Microphone on XP

[John1397]

If I plug a cassette recorder microphone into my computer on XP will this work?

[strollin]

My best guess is yes.  Why not try it and find out?

Many of those types of microphones have a switch on them to start/stop the recorder.  I don't that switch will have any effect but it might mute the microphone so, if your mic has such a switch, make sure it's in the "On" position.

[DaveLembke]

It should work, however a client tried this about 10 years ago and had troubles and I got involved with it and the MIC required a AA battery for some reason to operate. If the MIC has were it pre-amps the MIC output by a battery boost then you might need to add a fresh battery, otherwise if its without a battery then it might work ok. This microphone was a sony brand with a small plastic box in between the MIC and the MIC Jack and the small box had a slide type potentiometer to adjust MIC volume/sensitivity and in this small plastic box it took a single AA battery.

[Geek-9pm]

References:
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/m/micrphon.htm
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/types-microphones-can-connect-pc-70330.html
https://www.homebrewaudio.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-microphones/

One type of low-cost microphone requires power to generate output. That is why the PC microphone plug is a three wire type. The extra wire gives power.