Realtek Audio Console.... Line in or Mic in?

[Deleted member 251651]

Need some help..... when i plug in standard earphones into my PC, a noticiation comes up in bottom right asking to select which device I have pluged in? I think it is the Realtek audio console software.......

Do I select Line in or Mic in for standard earphones.....? Asking as something similar happend before I had to reset the whole pc as sound my went?

What does each mean Line in/ Mic in?

TYIA

 

[LuckyBenski]

Line in is a "line level" signal so it's quite a "loud"/big signal typically from audio gear like a CD player or mixing board etc.

Microphones are typically a much lower level as they're just passively detecting audio signal, no amplification or power.

So for a headset generally use "mic in" settings, this should mean the audio input applies more boost to get the signal at a useful level.