Give Your EyeToy (or other Webcam) an External Mic Jack

Have you ever noticed that when people use a webcam with a built-in microphone to voice chat the room acoustics and other noises are more noticeable than with a headset or boom mic? This is because the mic is so far from their mouth where voice is strongest compared to the rest of the room.

This Instructable (my first) will show you how to add an external mic jack so you can plug a lapel or headset mic into the EyeToy camera (and many other webcams) to be heard more clearly.

If you have an EyeToy and still haven't installed it on your computer, see this instructable Turn-a-PS2-EyeToy-Camera-into-a-High-Quality-Webcam.

Step 1 Gather the supplies.

What you need:

EyeToy (or other webcam with built-in mic)
Miniature mic cable
1/8" (3.5mm) switched phone jack (I used stereo)

Tools:
Screwdriver
Drill
Wire cutters
Soldering iron with fine tip
solder
Knife (you might need to trim the plastic)

Comments

[userto lu]

web cam chat sohbet

[tbey1]

kameral1 Sohbet siteleri giri_i.

[n0ukf]

You forgot to use the translator. We speak english here.

[dodo91]

does this work with a camera?

[n0ukf]

What kind of camera? Does it have a microphone? You need something that already has a mic in order to add the external jack, otherwise there's likely no audio hardware/firmware to interface to.

[dodo91]

yes. i hate the mic it has. also, im ganna make a mic thats directly attached to the mic end (the part that plugs in) that way, if i dont want to hold the camera, i can put that one in

[phatgaz]

quality idea! when recording a music video could you take the lead from your guitar amp headphone jack and plug it in to this webcam mic jack using a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adaptor. Would this work to get clear audio direct from the amp?

[n0ukf]

Depending on how much adjustment you have on the headphone out (likely not enough), you'd have to put an attenuator between it and the mic-in so you don't overdrive the input into clipping. You also might want to put a capacitor in the line to block the mic bias (phantom power). I found that my sound card's mic voltage was enough to make me think a guitar's volume control was bad when plugging directly in to the computer (not through a guitar amp).
For this mod as shown it's not a concern but when plugging into the computer's sound card mic input, you need a stereo (3 conductor) plug, otherwise you'll short the ring contact to the barrel and you won't get any sound, so you need a mono to 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo adapter. Perhaps I'll do an Instructable on that if nobody else has yet.

[phatgaz]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[jamnoopers]

Great Instructable. I can't wait to try this.

[GorillazMiko]

Smart. Would have never thought of this, but a great idea.
+1 rating.

[gmjhowe]

Nice clear pictures, easy to follow, great instructable! well done.