🚀 go-pugleaf

"Peter H.M. Brooks" <peter@new.co.za> writes:

> I am trying to use my PC-phone connection and I
> find that the recording levels is far too low. I have
> tried the options on the standard recording levels,
> but even loud talking comes over as a whisper.

You have either the recording volume settings or some
software related volume setting (if such exist)
set too low. Or you have a microphone which
is not compatible with your soundcard.
 
> I think that the headset, being new, is fine.

It might be new and working, but it is possible that it
is not compatible with the sound card you are using. 
Practically all the PC soundcards have 3.5 mm microphone
plug, but some soundcard are much more picky which m
microphones work with them correctly. Some information
on this microphone interconnection jungle can be found at
http://www.hut.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/microphone_powering.html#soundcard

> Is there a driver that could boost the sound recording
> levels?

Usually the driver does not help this.
If all the microphone input hardware gain is used, then
no software can help this... Some soundcard have
an AGC (automatic gain control) option available on their
arecording settings for microphone and usually turning 
this on gives some extra gain for low level signals
(more volume for very low level sounds).

-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/

Hello Peter:
    Look for the sound icon in your system tray in the lower right-hand
corner of your screen. It may look like a tiny speaker or volume control.
Double-click on the icon.
    In the dialog that comes up, look for the microphone control. If it is
not visible, look for something like a Show or View menu at the top of the
dialog and click on it. The dialog varies according to your sound card and
software so what you see may not be the same as what I get. In the Show or
View menu, make sure microphone is selected.
    Once you've found the microphone control, look for something like a
boost control. Click the button, check the checkbox or whatever you have to
do to select the boost control.
    Doing this should add some volume (I believe its about 20 dB) to your
microphone.

hope this helps,
                        bruce
--
PC Problems?
Contact the PC Guy.

Bruce D. Von Deylen
South Bend, IN  USA

e-mail: brucevd<at>compuserve.com
Website: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/brucevd/pcguy1.htm

"Peter H.M. Brooks" <peter@new.co.za> wrote in message
news:8p5sgo$mmf$1@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...
> I am trying to use my PC-phone connection and I
> find that the recording levels is far too low. I have
> tried the options on the standard recording levels,
> but even loud talking comes over as a whisper.
>
> I think that the headset, being new, is fine.
>
> Is there a driver that could boost the sound recording
> levels?
>
> --
> I knew that she would be beautiful in her
> sleep, waiting for me.
> Richard Brautigan - In Watermelon Sugar
>
>

On Wed, 6 Sep 2000 18:46:29 +0200, "Peter H.M. Brooks"
<peter@new.co.za> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>I am trying to use my PC-phone connection and I
>find that the recording levels is far too low. I have
>tried the options on the standard recording levels,
>but even loud talking comes over as a whisper.
>
>I think that the headset, being new, is fine.
>
>Is there a driver that could boost the sound recording
>levels?

Assuming you have set up the software correctly, you may be having a
problem with microphone type. If your modem expects an
electret/condenser microphone, then you will need to verify that the
biasing is correct. Some microphones require a bias voltage on the tip
terminal, others on the ring terminal.

 tip ring
   L   R   Ground
   |   |   |
   |   |   |    ______
   __  _________|  |
  /  \| |       |  |    stereo mike plug
  \__/|_|_______|  |
                |__|__
   |   |                    resistor
   |   |------------------+--/\/\/----| +5V bias
   |                      |
   +-----------------O O--|
   |                 shorting jumper (available on some cards)
   |
   |------------> signal input to modem or sound card


-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'e' from my address when replying by email.

Hi,

I have been having this problem, too. I have tried every type of microphone,
including a lapel right up near my mouth, and when I play it back it sounds
like I was 100 feet away.

Funny: while I was typing that last sentence, someone pinged me for a
conversation (NetMeeting) and they said my voice was coming in fine. What
might be causing what I'm hearing?

Thanks,
Pete
"Franc Zabkar" <franczabkar@ozeemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:39b978db.5450213@news.ozemail.com.au...
> On Wed, 6 Sep 2000 18:46:29 +0200, "Peter H.M. Brooks"
> <peter@new.co.za> put finger to keyboard and composed:
>
> >I am trying to use my PC-phone connection and I
> >find that the recording levels is far too low. I have
> >tried the options on the standard recording levels,
> >but even loud talking comes over as a whisper.
> >
> >I think that the headset, being new, is fine.
> >
> >Is there a driver that could boost the sound recording
> >levels?
>
> Assuming you have set up the software correctly, you may be having a
> problem with microphone type. If your modem expects an
> electret/condenser microphone, then you will need to verify that the
> biasing is correct. Some microphones require a bias voltage on the tip
> terminal, others on the ring terminal.
>
>  tip ring
>    L   R   Ground
>    |   |   |
>    |   |   |    ______
>    __  _________|  |
>   /  \| |       |  |    stereo mike plug
>   \__/|_|_______|  |
>                 |__|__
>    |   |                    resistor
>    |   |------------------+--/\/\/----| +5V bias
>    |                      |
>    +-----------------O O--|
>    |                 shorting jumper (available on some cards)
>    |
>    |------------> signal input to modem or sound card
>
>
> -- Franc Zabkar
>
> Please remove one 'e' from my address when replying by email.