Windows 8.1 USB microphone volume is extremely low

Anonymous
2014-03-14T02:41:12+00:00

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

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/2da97f80-f58b-4635-acbf-9dd7292ed752/microphone-very-low-volume?forum=w8itprohardware

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_8-hardware/low-usb-microphone-recording-volume-at2020/9528f797-65c8-4033-a4d6-39995cd0d074

Has there ever been a fix for this issue?

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
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2014-07-31T00:46:56+00:00

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.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments

121 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-04-08T17:51:29+00:00

    I  read the replies, and using decibels, which I did not know previously to exist, gives no additional boost.

    Switching to decibels doesn't change the level, it just lets you compare levels between different operating systems.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-04-08T16:59:25+00:00

    I  read the replies, and using decibels, which I did not know previously to exist, gives no additional boost.

    The real solution is to get a separate product with phantom power and record to that.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-08T16:11:59+00:00

    I bought a lovely EditorKeys SL300 to replace my very old USB mic.... You know the story by now. The volume is simply so low and nothing you can do to change it

    Reading this entire thread I wanted to say how disappointed I am at the Microsoft 'Support' team - their suggestions are mind numbing and completely disregard the problem being described. The thread got much more constructive when they stop posting 'control panel adventures'

    I really hope this is sorted but given the windows 10 stuff I am not confident either

    Thanks

    TC

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-08T12:28:50+00:00

    Thanks for the feedback.  With regards to Decibels, I honestly haven't checked that vs another OS, I'm loathe to go fiddling now I've got things fixed, but will try and look later.  However, it does still have the same "stepping" issue (what looks like 88% of the slider in windows is about 50% of the slider in powermixer.

    Volumouse looks cool but don't think it's a solution for me.  Hopefully it will be for others.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments