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
    2015-07-12T13:58:26+00:00

    This is insane! The idea that this can't be fixed is a joke - it worked in 7, is can work in 8 and 10. I'm a professional video editor, and i have to look to Apple because of something as stupid as this. Sort your **** out Microsoft.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-04T04:05:13+00:00

    I'm not sure how the above solution solves the problem?

    It does reveal that the volume level for the mic is bugged, but at roughly 95 and above the volume level would be more or less identical with the additional program and the internal windows volume level?

    I did try this, and it did not change anything for me, volume level is still to low.

    Windows 10 has come further now than the last time I saw anything written about it, anybody know if this annoying problem have been fixed in it?

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-06-27T12:20:02+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

    only solution

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-23T06:06:34+00:00

    Having same issue, **** **** **** annoying,

    what's even more annoying is Microsofts pathetic help.

    Obvious bug, please fix

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