Whether you are streaming on Twitch, making videos on YouTube, or want to chat with your friends over Skype — your microphone is the tool you will be using to do all of these things. If your mic volume is too low or your audio isn’t good, it can ruin your recording session.
If your mic sounds muffled and you wonder why the volume seems lower, it could be due to various reasons. The mic may be of low quality, incompatible with your hardware or software, or have issues with its settings, all of which can cause this.
The more information you have, the easier it’ll be to pinpoint the problem and take your recording quality to the next level. Fixing this problem is easy, but first, you have to figure out what’s going on.
So, if you’re frustrated with the sound quality and volume level of your audio recordings, this article will explain how to get great-sounding audio at home.
Method #1: Adjusting Audio Levels From the Settings
Adjusting the microphone volume on your computer can be a simple fix to improve your overall sound quality. You need to increase the volume in your computer’s microphone settings to pick up your voice better.
This is how you can always increase the volume of your computer’s microphone to get the correct sound output.
- Click on the Start menu to launch Settings.
- Select “Sound” from the left pane.
- Select your microphone from the drop-down menu.
- Click on “Device Properties“.
- Increase your mic’s volume by adjusting the slider.
- Click on “Start Test” to check the performance of your microphone and adjust it according to your preferences.
The easiest and most convenient way to adjust your mic volume is by using the Settings tool. You can make any necessary changes to your microphone’s settings in seconds.
Method #2: Boosting Microphone Levels From the Control Panel
If you have a Windows device, you have access to a feature that allows you to boost the microphone level on your computer called Microphone Boost. It is a Windows setting that increases the volume to improve audio quality.
Adjusting the microphone boost on your computer can help you dramatically increase your mic sensitivity, making it easier to get a better-quality recording and stream.
Here’s how to use the Microsoft Boost feature to make your microphone louder if your volume is low and you’re worried about the other party not hearing your voice.
- Open up the Control Panel by searching for it in the taskbar.
- Click on “Sound” from all the different options available.
- Select your microphone from the drop-down menu, then click on “Device Properties“.
- Click on “Additional Device Properties” to access the additional settings.
- Right-click on your active microphone under the “Recording” tab. The system will mark it with a green tick.
- Under the “Levels” tab, you can adjust the Microphone boost according to your preference.
It may be worth testing your mic side by side if you have turned the boost up too loud, which may cause problems such as distortion and low-quality audio output.
However, not all systems have the Microphone boost option; it may depend on your drivers or hardware.
Method #3: Boosting Microphone Levels Using Third-Party Tools
Aside from the built-in Microphone boost that comes with Windows, there are several third-party software and equalizers you can use to enhance the sound of your microphone.
Equalizer APO, for example, is a tool that improves the output sound quality and makes sound improvements a breeze. This is how you can quickly and easily enhance your microphone’s sound using Equalizer APO.
- Download Equalizer APO from SourceForge and install it on your computer.
- Launch Equalizer APO after it has been installed.
- Click on the drop-down device menu and select your microphone under the capture devices list.
- Change the channel configuration to “Stereo” by clicking on the drop-down next to the device selection.
- Make changes to the “Preamplification Value“ to boost your microphone audio level.
- Increase the setting a little at a time, checking your mic as too much increase can cause distortion and lower-quality audio.
- Click on “File” and then “Save” when done.
You can use third-party tools, such as Equalizer APO to enhance your mic’s output audio quality and make it louder. You can easily adjust the audio and tweak it every step to sound just right.
Method #4: Getting a New Microphone or Headset
If you’re still reading this and have tried everything on our list and nothing has worked, unfortunately, your microphone might just be broken. Perhaps it’s time to buy a new microphone or headset.
But before you give up and declare your microphone a lost cause, try the following tips to determine whether the problem is with your microphone or not.
- Update your sound drivers using Device Manager and see if it fixes the issue.
- If you have an external mic, try connecting it to other devices to see if it has the same problem.
- Ensure that your microphone is optimum, not too close or too far from your mouth.
If you have not been able to fix your issue using these tips, you may need to replace your microphone, as a broken microphone could be the culprit here.
Conclusion
We have covered all common remedies that could help you fix low sound levels in your recording, regardless of whether it’s an issue with your software or hardware or if your microphone doesn’t like you.
These have been some of the primary reasons your PC’s mic is so low, and you can take a few steps to increase your microphone volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you adjust your microphone’s volume, you increase or decrease its audio level instead of a microphone boost, which boosts its audio output with digital gain. Generally, you should adjust only the volume first, but you can try the microphone boost if that’s not enough.
Various factors could cause the sudden quietening of your microphone. If you recently updated Windows, it might be the problem, or your microphone might be defective.
