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: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-02T19:13:59+00:00

    I am having this problem as well, also with the AT2020 under Windows 8.1!  The troubleshooter did nothing and Audio-Technica hasn't gotten back to me (although even if they did I don't know what they could do since these microphones are practically plug 'n' play.)

    Please, if you can, work on a fix for this!  I am a YouTuber and voice actor and desperately need my microphone to be working optimally, and I unfortunately have no means by which to roll back to Windows 7!  I can make it work for now but as far as I can tell my mic will not be performing optimally until a fix is produced!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-07-23T17:26:21+00:00

    It is nearing the end of July now, and I'm shocked that there has been no response from Microsoft about this. I'm using the AT2020 as well, and worked fine on Windows 7, still works fine on other Windows 7 machines I move it to, but on Windows 8 it is so quiet it is almost unusable. Microsoft, please give us some good news about this issue!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-04-25T02:27:19+00:00

    I am having the exact same issue too! My USB mics work perfectly in Windows 7, recording level 12% yields clean and crisp sound. Yet in Windows 8, with the exact same mics, I am unable to capture good audio... even when I jack up the boost audio is still extremely low. 

    In other words, this nasty big that is preventing consumers and video professionals alike from recording audio via a USB mic is ISOLATED to Windows 8.

    I really hope Windows 8 releases a patch for this soon, as the complaints are going to pour as people start to upgrade to Windows 8.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2013-04-20T08:22:12+00:00

    Probably not, nor it will be. Microsoft have hands full with next release of Windows and nobody give a **** about win 8 usb drivers sadly. We need to wait for the next Windows release, but I fear that it will be just 8.1 ( called something else to mask it as brand new release ) with exact the same USB drivers just start button added... So in conclusion windows 7 is where we should stay..

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2013-04-20T07:58:36+00:00

    I have the same problem - with a different high quality USB Microphone on Windows 8 Pro:

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w8itprohardware/thread/2da97f80-f58b-4635-acbf-9dd7292ed752/

    others have it too:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-hardware/microphone-problems-in-windows-8/4e9d994a-b726-4b8a-898f-9c91085abdf3

    These microphones are true plug and play - no firmware or device drivers to install.

    Worked fine on Windows 7 but not Windows 8.

    Has there been any progress on this issue???

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments