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Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

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Latest post 11/07/2009 07:47 AM by jimco. 6 replies.
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Joined on 11/08/2007
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Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

08 Nov 2007 09:01PM
Can anyone tell me where I can adjust the volume for the built-in microphone? I've been all over the Sound Mixer, Creative Volume Panel, and SigmaTel Audio Control Panel and the only slider I could find (under the Sound Control Applet) is already set as high as it will go (0.0dB). It's far too quiet and each application that I've tried with it has it's own mic volume at 100% and it's still too quiet. I'm beginning to wonder if the mic is potentially broken.
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6 Replies:

Isle of Palms, S.C.
Joined on 02/06/2004
Posts: 6,183
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Re: Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

09 Nov 2007 01:19PM
The mic might be broken, but owners of Inspiron 1521's have the same low volume problem and their solution has been to use a different driver, specifically
Sigmatel audio driver R157031

Forum member sportscar wrote this about how to install:

"You must first completely remove the original drivers from your system [ by right clicking in the system devices screen, not by opening the audio driver and uninstalling ]. Windows will then install a "generic" driver when you reboot. After this basic generic driver is installed (which will not work either), install the R157031."

I'm not sure why the special uninstallation procedure is necessary. This driver might not work on your model, but it looks like it could do so. If you try this then you ought to create a System Restore point first, and then use it to return to your current configuration.

Jim

Jim

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Joined on 11/08/2007
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Re: Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

20 Nov 2007 01:18PM
Yes, the driver update fixed the problem. Lots of volume now!
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Re: Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

06 Nov 2009 04:29PM

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I am having the same low microphone recording problem on my Dell 6400.

It doesn't appear the driver fix mentioned in this thread would apply to my model.

I have installed the latest sigmatel driver and latest bios offered by Dell and still have the problem.

I've done some searching around in here, but have not seen a solution for the 6400 / 1501. 

My computer is running XP.  

Can anyone help please?

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Isle of Palms, S.C.
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Posts: 6,183
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Re: Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

06 Nov 2009 05:13PM

 

The only low mic problem I have ever heard of concerning the E1505 was when it first came out there was a problem where the volume would start out okay but get progressively lower as recording continued. The mic level slider would go lower. The problem was fixed in BIOS version A09 so you should not have it. Other than that there is no known mic problem so it might be a hardware problem. Have you always noticed this or did it just suddenly start to happen?

Jim

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Re: Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

07 Nov 2009 01:28AM

Thanks for the response (I meant E1505, not 1501).  I think it has always been this way.   I'm just now trying to create a usable screen capture video.

I have two computer mics.  For either of them, they need to be practically in my mouth with the mic recording volume set on high

I also have an old Griffin iMic, a USB device with a mic input that allows greater sensitivity.

With that, the mics can be a more reasonable 6 inches away and recording volume set to around 1/3 - 1/2, but it has a feedback hum I cannot eliminate.

These mics aren't the greatest, so I may buy some others to try, but that doesn't explain why the USB method allows for more gain.

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Isle of Palms, S.C.
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Re: Microphone Volume on XPS M1730

07 Nov 2009 07:47AM

 

When you plug in the mic do you see on the screen a popup box asking whether you plugged in a mic or line-in device? If not, go to Start/Control Panel/ Sigmatel and check the 'allow popups' box. Then plug in the mic again and test it.  If you don't select mic then the input jack will be in line-in mode, without the mic pre-amp running.

In the Recording tab raise the mic level all the way and turn on mic boost.

Jim

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