Windows 8.1 USB microphone volume is extremely low

You guys have to stop pretending like we are idiots, you messed up USB mics for Windows 8, its not something we did, my AT2020 worked fine on Windows 7 and it still works just fine on my Mac, but is Ultra low on Windows 8, and if i artificially boost it, i introduce so much noise i might as well use a crappy **** mic.

Please just fix this, there is no response from you guys other than these standard " If you where dumb enough not to try this, try it now answers"

Posted this in another thread related to this subject but it should bring some light to the problem here as well.

I've been dealing with this problem for over a year now since Windows 8. I recently called Audio-Technica as a last ditch effort as the audio problem with my AT2020 is now affecting my work. According to one of the leads at Audio-Technica, the problem is entirely on Microsoft's end. The developer I talked to specifically stated it had to do with the the way Microsoft hard coded the driver into Windows 8 and that there is nothing they can do to fix it. He also mentioned it has to do with the way the audio device is treated. It apparently treats all USB microphones similarly which screws up the gain and levels of higher quality end microphones. The tech used AT2020, the Blue Yeti, and a few others as examples of a few microphones that are affected but explained that ALL microphones are in this and that it makes most USB audio microphones sound worse than they should.

He explained that all of the higher quality condenser microphones will have low audio volumes along with worse background noise than they should. According to him, Microsoft not only knows of the problem, but admits that there is no way to fix it even on their end. The tech returned my call in a matter of minutes of calling Audio-Technica and knew of the problem immediately. He told me they had back and forth talks with Microsoft over the span of a couple of weeks about it until they stated that nothing could be done.

This problem is pretty easy to see though just using my own AT2020 as an example. In Windows 7, I only had to use a level of 23-27 to produce perfect sound with little to no background noise. Now on Windows 8, I have to use 95-100 to get people to even hear me with a massive amount of background noise. Audio-Technica suggested I try to sell the USB AT2020 on Ebay and buy a mixer along with the XLR version. Audio-Technica doesn't expect a solution to the issue. If Microsoft wasn't such a dominant platform for what I have to do for work, I would consider going to another OS. Instead, I'm out of luck and just have to go out and spend more money on something that will get me a fix rather than MS fixing the problem.

TL;DR: They know about the problem. They can't fix it. Sell your USB Microphone. Buy an XLR version along with a cheap 40-60 dollar mixer to solve the issue.

I just picked up a C01U and I'm having the same issues.  I try using the mic on my Windows 7 machine and it sounds MUCH better than when it does on Windows 8.  Is there any way we can pull the Windows 7 driver and install it on Windows 8?  Maybe that'll help.

Hi,

Are you able to use other devices when you connect to the same USB port?

I would suggest you to plug the Microphone to other computer and check if it works. Sometimes when the input sound level of the Microphone is low then the output sound level is also low because it is set quite low by default. Follow the steps given below and check.

1. Right click on volume control and choose Recording devices.
2. Choose your microphone, click properties.
3. You will have a Levels tab, where you can adjust the input level of the microphone to increase the sound level.

If you still face this issue you can contact Samson for further assistance. You can contact them on the link given below.

Contact:

https://www.samsontech.com/contact/

Write to us with the status of the issue. We will assist you further.