Sound/External Mic Levels Keep Returning to 100

I'm using a headset as an external mic with Dragon Naturally Speaking and Eclipse voice recognition software. Ever since getting this new laptop with Windows 7, I've tried adjusting the recording volume level of the external mic. I move it down to 50 or so, and the software works much better, but for some reason, I can't set it to stay at that level.

Here are the two places I've tried doing this:

Under Control Panel, I click on Hardware and Sound, then click on Sound, then click on Recording, then on External Mic Property Levels. I set it to 50 and click OK. There is an "Apply" button, but it does not allow me to click it.

Then, I go under Control Panel, Realtek HD Audio Manager, then External Mic, then Recording Volume, and I move it to 50. I click OK because, again, the "Apply" button doesn't work for some reason.

I need BOTH of these levels down to 50 for my software to work properly, but for some reason and at some random time, the levels inevitably return back to 100.

I am not very computer savvy, obviously, but I've tried finding answers elsewhere and am at my wit's end. Please advise if you have any suggestions. Thanks!

lyndaaug said:

I'm using a headset as an external mic with Dragon Naturally Speaking and Eclipse voice recognition software. Ever since getting this new laptop with Windows 7, I've tried adjusting the recording volume level of the external mic. I move it down to 50 or so, and the software works much better, but for some reason, I can't set it to stay at that level.

I am not very computer savvy, obviously, but I've tried finding answers elsewhere and am at my wit's end. Please advise if you have any suggestions. Thanks!

I would look for level controls in the two pieces of software you mention.
It's very possible they have default "Input" (or Mic) levels and are set at full volume.

Also right clicking on the Microsoft speaker icon in the taskbar will give you a different view of the Realtek controls. I find it clearer than the Realtek control panel.

Ap

Thank you for your quick response and suggestions. I have checked with the software's settings, and they seem to be fine. I just don't get why the levels keep returning to 100 and why I can't get the "Apply" button to be an option when trying to make the change permanent.

Again, thanks for your help, and if anyone else has any further ideas, I'm all ears!

lyndaaug said:

Thank you for your quick response and suggestions. I have checked with the software's settings, and they seem to be fine. I just don't get why the levels keep returning to 100 and why I can't get the "Apply" button to be an option when trying to make the change permanent.

Again, thanks for your help, and if anyone else has any further ideas, I'm all ears!

Sorry those ideas didn't help, normally the set volumes you're speaking of stay in place once set. The only thing I can think of is that one of your software programs "initializes" the audio device which sets the levels to full.

One way to check this idea. Set both volumes to 50 before opening either of the two software packages you use.

Next, open Dragon, then check the volume levels, if no change close Dragon, make sure the levels are still on 50% then open Eclipse and check the volume levels.

As for the apply button, it never activates for just volume changes, doesn't on my system and I'm pretty sure it never has.

There'a another place to see individual level controls, with Dragon and Eclipse running, left click (single click) on the Microsoft speaker icon in the system tray and select "Mixer" at the bottom.

Also, under recording devices... look at the communication tab, select "Do Nothing"
That's all I got!

Ap

Thank you, Ap. I really appreciate your help. I tried setting the levels to 50 before opening Dragon, then Eclipse, but the levels return back to 50 once I open them. I see the speaker levels from the Microsoft tray, so thanks for that hint.

I have one follow-up question for you. It's probably a dumb one, but I can't figure out where to find the "recording devices" you referred to. I'd like to try your "do nothing" suggestion, but I can't figure out where to go. I am sure it's obvious and I'm overlooking it, but I'd love to give it a shot!

Again, thanks for taking the time to help!

Lynda

I am running into the same problem with microphone levels, but with Windows Speech Recognition

Tried a USB headset and a headset with standard audio plugs - same problem.

Like you my system is Win7 and I have Realtek HD Audio Manager.

I did see on another forum that registry settings for volume and snr were failing to update correctly, but that is past my level of expertise