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
    2015-01-05T10:49:09+00:00

    I have followed your steps.  The issues still persist.

    I think this will come as no surprise to anybody - except perhaps some in Microsoft!  Until MS provide a driver that works, all of MS's customers are stuck with a defective product.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-01-04T17:18:29+00:00

    I have followed your steps.  The issues still persist.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-01-04T16:29:34+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for the reply and update.

    Request you to plug in the USB device directly to the USB port located at the back of the computer instead of the hub and check the status.

    Keep us informed to help you further.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-01-02T16:59:13+00:00

    I can't even get my Windows 8.1 to recognize my Samson c01u USB mic. Are the USB hubs not strong enough to even power the mic? I get an "unrecognized device" when I plug it in.

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