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
    2015-08-13T20:25:26+00:00

    Possible Solution:

    Start uninstalling any program that accesses or uses your microphone.  Uninstall them one by one and check microphone between each one.  After a few tries, I uninstalled "GoToWebinar/GoToMeeting" and that did the trick.  Microphone levels are stable now.  It seems that any number of programs on your computer could be causing this problem.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-15T05:30:56+00:00

    Solution: possibly.

    I had scanned for malware and AVG didn't find any. Following a suggestion elsewhere on this issue I install the free trial version of MalwareBytes-Anti-Malware. This found a number (over 1600) files but removing those files did not stop the problem. Running it again later more appeared including PriceGong. I found references to this in the registry and manually deleted them. MalwareBytes requested a reboot.

    One of the background tasks running is PMBVolumeWatcher. I used task manager to close it down and also removed it from the start up list (using msconfig). This is part of the Sony application Photo Manager Browser and has been replaced in 2012 by "PlayMemories Home".

    Between these changes the microphone now behaves itself. It no longer resets and mutes the volume level.

    Removing PMBVolumeWatcher may have had nothing to do with the issue and following a reboot, requested by MalwareByte,s and reloading PMBVolumeWatcher I still have a stable microphone connection. 

    Exactly which of the changes or amendments "fixed" the issue I don't know. It is worth while to run AVG and MalwareBytes-Anti-Malware and remove any problems found and reboot.

    I do not believe this problem - mic volume level dropping to zero and then muting - has anything to do with settings for the micrphone, webcamera microphone or applications such as Skype.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-05-30T22:58:15+00:00

    Chris also assumed the OP was using Skype whereas s/he was actually using MSN Messenger. The auto-volume thing was a pain in that program.

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