Low recorded audio from microphone

[MichaelWR]

Good morning, I have an audio recording issue and I will try to explain it as best I can. When I record with a microphone, the recorded audio plays back very low. I have gone through the settings for hours on end and can find no cause. I have the microphone gain at 100% and the boost at +30. The system plays back other prerecorded files fine with plenty of level. When I play my recorded files I must crank up the volume, so high that I get a lot of background hiss. It records fine, just very low. I took a look at this in both Audacity and Adobe Soundbooth and the level meters reflect the low signal level as being down in the mud. I have not tried 'Line in' to see if it works any better, I have only used the microphone. BTW, I have tried several microphones all with the same results. Additionally, are the microphone input jacks in my motherboard stereo? The boom microphone cable on my headset is a three wire just like the ear pieces. Does anyone know the pin configuration for this jack? I am assuming the the tip is one channel the ring is the other channel and the base is ground/common. FYI, the Sound system is onboard - Asus P6X58D Premium mobo running 7 x64 Pro, and Realtek HD drivers. (Installed and reinstalled and updated) Also, I tested the headset and boom microphone on another system, (Abit IL9 Pro mobo onboard audio running Vista 32 business) it also is running Realtek HD drivers and it works fine. Any thoughts would be very welcome. Thanks in advance, ~Michael

 

[seavixen32]

I'm no audio expert, but I'm guessing you're going to need a microhone pre-amplifier so that you can boost the gain without being swamped by noise.

mic preamp | microphone preamp

 

[johnebadbak]

try a stereo amp Hi FI unit if you have one connect mic into it and line out to line in on the pc sound card.

 

[fireberd]

Microphone inputs on PC's are mono. The "Tip" is the signal, the "Ring" has 5VDC that is required by PC condenser microphones and the "Sleeve" is ground.

 

[MichaelWR]

First, thanks for everyone lending a hand... I appreciate it. To seavixen32, I agree, an mic preamp might do the trick and I may have to do that if I can't find a cure to my low audio ails. However I was wondering why it is low in the first place, especially in light of it working fine on another desktop. The audio is fine on another machine, (albeit a Vista OS) what could be attenuating the signal on this machine? To johnebadbak, I have not tried the 'Line In' jacks on the mobo. I suspect the additional gain they provide may make a difference. However again, I was hoping a cure could be found for this problem. Workarounds may have to be implemented but I sure would like to know what is the root cause here. To fireberd, thank you for your input. I was at a loss as to why all computer microphones have three wire plugs. Of course!!! They are electret condenser microphones and need the bias to function. So with that bit of input, I wonder if I am lacking the bias to the microphone. Perhaps the 5 volt bias is not present at the microphone jack. That would be easy enough to test. Also, I wonder how well an Electret Condenser microphone would work if it is lacking the bias. Would it work at all? Maybe that is my problem. It's a long shot but I will investigate it further. I will post back my findings. Much regards, ~Michael