Low USB microphone recording volume (AT2020)

Anonymous
2013-01-12T10:07:02+00:00

I've been using an AT2020 USB microphone for several years now, first on Vista and then on Windows 7, with no problems at all. After upgrading to Windows 8, I've found that the recording volume using this microphone is now very low. The hardware is all the same, as is all the configuration.

I usually have the volume set at ~30-40. On Windows 7 it's loud and clear, and there is no distortion. On Windows 8, even if I turn it all the way up to 100, the recording volume is way too low and the sound is distorted due to the volume being set so high.

There is clearly something wrong here and as of now Windows 8 is completely unusable to me because I need to be able to record. Any possible solutions would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

(Also, there are no actual drivers for this device. I've always just plugged it in and it has worked right away.)

--

Update (7/29/15): This issue has not been fixed with Windows 10. I've started a new thread here for those who have updated. If you want this fixed, please continue to post about it. I doubt it will help, but the only other option is to stick with W7 or buy a new mic.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

89 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-05-24T13:36:00+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for the reply.

    Your efforts to work on this issue is very much appreciated.

    Feel free to post your query here on Windows Forums, we would be happy to assist you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-05-22T14:40:02+00:00

    Hi,

    I replied earlier as I had exactly this issue but it is now working perfectly. All I did was allow the recording device through the firewall. Someone replied saying how my solution couldn't work as it has nothing to do with the firewall - I know absolutely nothing about the firewall but I would be the first to agree because I can't see how it would make a difference but all I do know is that I changed these settings and the issue I had for months was sorted.

    Maybe it was just a fluke but I hope it helps someone else.  Here is the info I wrote in a blog post before;

    I was having problems recording in Windows 8 using my Adobe audition and my USB mic. I thought my microphone had given up the ghost as no matter how much I changed the audio settings (including level settings in ‘Recording Devices’ in the bottom right hand corner of the computer) the audio levels were just far too low.

    I did a bit of online research and saw that lots of people using USB mics and Windows 8 said the two were not compatible and that they were resorting back to older Windows 7 computers to get around the problem.

    I tested out the mic on a separate windows 7 computer and realised that there were no recording problems there.

    As a last ditch attempt I typed ‘Firewall’ into the search (even though I know nothing about firewalls) and it popped up with ‘Allow an App Through Windows Firewall’ so I clicked on that and lo and behold – Adobe Audition was not being allowed through the firewall. I added it to the exceptions list and then went down to the sound icon on the bottom right of the screen and right clicked and clicked on 'recording devices'  Double click on the 'microphone', click on 'levels' and upped it from 0 to 75 and my issue was sorted.

    p.s. I had tried adjusting the recording level on the sound icon on bottom right of screen lots of times before but it made no difference. I also had a sound engineer and a person that has used Adobe for years look at it but we couldn't get it to work.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-22T13:13:04+00:00

    Yeah im in the same boat as you, bought a AT2020, used it on win 7, then i upgraded to win 8, and it didn't work properly anymore, have had this issue since the release of win 8

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-05-17T07:37:03+00:00

    Really, did you even read the issue?

    Did you even buy one of these mics to test the issues with your software.

    Fix this now, or we are all just gonna have to take our business elsewhere.

    What boggles my mind is how did you mess up something so simple, and

    how have you not fixed it yet, it has been a very very long time

    They simply don't care... there are only 3 pages here... if it was like 5000 people complaining it would be put on a bug list maybe...

    I'm a youtuber and I need good microphone ( AT2020 ) it is not a top level but its nice entry to pro level microphone, and its used by lots of people. I had windows 8, for 2 weeks I was trying to get the mic working, than I bought another one Blues Snow Ball ( good score and reviews ) same issue. I took the dvd with windows 8 to retailer and got my money back. Went back to windows 7 and I'm happy since... Did similar test with 8.1 issue still not solved. I know where the issue is, Its windows USB audio device driver as that's what all the USB microphones use cause they don't have their own drivers... MS chnaged something it that driver between 7 and 8 that broke things...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2014-05-16T22:38:35+00:00

    Really, did you even read the issue?

    Did you even buy one of these mics to test the issues with your software.

    Fix this now, or we are all just gonna have to take our business elsewhere.

    What boggles my mind is how did you mess up something so simple, and

    how have you not fixed it yet, it has been a very very long time

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments