Stopping the microphone from automatically adjusting level

Anonymous
2020-03-26T14:52:20+00:00

Every time I run a meeting in the Teams app, my microphone level automatically gets set to 100%. 

I have set the communications option in the control panel to do nothing and there appears to be no option in the app to stop it from doing this. I have a sensitive microphone that requires low gain - this is very frustrating as I am using it to teach lessons remotely.

Any ideas?

Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams for education | Meetings and calls | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-01-01T12:21:59+00:00

    Hi,

    I have a similar problem where Rudy's (mmsys.cpl) solution doesn't work for me.  I've narrowed the problem down to the levels being reduced to zero when the (Teams) Device Settings panel is opened.

    The repro steps on my machine are:

    • While in a Teams call
    • Open run mmsys.cpl
    • Click on Recording tab
    • Hit Properties button for target mic (Rode Podcaster in my case) + Levels tab
    • Note Levels slider is set to about 70
    • Leaving open, return to Teams
    • Open More options / Device Settings
    • Observe levels in open dialog has now been adjusted down to zero (hovers around 0-6)

    So the workaround seems to be don't open device settings in a call which will lead to some challenging meetings :(

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-22T13:44:29+00:00

    I'll add one more to this problem.

    Absolutely a Teams issue.  I run multiple microphones and studio equipment.  Everything works fine, except for Teams.  The advice to turn off the exclusive control is garbage.  With it turned off, I sit and watch the volume level fluctuate in real time between 85 and 40.  It doesn't do this with my webcam microphone, or other microphones that are being preprocessed.  It only does this with standalone microphones and it is a total PITA.

    Like others, I've resorted to running software preprocessing to get around Microsoft ignoring this issue.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-17T21:27:01+00:00

    Bought a Mac out of frustration. It brought like 10 new issues in using MS Teams like not beeing able to approach my files within Teams while videocalling, but it did fix this microphone error. I’m happy for now....

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-17T20:41:38+00:00

    Well until Teams decides to implement this... If ever... There is a workaround for the windows app you if you are an administrator on your machine.

    Steps:

    1. Download from: https://www.vb-audio.com/Cable/index.htm
    2. Extract and install driver for virtual audio cable and restart
    3. Open sound settings
    4. Playback - Set your normal speakers as default
    5. Recording - Set your normal microphone as default
    6. Recording - open properties for your microphone
    7. Under listen tab, set to play through the new "Cable Input" device, apply
    8. In Teams, device settings, set the microphone input to the new "Cable Output"

    Now, Only for Teams, the microphone sound is routed through the "virtual cable" so Teams only sees the virtual microphone, and does not seem to mess this one up!

    This works, however, for step 7 you also need to check the box that says "Listen to this device".

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-12-14T19:55:16+00:00

    I'm having the same issue with both Skype and Teams. The steps provided here also do not work for me. I have to manually adjust the Mic levels to 50 after every time I use either Skype for Business or Teams.

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