Built in microphone

[Andeddu]

I loaded up The Ascent to play co-op for the first time with my friend and plugged in 3.5mm earphones with no microphone to the SD. I then sat for 5 minutes wondering why he couldn’t hear me but I could hear him.

I thereafter learned that you cannot use 3.5mm earphones with the built in microphone at the SAME TIME. You can ONLY use the built in microphone with the built in speakers. It’s a very strange design decision that I have never seen before as I don’t particularly like using gaming headsets and prefer earphones alongside built in microphones.

The saving grace is that the noise cancellation is next level on this device so I was able to play my game with the sound blaring out the speakers AND speak with my friend with no feedback or noise problems on his end. He heard me loud and clear with no background noise with no earphones being used at all.

I would still like Valve to sort this issue out though so we can have an option if we prefer to use earphones with the built in microphone.

[darrenphillips666]

you can use a headset with mic built-in though can't you?

[Andeddu]

Originally posted by darrenphillips666:

you can use a headset with mic built-in though can't you?

You can. I don’t use gaming headsets with built in mics though and only use earphones.

[abbyzero]

I wholeheartedly agree with OP

[Zenchuk]

I had this issue. I connected headphones to play with my friend hoping to use the built in microphone to chat with him, but it didn’t work.

I had to disconnect my headphones to speak with him. This was all in gaming mode.

Not sure if you’re able to choose different options in desktop mode.

[[KAMI] RedWyvern]

If you use a 4-pin jack to headphones and mic adapter, leave the mic plug empty and add the included PulseAudio Volume Control software as a non-Steam game, you can use this program to switch to the internal microphones.
The adapter is necessary, connecting 3-pin headphones directly disables the internal input, as in it becomes quiet.
Last time I tested the setting in Game Mode itself didn't work, but PulseAudio Volume Control is generally handy to have ready as it allows you to change audio in- and even outputs while playing.
Here is how you can change the used microphones with this software:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2896013374