Line in microphone too soft

turtleboi99 · 04 Jul 2013

Hi, I've been having a problem with my microphone that I want to use for my laptop. When using it barely catches any noise even with the settings turned all the way up. I know the microphone is working because it works perfectly on my friend's computer. Like I've said I tried turning up the settings and making sure it's not muted, all the simple stuff but it still barely fills a bar when I tap the mic. I also noticed it doesn't show up as a microphone in the recording tab. The microphone that's disabled is my laptop's built in one and the one below it that says "Line in" is the one I want to use. So I'm just wondering what I can do to hopefully fix this. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

bobafetthotmail · 05 Jul 2013

How much jacks do you have on that laptop? I suppose you have only 2. One for microphone and one for headphones.

If that is the case, try right-clicking on the free space in that panel and select "show disabled devices", then rightclick on the Microphone entry and select "set as default".
Or right-click on the Line in entry and select "disable" then set the microphone as default.

turtleboi99 · 05 Jul 2013

Yes I do only have the two jacks. I tried what you suggested, showing disabled devices, and nothing else appeared. I even disabled the Line in selection and nothing. Is it something with the computer because I've tried multiple headsets with mics and they all the same problem?

bobafetthotmail · 05 Jul 2013

Try going in Control Panel, select "view by small icons" from the top right and looking for an entry that is about sound, but not called "sound". Depending on what stuff you have it will be called "Realtek HD audio manager", or something like that.

Open that and try changing volume and settings from there.

If that fails again, please post the model of your laptop, and follow this tutorial to scan what hardware there is inside that laptop and upload the data in your profile on this forum (does it automatically, step 5).
So that I know what is this device and I can look up more accurate info.

turtleboi99 · 05 Jul 2013

Sorry just wondering about the tutorial. It's for Darik's Boot and Nuke. Is that correct?

bobafetthotmail · 05 Jul 2013

Sigh, doing too much stuff at once. Sorry, this is the right link.

turtleboi99 · 05 Jul 2013

Haha it's okay man, you're putting a lot of effort into this and I really appreciate it. If anything put my problem at the bottom of your list because it's not really all too important.
But I did what you said and updated my system specs.

bobafetthotmail · 05 Jul 2013

Ok, by going here I read that your audio is handled by something called "SIGMATEL STAC 92XX C-Major HD Audio", so look for something like this in the control panel as I told you in the post #4.
Then I don't know, look inside its options if it can be set to take microphone from the line-in or raise the sensitivity/volume.

Anyway, are you sure that the program you are using to capture audio is set to work with the line-in and not the mic?

turtleboi99 · 05 Jul 2013

I found nothing like what you said in the control panel.

I use Skype and TeamSpeak, I'm guessing at least Skype would right? To me the weird thing is when I plug in the mic I want to use on another computer it actually shows up as a microphone like the built in one on my laptop but when I plug my own mic in on my laptop it only shows the picture in my post. Sorry if I'm being confusing.

3D Jed · 06 Jul 2013

Line and mic are usually different signal levels. Line is higher and would be used when connecting say a stereo to a pc (or a hi-fi tuner to an amp). Mic is a lower level and that input usually has a pre-amp stage to bring the mic level (volume) up to the same level as line. Maybe the OPs pc has the input socket designated as line not mic.