Windows 10: Microphone array input level is too low

Greetings,My microphone's input level is too low that I do not even hear myself properly. I can only hear myself when I speak very loudly and close to the mics of the laptop. I tried the followings and I request your assistance.I checked the input level and it is 100. Since there is no Microsoft Boost feature available in my mic, I couldn't try it.I tried an external headphone and it works as expected. The problem is in the default mic.I removed other audio drivers and re-installed Realtek driver in Device Manager.I installed the audio driver from the manufacturer's official support website.My

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Line level audio not accepted as a "microphone" input

Hi Greg -

Thank you for the quick reply!

I do understand the differences in signal levels. The references you provided explain the different levels, but do not address my question.

My problem lies in the internal connections the OS provides.

I want to use a specific program that is looking for a microphone input.

I use an external preamp to boost the microphone signal up to an instrument level, which allows me to use a switch to select between the 'mike' input and other higher level inputs before it gets routed into my audio interface to the PC.

The program I want to use doesn't see the input from my audio interface as a 'mike' input.

Any program that works with 'mike' inputs must be relying on the motherboard or soundcard to have already amplified the 'mike' signal to a level it can work with. I don't believe the programs are working with the low level microphone output signal.

I want to be clear here - I am not suggesting putting the amplified microphone signal into a "microphone" input on the PC. In fact I have turned off the internal motherboard sound system, because I use a high quality audio interface to bring audio into the PC on a USB line.

So it is a question of internal routing. How can I get a boosted 'mike' input found on a 'instrument' level input line to be accepted as speech by a program?

 

Applications have very low microphone input level?

I've got a 32-bit Windows machine that I've been using for several years now with devices on the microphone port for input. I've not used that feature for the last few months though (I mostly do that kind of work in the Winter), and now I find it's not working.

The device is definitely supplying signal at the cord end that goes into the PC microphone jack. The microphone control panel level meter is showing good input signal. If I "Listen" to loopback the microphone to the speakers in the PC, I have a good volume level signal.

However, in my applications (I've tried 4 different ones so far) the signal being input is unusably low. Like barely detectable. I tried increasing the microphone level and gain. That has no impact on what the applications are seeing (but will peg the control panel meter easily and seriously distort the loopback output).

I'm at a loss on how to continue debugging. The sound is definitely coming in to the system. It's on the input side, so I don't have application specific sliders that could have become mis-set like the output side has. Just somehow it's no longer being delivered to applications.

 

Microphone input level very low

My W10 PC is bang up to date, all updates installed. I decided to set up a mic for Zoom/Skype, but...

I followed a very long post (now locked) on the subject of low input levels for microphones in Windows 10. Most helpful was the final post which suggested changing the channel rate setting - which did improve things in my own case. However, the volume setting
for playback to approximate anywhere near 'normal' still has to be right at the top, with input and boost levels at max, when all other PC sounds (music, videos) are far too loud and distorted at the same setting.

I have tried two different microphones, both connecting via 3.5 jack to onboard Realtek audio: one new but fairly cheap (from Amazon, unnamed condenser type) which just creates a horrible noise at any setting; then an old (21 years!) condenser type, make
unknown, which does at least produce the audible result referred to above.

My question: do I have to keep buying microphones until I find one that works efficiently? In other words, is the problem with Windows or with the mic? What sort of mic should I buy? And how do I choose the sample rate and bit depth?

I would be really grateful if you knowlegeable types could give me a lead on this. All the puff from sellers/manufacturers is no help. I should say I am reasonably familiar with sound and device settings on Windows and have checked that I have the latest
drivers.

The coming 'lockdown' in UK makes this really important for me.