Map local microphone to EC2 instance

Hi sabrielle,
My sincere apologies for the delayed response. After testing out the use case, in order to access your local Microphone via RDP on a Windows Server, I see you need to:

1. Configure the instance as an RDS Session Host [1] and enable USB pass through for devices like a Microphone. Please note that you will need RDS CALs (licenses) if you configure the instance as an RDS session host (there is a free grace period of 119 days though). Additionally to connect using the RDS session the instance will need to be domain joined.
2. "Allow audio & video playback redirection” & "Allow audio recording redirection" GPO needs to be enabled on the instance.
3. "Remote Audio" settings must to be enabled over the RDP client of your local PC.

Points numbered 2 and 3 you have already done, as I see in the screenshots provided, so you can ignore them.

For point number 1 you need to:

1. Establish an RDP connection and enable the Windows Audio service on the instance.
   • Search ‘Administrative Tools’ in the search bar
   • Scroll to ‘Services’ and double click
   • Scroll to ‘Windows Audio’
   • Right click and select ‘Properties’
   • Change the Startup type to ‘Automatic’
   • By ‘Service status’ ensure the status is ‘Running’ if not click the ‘Start’ button
   • Click Start > Run. Type ‘msconfig’ into the Run text box, and then click "OK."
   • Click "Services." (If the Hide All Microsoft Services box is checked, uncheck it)
   • Scroll down until you find "Windows Audio." Check the box for "Windows Audio" to set it to start when Windows does. Click "OK" to close the System Configuration Utility and save your changes.

2. Then open 'Server Manager' on the Instance (Go to the search bar and type Server Manager).

3. Add the 'Remote Desktop Services' role > Remote desktop Session Host.
   • Click ‘Add Roles and Features’ > Next
   • Select ‘Role-based or Feature-based installation’.
   • Select the computer as the destination server. (Select a server from the pool and choose your server) > Next
   • On the Select server roles page, select Remote Desktop Services > Next > Next (skip the features page) > Next
   • On the Select role services page, select the Remote Desktop Session Host > Add features > Next
   • Continue the installation. Select default values for the remaining settings (if any).

4. Once done, Restart the instance.

5. Reconnect to the instance ensuring that the audio service and the above RDP client setting is enabled using domain credentials.

6. Now you should see your Input device on the instance as: 'Remote Audio'. Navigate to it by searching ‘Sound’ in the search bar and clicking enter. Then look under Input.

[As a side note; you might need to adjust your microphone permissions [3], as in the microphone permissions to "all other apps" under privacy in sound settings. Go to Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone (scroll down on the left to navigate to it) > Allow apps to access your microphone > On
This needs to be done on both the host and on the client.]

Please note:
- After reconnecting to the instance, you will also receive a warning about RDP licensing, as Remote Desktop Session Host requires CAL licenses set up.
- If this is a Test environment you may utilize a free grace period of RDP session host license valid for the next 119 days.
- You need to purchase RDP CALs from MS [2] if you want the same as a permanent deployment for your production environment after 119 days grace period is expired.

I hope the above information helps you to address your query. However, if my understanding regarding your concern is incorrect or if you have any additional queries, please feel free to reach back and we will be happy to assist you further.
Have a great day ahead!

References (please keep in mind these are not AWS official links so you use them at your own risk):

[1] Microsoft - Remote Desktop Services Roles - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-roles
[2] License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs) - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license
[3] Turn on app permissions for your microphone - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-on-app-permissions-for-your-microphone-in-windows-10-94991183-f69d-b4cf-4679-c98ca45f577a