Low mic volume in Vista 64bit

Posted on March 20, 2008 by Andrew Woodward

Having previously been an avid Skype user I decided to reinstall on my Vista ultimate 64bit laptop build.   Download and software installation (version 3.6) went without issue, but making a Skype test call I could hardly hear myself.   I made various changes to the settings including boosting the input without success. 

I eventually found this blog post that had a solution way down at the bottom of the page.  Change your recording quality from the default DVD/CD quality down to something like Dictation or Tape Recorder and HEY PRESTO (to quote the blog post) it works.

mic sound quality

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  • http://WWW/LL.COM AGENT 007

    THANK YOU VERY MUCH

  • Matthew Joughin

    i don't get those quality options in windows 7 x64 ?
    CD Quality is the lowest they offer.
    Any other ideas ?

  • http://www.21apps.com AndrewWoody

    I have windows 7 x64 and the options are the same, it may be down to the sound card you are using?

  • http://www.universitysda.com bible study

    excellent post, I'll have to check back more often, thanks!

  • matthewjoughin

    Just to Update:
    After installing Windows 7 RC1 (was on beta before) Skype no longer has the issues!

  • Pingback: Windows 7 Mic Not Working - The Warlocks Den - WoW Warlock Discussions

  • greattree

    Fine, except I only find the options of “CD, DVD or Studio quality”: There are no options for quality less than these. Don't know what went wrong, the 64 bit RC version of windows 7 worked fine — all sorts of problems with the the final product when it came out. Originally using on board sound, but when that fell down and I couldn't fix it, I bought sound card. …..You guessed……….still no microphone volume. Seems there are lots out there with the same problem and no-one seems to have come up with a comprehensive fix….not even Microsoft. I am stuck trying to get a narrative onto a wildlife documentary and failing as a result of this.

  • Macbean

    I've been experiencing the same problems that you are having–trying to record with a microphone and no volume. I have a brand new computer with windows 7. I've been searching the web like everyone else. I finally ran the microphone to full boost and under the speaker default format set it to 24 Bits, 44100 Hz (Studio Quality). I'm now getting a decent recording volume.

  • greattree

    Thanks for the info. My setup only gives a box to tick for “Boost”- on or off, but I will try setting to 24 bits if I can. (Currently struggling to get Premiere to play timeline for more than about 3mins with HD before video starts for stutter – and gradually gets worse with time.)

  • Mats Bjorklund

    You Sir, are a star!

    I had the same problem on W7 (64 bit). I had troubles with input levels, and most importantly, the audio cut out and did not pick up until I had spoken for a few seconds, which made Skype useless to me.

    I changed over to the “Tape Recorder Quality” sample rate setting, and now the audio is flawless, and I could even remove the input boost settings.

    Thanks a million for solving a problem that had been frustrating me for the best part of a week!

  • Adrien

    I'm so annoyed with technology. Things are supposed to get better with the latest version. I'm having the same problem and now I don't know what my sound card is or how to change it and make it work.

    This kinda crap is ongoing. My Logitech digital camera is useless because of the incompatibility with Windows, now this problem. I am not all that savvy when it comes to computers but I must say that Windows XP Professional was my best computer experience. Maybe I'll switch to a Mac.

  • Rebecca

    So, I'm having the same problem as all of you who don't have the tape recording quality option. It just doesn't seem to work. Now, does anyone know if this will simply be solved if I buy a headset? Not very savvy, as you may well tell.

  • yoyos

    i think there is a microphone boost option on the page “level”, it may also help.

  • kiwifox

    this did not work with t61 thinkpad on win7 64bit…

  • http://www.21apps.com AndrewWoody

    I've been using a Microsoft Lifecam for web cam and microphone with Skype and Live Meeting regularly and find it works great on my T61p with Windows 7 64bit. I use the all the time in place of the built in microphone.

  • Sirchadwick86

    I had the same problem listed above. I tested about 20 different combinations of microphone settings in Control Panel, and settled on the following:

    Levels:
    - Microphone: 100
    - Microphone Boost: +30.0 dB (+20 and +40 were both noticeable worse)

    Enhancements:
    - Disable all sound effects: UNchecked
    - Immediate mode: UNchecked
    - DC Offset Cancellation: CHECKED
    - Noise Suppression: CHECKED
    - Acoustic Echo Cancellation: UNchecked

    Advanced:
    - Default Format: 2 channel, 16 bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality)… (I also don't have the 2 bit tape recorder quality

    Lastly, make sure that in Skype settings, “Automatically adjust microphone settings” is UNchecked.

    Hope that helps!

  • Sir Magneto

    Hey thanks! my microphone properties / advanced doesn’t have all these options but I unchecked a couple of boxes in my microphone properties / advanced menu (“give exclusive mode applications priority” and “enable audio enhancements”) and that seemed to do the trick. Maybe you just have to click a few buttons in this menu to appease the computer the same way you sometimes have to open and close a few drawers on an office printer to make it happy.

  • Sir Magneto

    In skype sound settings, tools/options/audio settings, find the pull down menu next to microphone settings, and select “microphone array” instead of line in. This worked for me on two computers, and you dont need an external microphone.