I just bought a new Toshiba Satellite L500D, with Windows 7, and I'm having a problem with the microphone volume, in that recorded sound is barely audible.
I followed all the suggested steps on this forum topic: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7music/thread/06582922-0014-4dac-9f74-b63f143fbb8e ...but nothing fixed it.
It's a built-in microphone and the sound driver is Realtek. I did a driver update check and it has the latest version. I have all the microphone volume settings set to maximum, and have tried doing test recordings in both Skype and the Windows Sound Recorder.
They record, but it is extremely low volume, even when I lean closer to the mic and speak loudly. Various Skype call recipients could barely hear me. The only thing that records loudly is when I run a finger over the matte plastic of the monitor frame --
that records super loud for some reason.
I welcome any suggestions as soon as possible. I need my microphone to get work done!
I hope the Microsoft people can remedy this situation as soon as possible, because it's crucial to fix!
I had this problem for a few weeks, i recently read a forum post telling me to untick the :allow applications to take exclusive control of device:
Well, I found that setting and changed a couple of others, and I think it's fixed it
I went via Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage Audio Devices to get to the Sound panel.
I then selected Playback > Speakers > Enhancements and made sure everything was un-checked.
I then selected Playback > Speakers > Advanced and un-checked 'Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device'
I went to Recording > Microphone > Listen and ensured 'Listen to this device' was unchecked.
I went to Levels and ensured the Microphone level was at 100% and the Boost was at +10db
I went into Enhancements and ensured everything was un-checked.
I then into Advanced and un-checked 'Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device'
And finally I went into the Communications tab of the Sound panel, and changed 'When windows detects communications activity' to 'Do nothing'
Well, I found that setting and changed a couple of others, and I think it's fixed it
I went via Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Manage Audio Devices to get to the Sound panel.
I then selected Playback > Speakers > Enhancements and made sure everything was un-checked.
I then selected Playback > Speakers > Advanced and un-checked 'Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device'
I went to Recording > Microphone > Listen and ensured 'Listen to this device' was unchecked.
I went to Levels and ensured the Microphone level was at 100% and the Boost was at +10db
I went into Enhancements and ensured everything was un-checked.
I then into Advanced and un-checked 'Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device'
And finally I went into the Communications tab of the Sound panel, and changed 'When windows detects communications activity' to 'Do nothing'