This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I have a Samson C01U USB mic. It is a plug-and-play microphone. There are no drivers for it. There is no firmware for it. You just plug it in, and it works.
This mic has always worked perfectly. When I used Windows 7, I set the volume level of it to about 40-50% and everything sounded crisp, clear, and loud. On Windows 8, it is inaudible unless I set the volume to 90% but even at that point it is not loud enough. Setting it to 100% results in a lot of noise in the background.
This is not the first time someone has brought this issue up as it is extremely common to everyone owning a USB plug-and-play mic:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1323451/windows-8-mic-issue
Has there ever been a fix for this issue?
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.
Hi,
Thank you for the reply.
As you have mentioned that you have checked the issue with other microphone but you still face this issue. We have already tried to uninstall and reinstall the drivers. I suspect this issue to be a hardware issue. Check the issue with a local technician.
I was thinking about doing this, hopefully someone one CraigsList will pick up my USB Samson C01U. I know nothing about XLR mics. How would I hook this up to my PC? Is there an affordable option? I'm assuming the device used to hook your mic into is also a USB device?
Yea it still uses USB. Also, I'm not an expert, just to add a grain of salt to any advice I'm about to give...
First get yourself an XLR microphone. The nice thing about xlr is there are a lot more options in microphones than USB (at least from my experience).
I'm just going to assume you are going to be using this for stuff like podcasting and nothing too fancy.
If that's the case, once you have your mic, choose an "audio interface" with a built-in preamp. Forgive me for the boring tech jargon but all this stuff can be bought as separate units and I didn't want it sounding like they are all the same. You need the preamp to boost the mic signal so that you can hear it. USB condenser mics usually come with preamps built into the mic itself.
Anyway, my current setup is an AT2020 xlr connected to a Focusrite Scarlette 2i2 audio interface. That is then connected to my computer by USB 2.0. My desktop speakers are connected to the focusrite's headphone port with a 1/4" TRS adapter.
Total cost:
I got the mic in a bundle that came with the mic, a pop filter, and xlr cable for $109.00 from Amazon and the interface ran
me $150.00
There are cheaper interfaces and microphones so don't think this is what you have to spend. Definitely some low-budget gems out there.
Important note: if you are using a condenser microphone make sure that whatever interface you get has 48volt phantom power. Phantom power just means that the USB port powers your interface and the interface powers your mic. Condenser mics need 48v or they don't work.
Before I knew about the 48v I bought a Behringer Xenyx302 USB. Cost me $50.00 but could not produce the necessary power requirements for the mic and caused it to kill in and out. Also produced a lot of static pops and noise and I ended up returning it to Amazon, so I'm going to recommend buying your first interface from an audio store instead of online.
I got my focusrite from a Guitar Center, it was the exact same price as Amazon and I was able to talk with a sales person who knew a ton more about audio than I ever knew existed. Anyway hope that helped.
I was thinking about doing this, hopefully someone one CraigsList will pick up my USB Samson C01U. I know nothing about XLR mics. How would I hook this up to my PC? Is there an affordable option? I'm assuming the device used to hook your mic into is also a USB device?
I just got sick of waiting for Microsoft to fix this.
I've dropped USB plug and play entirely and switched to XLR microphone. Used to have AT2020 USB just got the AT2020 XLR version + consumer grade audio interface. It is not only louder but clearer. I don't have to spend as much time cleaning up my audio like I did with the USB + Windows 8 setup.
Also NOT A FIX, and don't switch unless you can afford to obviously. I really couldn't but that's what credit cards are for.
Anyway hope everyone here has a merry Christmas, a happy Hanuka...etc. Except Microsoft... f**k those guys.
Hi, I have also had this problem with:
This is not a fix but I think something that may help towards fixing it possibly or show what the microphone should actually sound like?
Right click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select 'Playback Devices'. Left click the default device once to highlight it ( it's usually 'speakers & headphones' ) then click the Properties button. Click the Enhancements tab and put a tick in the box next to 'Loudness Equalization'.
Listen to your microphone with that now enabled...and it is much louder and actually acts like windows 7, can anyone else also verify? This is NOT a fix as it does not change the actual input strength of the microphone.
