Recoil III - Microphone barely get anything - "Audio In" is at a very low volume

[claval]

The only other recent topic I've found is this one: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/threads/recoil-iii-microphone-not-working.65489/

Basically, the laptop integrated mic works perfectly, even too much as, with a mechanical keyboard, it becomes very annoying for whoever is listening.
I had already a pair of headphone (for smartphone) that I was using on my previous laptop but I noticed that the recoil have a in/out configuration instead of a single 3.5mm port.

I bought a splitter that seems to work but for some reason, while the audio out is very clear, the audio in (mic) has such a low volume that basically it's like if I would whisper from across the room.

I even bought another headset, thinking it was just a crappy smartphone one, the thing having issues, but even a gaming headset shows the same issue.

Now my doubt is if it's the splitter, the soundcard or windows itself. Anyone have experienced something similar?

 

[SpyderTracks]

The only other recent topic I've found is this one: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/threads/recoil-iii-microphone-not-working.65489/

Basically, the laptop integrated mic works perfectly, even too much as, with a mechanical keyboard, it becomes very annoying for whoever is listening.
I had already a pair of headphone (for smartphone) that I was using on my previous laptop but I noticed that the recoil have a in/out configuration instead of a single 3.5mm port.

I bought a splitter that seems to work but for some reason, while the audio out is very clear, the audio in (mic) has such a low volume that basically it's like if I would whisper from across the room.

I even bought another headset, thinking it was just a crappy smartphone one, the thing having issues, but even a gaming headset shows the same issue.

Now my doubt is if it's the splitter, the soundcard or windows itself. Anyone have experienced something similar?

Can you take a photo of your jacks and the splitter?

When you say a gaming headset, what make and model?

 

[claval]

This is the splitter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0177MQ7IW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The headset is this one: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8722483

I'm trying to find a moment to test the splitter on another laptop as I believe that's the best candidate for the being the culprit.

 

[claval]

Bought another splitter and it is definitely better but still everyone says that my voice comes out really much lower than others. I guess that's also a matter of the splitter itself losing quality.

 

[claval]

Sorry to bring this up again but I did further testing and the results are a little concerning to me:

The previous test were:
- Using a splitter (earphone/mic) connect a gaming headset
- Using a splitter (earphone/mic) connect a phone headset

In both cases I had my voice register really low with lots of noise.

Since then I order 2 other splitter, of different brands and repeated the tests. Unfortunately the issue persist so it's not a problem of a faulty splitter nor the headset as I also tried another couple of phone headset I had at home.

To give you an idea, I also registered myself using the onboard mic (the one integrated in the laptop) and an headset.

You can access the files here:

pcspecialist – Google Drive

drive.google.com

I'm also opening a support request at PC Specialist as this problem was present since the very beginning. Hopefully it's just a driver issue.

 

[CraigBarrett215]

Hi

I know this thread is fairly old now, but I'm wondering if you ever got this solved. I've got a new Recoil IV and I'm having the same problem - plugging in a microphone or using the on-board microphones (which I likely won't ever use for anything because they pick up a lot of exhaust noise) I get very low volume.

Thanks
Craig

 

[Tony1044]

As an aside you know you can adjust the volume* of the microphone? That is to say how loud it sounds at the other end? Look under settings - system - sound

Windows says volume but it really means a combination of the sensitivity of the pickup and the gain.

 

[CraigBarrett215]

As an aside you know you can adjust the volume* of the microphone? That is to say how loud it sounds at the other end? Look under settings - system - sound

Windows says volume but it really means a combination of the sensitivity of the pickup and the gain.

There's no option to control anything related to microphone volume in settings -> system -> sound, only master volume. There is an option in the sound control panel, but unfortunately it's not possible to move the slider higher than 100%. With microphone boost set to +20dB the microphone volume comes close to usable and at +30dB the amplication of the noise becomes really bad.

 

[SpyderTracks]

There's no option to control anything related to microphone volume in settings -> system -> sound, only master volume. There is an option in the sound control panel, but unfortunately it's not possible to move the slider higher than 100%. With microphone boost set to +20dB the microphone volume comes close to usable and at +30dB the amplication of the noise becomes really bad.

Have you got soundblaster installed? Did you order with windows or configure yourself?

 

[CraigBarrett215]

The Recoil IV has Realtek and THX. I ordered the laptop with Windows installed and configured. I downloaded and reinstalled the Realtek audio drivers from PCS just in case, but the version is the same as was already installed. I'm not using the THX audio for the microphone, but when I tested it the volume was identical, just with the THX spatial audio applied.

I've sent PCS the query about the low microphone volume and am awaiting a response. But I know they're busy at the moment and I've seen others complaining about low microphone volume for the Recoil and other chassis' over the years, so I was hoping that an answer might be found more quickly than PCS can provide, even if that answer is, "No, the microphone volumes for these machines are just low."