Windows 8.1 USB microphone volume is extremely low

Question

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?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

I have the default driver and I have low microphone volume. I have tried three different mics and all have low volume on the desktop.  One of the mic works fine on my windows phone.

Answer 3

Hello Gigi,

Thank you for your response.

I understand your frustration. However, I would suggest you to try configuring microphone levels and check if it helps. Please follow these steps to set the microphone levels:

a. From the Start screen, type sound to open the "Search" charm, and then select "Sound" from the search results. The "Sound" window opens.

b. Click the "Recording" tab.

c. Select the microphone, and then click "Properties".

d. Click the "Advanced" tab.

e. Remove the check from the box next to "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device".

f. Click the "Levels" tab.

g. Change the microphone level to 100 and the "Microphone Boost" to +10.0dB. Click apply and ok.

h. Disconnect and reconnect the microphone. Then, check the microphone.

I hope this information helps.

Please do let us know if you need any further assistance.

Thank you

Answer 4

This is pathetic.

Why do you even bother posting? You are not providing any solution to the problem. Microsoft support at its best. And you wonder why people say win8 sucks

Answer 5

Hi Marc,

Thank you for the reply.

If you are talking about the default drivers then I would like to inform you that Windows already comes with the default drivers. If you are talking about the Windows 7 drivers which are developed by the manufacturer of the device then you have to install the driver in compatibility mode.