Low mic volume

[Thompy]

I'm intending to enter the intrepid world of 5punk gaming a bit more (well, I haven't for ages), but I can't get my mic working properly.

Backstory: I recently sold my PC and loads of other crap and already had some money saved up so I bought a nice shiny new PC. I'd heard excellent things about the BitFenix Prodigy, which is an mITX case, so I went with that and got the excellently reviewed Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe. The only draw back to this MB this the form factor's lack of PCI slots, specifically being unable to use a sound card. But I've only ever read stuff in reference to gaming so it must be fine right? And I've only ever used on-board sound and I'm happy with it. To go along with this I got a Sennheiser PC 360, the microphone getting particularly good praise.

So it's plugged in, level is at 100%, but it's really quiet. Mic Boost works, but even at the lowest level there is significant background hiss which is not something I'm happy to accept with a headset this expensive. To get a good volume I need to go up to the 2nd (20 dB) level, and it's awful. I've tried RealTek drivers rather than the basic MS ones but it's no different. I've also trawled the internet to no avail, other than a reviewer on Amazon saying he had the same problem until he fiddled with the wires a bit

Any clues? My last headset's mic, a Creative Fatal1!!!11!!ty worked fine with on-board sound. I'm hoping to some god that my entire system doesn't have a major flaw in it. If the headset needs a more powerful sound card (only stuff about sound card vs on-board relates to playback), then why oh why didn't I just get a normal ATX case/board, it's not like I move the thing

As an aside, another small problem is that the inline volume knob doesn't turn the volume down to 0 at it's lowest point. The hell?

[fabyak]

Is there a Creative section in the control panel? That may be teaming up with the normal sound bits to bugger things up

[Dog Pants]

When I had a similar problem it turned out my mic was set to the one on my webcam, not the one on my headset. You're probably not that stupid, but worth mentioning.

[Thompy]

Is there a Creative section in the control panel? That may be teaming up with the normal sound bits to bugger things up

Creative as in the company or just some fancy settings? Either way, nope.

When I had a similar problem it turned out my mic was set to the one on my webcam, not the one on my headset. You're probably not that stupid, but worth mentioning.

The headset is the only mic connected.

I just tried it on a Fista laptop and it seems the same, judging by the volume indicator anyway. I couldn't install a program to actually record anything as it's not mine and I'm just guesting on it. Also tried it on an Mac and that seems even worse. Again I couldn't record anything but the input meter would only register if I flicked or even just touched the mic or shouted. Normal talking didn't register anything. I'm thinking a return is in order.

[ProfHawking]

You're probably not that stupid, but worth mentioning.

If its a laptop, quite often they have a Mic built into the case

I dont have much to add otherwise, sorry. My techniques of getting microphones to work with teamspeak is laughable.

[Grimmie]

My shiny new Asus soundcard has a really, really quiet microphone apparently. I probably should have been more thorough in looking at the reviews. I'll probably steer towards a Creative one next time, as they tend to be ear-splittingly loud.

[Dog Pants]

Pardon?

[fabyak]

Looks like it has lots of software 'features', trying turning them off and see if that makes any difference

[FatherJack]

I always wondered why I sounded quiet while Pete and berk were really loud. Then I met them in real life.

[HereComesPete]

I always wondered why I sounded quiet while Pete and berk were really loud. Then I met them in real life.

[Thompy]

Looks like it has lots of software 'features', trying turning them off and see if that makes any difference

There are barely any feature, just the standard Windows gubbins. I'm not sure we're on the same page here!

[spoodie]

I couldn't install a program to actually record anything as it's not mine and I'm just guesting on it.

Type "sound recorder" into the Start search. That application may have been on all Windows.

[Thompy]

It's not included in Fista for some reason.

Tomorrow I will call Sennheiser to see if they have any ideas otherwise it'll go back. As it's Amazon I should get a full refund. Incoming "spec me a headset" thread no doubt.

[HereComesPete]

Hokey pokey. A check list that isn't intended to insult, merely try and see if resolution can be attained.

- are the jacks plugged in to the right places?
- can we has a screeny of your sound recording devices?
- when you open volume mixer what devices does it list with volume bars?
- am I currently drunkenly devouring a pork pie?*
- does the moving the boom to the up position cut out all of the quiet and hissy noise (they have this feature right?)?
- what is the onboard sound chip?
- do the ear parts work fine irrespective of the mic part?


*would be a yes.

[fabyak]

Looks like it has lots of software 'features', trying turning them off and see if that makes any difference

There are barely any feature, just the standard Windows gubbins. I'm not sure we're on the same page here!

http://www.asus.com/Motherboard/P8Z77I_DELUXE/#overview

Down the bottom of that page, the Crystal Sound stuff

[fabyak]

Otherwise, install all their stuff and turn it on!

[spoodie]

It's not included in Fista for some reason.

Wow, Microsoft really didn't cut corners when attempting to make a terrible version of Windows.

[buzzmong]

Low mic volume?

Just pretend that you're Brian Blessed!

[Thompy]

Hokey pokey. A check list that isn't intended to insult, merely try and see if resolution can be attained.

- are the jacks plugged in to the right places?
- can we has a screeny of your sound recording devices?
- when you open volume mixer what devices does it list with volume bars?
- am I currently drunkenly devouring a pork pie?*
- does the moving the boom to the up position cut out all of the quiet and hissy noise (they have this feature right?)?
- what is the onboard sound chip?
- do the ear parts work fine irrespective of the mic part?


*would be a yes.

Not sure any of this is of use:

1. Yes.
2. Well, it's just 2 mics, 1 for front 1 for back.
3. "Speakers"
4. Me, yesterday.
5. Moving it up mutes it, so no sound at all.
6. RealTek ALC898.
6. Seems so!

http://www.asus.com/Motherboard/P8Z77I_DELUXE/#overview

Down the bottom of that page, the Crystal Sound stuff

Oh right. Well that only appears with RealTek drivers installed. Fiddled with it all and all I can find is 3 different ways to increase the volume seemingly by dB boost as the background hiss appears every time.

I think I will RMA the motherboard and the case as they both have faults I was happy to over look. But if I just go ATX then I can get a proper sound card. But before I do that, will a sound card with a headphone amp increase the volume of the mic without hiss? Or will any decent sound card even without an amp help? I can only find info on headphone amps in relation to output. Thinking Asus Xonar DG atm.

Edit: Muuurghh sod it, RMA'd anyway. Will see how they perform in the next build.

[Thompy]

New MB installed into new case with my first ever dedicated sound card - a Xonar DG. At first it was no different and losing hope I enabled the dreaded mic boost. However! The card manages to boost the volume without any audible background hiss. So woo! The max volume is not that high though, about the same as a YouTube video playing along side. But hopefully the quality of the card means any other boost, like in TS, will still yield clear sound.

The only other thing is the inline volume control that doesn't have a range of 0-100% volume - it can never mute - I might enquire again about that but otherwise I can live with it.