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
    2015-07-14T16:28:58+00:00

    I don't think this has anything to do with Skype unless some properties are left even with uninstalling it.

    I have four "sound systems" on my Win 7 64bit ultimate PC.

    Connected TV graphics card HDMI.

    Terratec 6Fire USB, 

    the motherboard Realtek

    the webcam mic.

    I uninstalled the web cam software. I uninstalled the Terratec software and unplugged all USB devices except mouse and keyboard.  Disabled the graphic's card sound. I disabled all sound features of the Realtek except the microphone.

    From Control Panel - Sound - Recording tab - select Microphone - click properties - click tab level. Change mic level to 100% and remove the mute. 10-30 seconds later level drops to zero and the mute is activated.  Unclick mute readjust levels to 100% and repeat every 10-30 seconds until it is dead that is no green bars. Fix this by unplugging mic and/or rebooting.

    Installed webcam, disable Realtek mic. See the level on the web cam mic adjust automatically to zero and engage mute.

    One suggestion is a virus - AVG didn't find any.  Ran a fix on the registry. Still the same problem. I have another Intel motherboard system with similar software (no Terratec USB sound system and a different Logitech web camera). It works fine. Even plugging in the same web camera and microphone.  Runs the same version of Skype (which I uninstalled on the faulty system). Even with setting all the auto adjust properties in Skype, checking all the boxes other posts tell us to uncheck.

    The system - in this hardware configuration has been running for over two years without issue. Unless it is a hardware failure (feature fault) or one of the updates which seems unlikely as the problem has been reported for several years.

    I might be forced to try a complete system disk format and re-install but this takes days to recover and weeks to get it to stop updating when shutting down and re-booting. There is nothing to indicate that the same fault will not re-occur if it is down to an update or a particular application being installed.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-08-14T11:32:17+00:00

    This is not the issue, in all cases the mic's work. This problem specificly occurs when Messenger is running a mic or cam -session.

    MSN automatic turns down the volume. Since the new Messenger versions, this is not something you can turn off anymore. Even in the mic/cam-setup you can see it turns down your volume. But it keeps doing it while you use it.

    Problem fixed... I bought a MacBook Pro :>

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-11-15T13:12:05+00:00

    Hi,

    Welcome to Microsoft answers.

    This issue may caused due to improper sound settings or incompatible audio drivers.

    Follow the steps as below and check if that resolves the issue.

    1. Right click on the volume symbol, on the right bottom cornor.
    2. Click on play back devices.
    3. Goto communication and check do nothing.

    You can also check with following steps:

    Step 1: Testing for an audio signal

    1. Click Start, and then Control Panel.
    2. Click Hardware and Sounds, and then click Managing audio devices...
    3. Click the Recording tab.
    4. To test the microphone, speak into it. To test line-in, send a signal to the line-in port from the source audio device (press play from the audio player). Look at the gray bars next to the device name on the recording tab:
    5. If the gray bars next to the device name change to green, this device is active and an audio signal is being passed through the microphone or line-in port. This step shows that problem is related to sound settings in the software that uses the microphone. If you have not already done so, set the selected device to default and adjust the levels. Once the device is set to default and the levels are set, use and adjust the sound recording or voice carrying software.
    6. If the gray bars remain gray and inactive, the device is not recognizing a signal. Leave the recording tab open and go to the next step.

    Step 2: Check volume levels and mute.

    1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Click Hardware and Sound.
    3. Click Sound.
    4. Select Speakers, and then click Properties.
    5. Click the Levels tab.
    6. Click the Muted button next to Microphone and any other line-in that is muted.
    7. Use the slider bar to raise the level for Microphone and each line-in to at least 75.
    8. Click OK.

    Let us know if you have any issues.

    Thanks and Regards,

    Azam - Microsoft Support.

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