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

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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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-28T13:32:17+00:00

    Dear Microsoft,

    I can confirm I have the same issue as everyone above. Low sound on USB generic Microphone in Windows 8.1. Tried everything in this thread so please do not answer with the default answers. Call someone in Windows audio driver engineering division because this issue will be just another (significant) drop in the ocean of things that adds to people getting Apple computers and Windows loosing marketshare in the future.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-29T04:08:12+00:00

    Is there any external program that allows us to boost USB mic volume?

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-30T15:36:45+00:00

    I am having the same problem:

    Environment:

    Windows 8.1 Pro x64

    Microphone:

    Audio Technica AT2005USB (USB cable)

    Bose headset (microphone jack)

    Software:

    Windows Recorder

    Camtasia Studio Recorder

    Audacity

    If I use default settings, the playback volume is inaudible.

    If I turn the recording gain to 100%, hold the microphone directly to my mouth, and raise my voice, then I can somewhat hear myself back, though at that point there is distortion, breathing, and other annoyances. Even if I accept that, the volume is still quiet.

    Questions:

    If Microsoft has a problem Windows 8/8.1 wide with audio recording,

    1. Why is this post the only one that complains about this topic and not every Windows user, magazine, and even Microsoft employee?
    2. Why does Camtasia help (Tech Smith Corporation) state that the best audio recording is with a USB microphone and Windows 8.1. Did Tech Smith employees not run into this problem with that combination? Did they eat live cobras and forget to mention that in the product?
    3. What does every other Windows 8/8.1 user do to record audio on Windows?

    Yes, I am aware that I can purchase a multi-track recorder, such as TASCAM DP-008EX Digital Portastudio 8-track recorder, however that is overkill. I really just want to record my voice to a Power Point slide. Can that be done with Windows 8/8.1?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-07T01:59:00+00:00

    I believe that I have found the issue, 

    It seems that the number being displayed in the microphone levels is some sort of translation of the actual value being stored.  I found this by using a separate piece of software, which displayed a different value.

    There is a solution in my video for this, however, it requires buying separate software :(   You can use it for 14 days free.  If anyone finds something similar that doesn't require you to pay money for, please please, add them to this thread ;) 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLIjd36asEo

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