audio (and possibly a spare)
- Receiver to transmit the audio from your wireless microphone to your chosen device
- Adaptor(s) to plug your receiver into different devices/ports.
Charging your microphone
Your microphone will have a cable port. If your microphone isn't connecting or turning on, make sure it is charged. Your microphone should come with the appropriate cables.
Cables are not needed to connect a wireless microphone to your receiver.
Our recommended microphone comes with a split charging cable so that you can charge both microphones (one for use, one as a backup) at the same time, as in the image below.
Your receiver may also have a cable port to allow you to connect other cables to your computer e.g. to charge your phone. Your receiver should not need charging.
Desktop microphones
If you are using a desktop microphone, this will likely need to be plugged directly into your computer and will not have a receiver. It may charge directly using the power from your computer and may come with adaptors depending on the chosen model.
Connecting your microphone directly to your computer
Your wireless receiver, with or without an adaptor, needs to be plugged directly into the computer you are using Kiroku on.
You may need to use an adaptor depending on the available USB ports on your computer.
It is likely that to connect to a desktop with a computer tower, you will need to use the USB-A adaptor which fits onto your receiver as shown below.
Many laptops now have USB-C ports and so may not require an adaptor.
Others offer both USB-C and USB-A as shown in the photo below.
Please note that if you connect the receiver to your computer using a cable, this likely won't work. Cables should only be needed for charging wireless microphones.
Granting permissions
Grant the microphone permissions if requested.
You may also need to grant permission in your web browser.
You can see that the microphone detection button in the Kiroku voice panel says "Find microphone". Until permissions are granted, you will not be able to use the voice features.
We recommend choosing the "Allow while visiting the site" for the smoothest experience.
Once permissions are granted, you may see the different options appear if there is more than one microphone available (e.g. if you are on a laptop).
Make sure your wireless microphone is chosen - the name is likely to contain the word "USB" to recognise that this is an external device.
Start using your microphone
Your microphone should now be ready to use!
It's as simple as clicking record - as you speak, you should see the input detected in Kiroku, in the form of pink bars just below the recording time.
You may also see a microphone icon in your browser, e.g. the blue icon near the top of the image above that indicates the browser is using your microphone.
If your microphone is not detected
Check your computer's sound settings. Your wireless microphone should be the input device. The name is likely to contain the words "USB" to recognise that this is an external device.
Here's the correct option on a Windows device:
Here's the correct option on a Mac device:
Refresh/close the tab
If you can see the microphone in your computer's sound settings but nothing happens when you try to use the microphone in Kiroku, refresh or close the tab or window. This will reset the connection.
Checking the microphone is on
You may also want to check that the microphone is turned on - in most cases, there will be a green or blue light on the front of the microphone when it is turned on.
On our recommended microphone, the on/off button is on the back of the microphone. You need to press and hold this button to turn it on (green light) and off (no light).
If a light is on but it is not consistent (e.g. flashing/alternating different colours such as red and green) then it may be attempting to pair. This could happen because it is not able to connect to the receiver.