Microphone issue (Too quiet, even on max settings)

Hello all.

I've previously come to this forum and found answers for other issues I have been having, but I was unable to find a prior resolution to my current problem.

My issue is that I am trying to record sound from my microphone (I can't test Ventrilo or Skype right now due to being stuck on a terrible, terrible Satellite connection) and while the sound quality is good, and everything gets picked up okay, the input is really quiet. I am using a Razer Carcharias (sp?) headset with Realtek HD Audio integrated into my EVGA x58 SLI LE motherboard. Even with the recording volume (in Windows and the Realtek configuration software both) maxed, and the Mic Boost at +30 db, the recorded audio is maybe a third the volume of any other sound I would normally hear on my computer at the same volume settings.

I've tried both the front and rear ports, I've tried disabling all the other Recording devices in Windows, my audio drivers are up to date (though I have to use the Realtek ones, rather than EVGA, as otherwise my system tends to randomly freeze sometimes when I'm on the audio settings screen, either directly or in a game), and I'm really stumped as to anything else I can do. Once I get a game (and voice-comms) worthy connection again, I know I can individually tweak the audio levels in Ventrilo to boost it more, which will hopefully help. But I also do video recording, and having all the input levels record really quietly kind of hampers that.

I tried it through Stereomix as well, and that didn't actually record my mic input that I could hear, just the sounds playing through my PC. Though it recorded those sounds as quietly as it records my microphone.

Oh, also, I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

Any help or suggestions you kind folks could offer would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

GH

did the mic work in previous OS'es?

I actually don't know that, unfortunately. I picked up the new headset after I finished building the new rig, so I didn't actually test it out on another OS. I suppose I could test it on my netbook, which is still running XP.

Grimhowl said:

I actually don't know that, unfortunately. I picked up the new headset after I finished building the new rig, so I didn't actually test it out on another OS. I suppose I could test it on my netbook, which is still running XP.

It might just be the wrong impedence. triple the resistance, and you have 1/3 the voltage. do you have a line in jack? oor just ths mic in?

ken

I'm afraid I don't know quite what you mean. Audio isn't really my specialty, I'm afraid.

My front ports are just normal Mic and Headphones. That was simple enough, mic plug goes in the mic jack, headphones to the headphones jack. The rear panel has either 6 or 8 plugs, of which two were the traditional green and red plugs for headphones and microphone, so I used those. My Realtek software confirmed those were the correct ports, but if you think it would work better in another port (and not completely destroy my headset or audio card. =P), I'm willing to give it a shot.

The audio-out is just fine, by the way. No problems in volume or quality for music or games or anything, and I only run the speaker volume at about 45%.

I'm currently testing the microphone on my netbook, which unfortunately also uses Realtek audio (though it has a different version of the software). I can't find mic boost on my netbook anywhere but in Playback, under microphone. Which is really strange. As a recording device, it doesn't have that option. Though on max volume without mic boost, it's still a bit louder than on my Windows 7 machine with full volume and full mic boost. Not to mention I have my system audio out on my netbook way, way down (less than 10%) because otherwise it blows out my eardrums.

GH

Lets say your audio needs 12 volts to give full volume. if it gets 4 volts it gives much less volume. if it gets 24 too much volume. I suspect the mic isnt the correct one for the realtek audio and hence the lower volume. there may be an adjustment in the audio control panel. If you use the snipping tool built into win 7 to take a pic of the control panel and upload it to us we can tell you meor


hope this helps

Ken

Most mic inputs have a box to check to raise the level. It's usually called mic boost on integrated hardware, in properties.

The mic boost in 7 is actually on, and Maxed at 30 DB. It's not a check box, it's a slider (I don't have that "Custom" tab) on my mic. This is through my front port, not my rear one.

I know for sure that I have it plugged into the correct port for Microphone in both cases (front and rear, when I tried rear). Are you suggesting that I shouldn't use the Microphone port, but perhaps another of the 6? If so, could you suggest which one?

Thanks.

The pic of my mic settings are attached. If this isn't the right screen you wanted to see, just let me know and I'll try and find the one you meant.

Thanks guys.