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= Use a different microphone =
You can use an external microphone for chatting with friends, speaking with colleagues at work, making voice recordings, or using other multimedia applications. Even if your computer has a built-in microphone or a webcam with a microphone, a separate microphone usually provides better audio quality.

If your microphone has a circular plug, just plug it into the appropriate adapter on your computer. Most computers have two adapters: one for microphones and one for speakers. Look for a picture of a microphone next to the adapter. Microphones plugged into the appropriate adapter will usually be used by default. If not, see the instructions below for selecting a default input device.

If you have a USB microphone, plug it into any USB port on your computer. USB microphones act as separate audio devices, and you may have to specify which microphone to use by default.

== Select a default audio input device ==
* Open the Activities overview and start typing Sound.
* Click on Sound to open the panel.
* In the Input tab, select the device that you want to use. The input level indicator should respond when you speak.