When using my microphone, the microphone level automatically adjusts.

Anonymous
2009-11-14T15:52:58+00:00

In order to fix it temporarily I have to right click the speaker icon in the tray, go to recording devices, double click my mic, go to the levels tab and readjust it. It becomes a huge problem when talking with the mic and the level goes from 100 down to 20 randomly and all of a sudden I can't be heard.

Sometimes it goes down right away, and I don't see a checkbox to disable this automatic adjustment.

I have unchecked allowing applications to take exclusive control but I'm not sure this is actually related.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-10-24T12:30:47+00:00

This has also had no affect on the problem.   Again I knew this would not help.   You see,  the above suggestion merely stops communications software adjusting the volume of other software items.

This problem is not related to the output volume of software being auto-adjusted.   It is to do with theinput level (sensitivity) of the microphone being auto-adjusted.

To try and clarify where the problem lies,  the input level that you see when you right click speaker icon,  select 'Recording Devices',  click the 'Recording' tab,  select the 'Microphone' and click 'Properties',  then click on the 'Levels' tab.   It is the 'Microphone' level there that is auto-adjusting.

Please note that this problem is related to the Microphone Input level.  Not a volume output level.

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Anonymous
2010-10-30T12:05:40+00:00

Hi gerri,

To further clarify, are you saying that the volume slider in the microphone properties (pictured below) is auto-adjusting:

If yes, do you see the slider moving on it's on?

If yes, this is not a function of Windows 7 that I am aware of.

I suggest uninstalling Skype temporarily and restarting the computer to see if the issue resolves.

Chris

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-11-13T19:17:26+00:00

    I have been having this problem too, for a VERY long time. So far, the only solution I have is to keep resetting my "level slider" for mic level each time I am told someone cannot hear me at all or well.

    My Level slider mentioned above, is also locked, so I go to the "Advanced" Tab, and change the format from CD to DVD or from DVD to CD quality, and then I apply that. a pop-up box appears, telling me the device is in use, and says: 

    The device is being used by another application.  If you continue, that application may stop working.  Do you want to continue?

    I select "yes" and then go back to the "level" Tab, and it then let's me change from 70 to 100 or whichever amount I wish.

    One annoying thing aside from having to do all that is that I DO need to exit the program I am talking with, and then go back in to talk again.

    The programs I have used has changed greatly in the last year or more that this has gone on, but at the moment, I get the problem when 1, or more of the following are running:

    Discord (all I need to do is leave the chat room but I can stay logged in fine, and then just rejoin and it works without program rerunning).

    Magic Jack

    Steam

    and it has happened in Skype but I do not keep that running anymore now that I have my discord server so it isn't a problem now for me.

    it **might** be related to magic jack as I keep it on always, it's my telephone.  It could also be related to my Sennheiser 363D headset as it has a 7.1 software to make a USB plugin work to make it sound like I have 8 speakers in each earpiece.

    other than all that I am LOST and if anyone comes up with a working solution, please, please let me know??  am sunning a 7 days to die server called **** The Place **** can find me there or tell someone there to relay a message if I am not on.  um other than that, I suppose I will TRY to keep checking in here,  but I wont remember in a few months or year like this thread had cone on long past it;s time.  it should have been addressed by Microsoft and others long ago with a WORKING solution.  I hope my write up was detailed enough to get the necessary people to solve this for us.

    Ken

    (JustKen)

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-06T18:29:24+00:00

    If the issue your having this with is Skype, go into Tools -> Audio Settings -> And Under Microphone there is an option to Aromatically Adjust Microphone Settings. Unselect this to solve your problem. 

    What is should look like: https://gyazo.com/a976a7e1e234f1c75a5c4b3dee60fdfb

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