Mic problems.

Hey everyone - tried out the hangout system on google+ today and realised my mic wasn't working. I tried it on other things to test if it was just google+ or not but It's not working for anything else either. It was working perfectly fine not so long ago

I've tried everything - the volume slider is up, the boost is up, I've reinstalled the realtek drivers and now I've run out of options. The mic still picks up some stuff - if I tap it for example, the little indicator would shoot up, and sometimes I can hear my voice but very very quietly so I guess it still works, there is just a problem with it which I can't seem to figure out. Interference maybe, or a recent windows update may have messed it up..

Any help?

Cheers

 

I just noticed that my mic is doing the same exact thing. It captures some audio but at ridiculously low volume just like your's does. I've never used my mic until trying it out today, so idk if was dead on arrival or broke later on. Hopefully, I'm just not pressing some setting (like the white balance thing for the webcam).

I have the Creative Sound software if that makes any difference.

 

Mine use with Skype and Yahoo is fine, the sound is crisp and clear, I also test it calling from my Old Desktop to this Laptop the sound is good. Not sure for other but Skype and Yahoo run fine.

You might want to run the Yahoo or Skype call assistant to see if it work.

 

Are you guys talking about the built in mic for the webcam or using the mic in port?

 

The built in mic - still no luck fixing it.

 

Try with Yahoo/Skype Call Assistant, if it still not working, then if you M14x is still under warranty, then call Dell!

 

OOoh I haven't had this problem. The problem I have with my mic is that i keep sounding 'boxy'. Like my mic isnt clear. I'm going to see if there's any drivers on the dell site and clean it to see if it helps. =/ I get this on almost everything.

 

my mic is working... but its boxy and quietly, before it was fine...
i have done a fresh windows install.. does anyone with the original windows have this problem??

 

Same here anyone please help People are taking the out of me for paying a lot of money for a laptop with a poor mic wahhhhhhh

 

I got the original one, and it work just fine, My best bet is you can call Dell for help and ask them for a replacement.

 

My mic is working fine is skype, but when i use the hangout feature in google + a message shows up saying that my mic isn't working, however the people on the other end can still hear me even when the message pops up....so I am thinking maybe its a problem with google +

 

My mic has the same problem but it doesnt work in any program I am going to contact dell today

 

the google+ problem happens on a lot of laptops. same issue occurs on my sager.

 

My mike was working fine, until yesterday. Now the built-in mike sounds very muffled and is impossible to use. Plugging in a mike works ok.

I have tried everything, reinstalling, settings, to no avail.

Any suggestions will be appreciated

 

Did anyone experience something similar so far, or are there any results on that?

I've got a very similar problem.
Since this week my microphone is not really working properly anymore.
"It" can only hear whistling or knocking on the table, every kind of voice gets totally filtered out or is very very low volume (and dump).
First thought that just some amplifier options were reset but no, all settings are as they should be.
Also tried to reinstall the Audio Codec from the dell website as well as the generic one from the Realtek site.

I really think the mic is broken... even before when it still worked sound recorded with it sounded kind of tinny.

 

My mic isn't working with any application, so I called Alienware Tech Support. I'm a CS major and I know enough about computers to figure out my mic isn't working. After some remote desktop action, 45 minutes one the phone, and random tests, Alienware came the genius conclusion that my mic isn't functioning (lol).

They said they would NBD a new screen (apparently the screen and mic are actually one piece) to a nearby tech and the tech would contact me in two days. Four days later I call, and I learn that there was a delay and the tech should contact me the next day. Next day, a tech calls me and tells me that he's on Long Island is asking for my address. I live in Florida... So, long story short, I called Dell again, and they apologized for the mixup and then tell me that the 900P screen is on back order until mid September.

This is my first Dell computer and now I realize why people hate Dell support...

 

I have this EXACT same problem. My voice isn't picked up, but if I tap the laptop the bar shoots up. It's worked before I'm unsure what is causing it to stop working. Not working on skype or msn etc.
Help please? I can't contact Dell support at the moment - I think its a software issue.

 

Weird. Mine does the same thing where if you tap or flick the laptop the mic activity bar goes up to max. If I record with mic boost max and then playback at max volume, I hear some light, undecipherable noise. Maybe it's a semi-common problem?

 

Just went through a series of calls with the Alienware Support.
After going through some tests and also having a support guy directly connected to my system they came to the conclusion that it is most likely a hardware problem.

I'm not surprised though after seeing how many people in this thread have the exact same kind of error (Only knocking get's recognized and a very dump and almost silent voice if you push all recording and mic amp on max, and turn up your speaker volumes afterwards to listen to it).

Only downside for me is, that they have to exchange the whole LCD pannel for it and apparently reds in Germany are out of stock atm ^^

P.S.: For some people the problem might be related to having installed the NVIDIA HD Audio Driver which comes together with the graphics card driver. To solve this, you have to go to safe mode, uninstall them and reinstall the Realtek drivers (Didn't work for me, but I thought it might be helpful for others).

 

Yep, it's exactly the same problem for me. After creating this thread I emailed Dell and they emailed me back giving me all these instructions for tests and it's just like argghh.. It really does seem like a software problem because more and more people are getting it, mine seemed to kick in after updating my Nvidia drivers... but if they're saying it's a hardware problem, then that's even more irritating. Having a tech come around and replace the whole screen sounds like it's going to cause potentially more problems because half of them are useless.

It makes me feel like I just shouldn't bother.. but I want my mic to work

 

Agree.. it kind of seems like a "minor" thing not to work but the simple thing as beeing able to be mobile and always able to skype without any additional hardware is a very important feature to me in every laptop.

On top of that for the price one is paying to get one of those machines, I think one can expect that everything is working.

I also agree though that the fact that several people have the same issue, might indicate that there's a general problem with the mics delivered in the M14Xs and therefore the problem could easily come back even after swapping the whole thing (Unless they totally change the hardware).

 

does the two holes means it haz stereo audio?

 

Woah! I was told my 900P screen was out of stock till mid September. But I got a call this morning from a local technician who said he was coming today! I was going to go to a friend's house, but I canceled to get this repair xD.

Apparently, the screen itself is also the lid, the mic, and the webcam. My lid was a bit dirty, so I'm glad that I got a fresh, new top. The tech also gave me a new palmrest, because you have to remove the palm rest to get to the screen. The palmrest has the touchpad built onto it, so I got a new touchpad too haha.

One of my keys on my alienware laptop popped out and I didn't know how to fix it, so I asked the tech if he could pop it in. He told me it was broken and he didn't have replacement keys, but he had a whole new keyboard which he brought and put in for me!

This is so awesome! I'm almost glad my mic is broken - all the little cosmetic blemishes of my laptop are fixed with the new parts and the new touchpad and keyboard feel great! It's almost as if my computer is new again!

Btw, the tech was really nice and skilled. I've never seen anyone capable of removing screws as fast as him before. He was explaining exactly what he was doing as he was doing the teardown of the system to get to the parts. I learned a lot about how the M14X is built and all the connecting wires. I built my own Desktop easily, but man, I don't think I could even try to replace the screen on the M14X.

So the point of my long story? Calling Dell can be a bit annoying and time consuming, but Alienware's warranty is top class and I have never received this kind of service before.

 

You've just been lucky because you got a very good technician, but trust me, a lot of people don't share your same luck and they get a total idiot that just screws the computer up even more.

 

well add me to the list... i dont really use my mic to much... but it seems after updating windows 7 to sp1 it is messed... and when i set the DB all the way up it just humms at me.....

Did the repair fix the mic?

Should im call dell?

 

Me too. Had mine for 2 weeks. Installed skype and worked fine. Later that day...same exact problems. Any fix yet or are we all calling Dell?

 

yep its the mic i booted off my external... with the fresh install that came with the 500gb hdd.... same issue

time to call dell and hope the dont F up my screen

 

Yesterday I was talking on Skype, and after a while the person I was talking to could barely hear me.

I went in the Reatltek audio control panel, I've activated it (don't remember how is it called, AudioMaxx o WaveMAxx) and I've selected "Voice".

I've also activated the microphone enanchement.

No matter what settings I was using, basically I could see the microphone volume was automatically and slowly decreasing after a couple of seconds after I turn it all the way up.

What the hell???

Does it happen to you too?

 

Yes, this has happened to me and many others too. See this thread:
M14X Microphone suddenly faded - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community

I am outside the USA, warranty status unclear, and definitely without on-site service, so I hope a software fix happens soon. Meanwhile I carry a microphone with me - major nuisance!

 

Maybe I found the solution, it should be Skype's fault.

I still haven't tested it properly with a call, but when I was trying to talk to check the mic, I could no longer see the volume going down by itself.

Give this a try:

SKYPE>Tools>Options>Sound Devices

Uncheck "let skype adjust my sound device settings" and then save.

 

I really don't think that having dell come out and replace the screen will resolve this issue. It's clearly an software issue. I updated windows 7 and this error occur right after the reboot. So I called dell and went through all the steps with them and it got no where. I actually had to re-install my OS and magically the mic worked again. I update windows 7 and magically it stop working. That's all the prove that I need to clearly stat that it's not the laptop. It's a software issue with that's caused by one of the windows 7 updates.

Also, none of you guys that said your got the screen replaced gave us feedback on how it went after that? Feedback would be very appreciated guys/gals.

 

Well I am set to get my onsite soon.... Awaiting a Call I will let you guys know if it fixes (im sure it will as Killer Juice hasnt said anything since)

 

I tried fiddling with the Skype automatic adjustment microphone settings - it didn't help.

It is not just skype, I use other audio apps and they all see the microphone with very very low volume (barely registers if you talk 1" away from mic)

It must be some interaction between the windows audio system and the realtek drivers.

 

Maybe it's time to call Dell.....

 

I'm having the same problem, my m14x is less than a month old and I've used skype a few times without issue. I first noticed yesterday though, now my voice comes out very faded and people on the other end can't really hear me. They can clearly hear if I tap on the area next to my mic, but my voice is too quiet to comprehend.
I have installed some updates recently, though I'm not sure if they were windows defender or windows security or windows 7 or whatever.
This isn't cool, I paid a lot of money for this new laptop and this is a big problem for me. I'm starting college tomorrow and I expect to use my mic a lot.

 

All,

I am gathering the data and sending it up to engineering. For my notes, send me your service tag numbers via a private message.

 

By the way, there is a webcam firmware update on our site. Don't run it! My question is this, did your issues start after running the update? Or, your having the issues but never ran the update?

 

I ran the update about a month ago, when it came out, so it could've well been the cause for me.

 

Hard to pin down the timing precisely for certain, but I think it was after running the webcam firmware update. I definitely did install it.

 

Is the webcam update something that may have popped up automatically? If so then I probably installed it. Not sure exactly though, it would have been between August and August 22 (from when I got my laptop to around when I started having problems).

 

My mic works fine. I actually get people saying I am too loud on ventrilo 8P.

 

All,

Open your Device Manager. Then, compare it to this picture. Is yours the same or different?

 

Mine looks more like this: http://www.apdynamics.de/devm.jpg

 

Mine looks exactly the same, but it's in Italian.

 

Just realized that my previous picture was showing the wrong info... this is more like it (It's still different to yours though): http://www.apdynamics.de/devm2.jpg

 

having the issue... here is my linked def different then the one you posted! should i install that firmware update?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/deadriot0/micscreenshot.jpg

 

Mine is quite different from your example:

First of all, it is title "Integrated Webcam", and not Sonix.

Id's are:USB\VID_064E&PID_8118&REV_1627&MI_00
and USB\VID_064E&PID_8118&MI_00

 

I have this exact same problem! Any update on this before I call Dell CS? I don't want to have to replace my entire screen .

Edit: My Device manager Hardware ID is
'Integrated Webcam'
USB\VID_064E&PID_811&REV_1208&MI_00
USB\VID_064E&PID_8118&MI_00

 

same i dont have time to be at home for dell to replace my screen.... as well i dont really trust the reps,

Where is this firmware fix?

 

Sorry, I didn't subscribe to this thread, so I didn't see what you guys were saying. I guess I should have been clearer in my original message.

My mic works fine now in the applications I use such as Steam chat, Windows Sound Recorder, and Audacity. I don't use Skype, but I assume it would work there as well. Replacing the screen did fix my mic problems (and gave me a nice new exterior to my laptop).

EDIT:
I know it may be a hassle to get a technician to come around and get Dell to understand what the problem is. I had to call several times and was put on Dell's Remote Desktop service for like an hour to diagnose the problem I knew already existed >.>. But in the end, you get a fresh new screen/lid with mic and webcam, and a new palmrest/touchpad. IMO, I'm glad all those parts were replaced. I guess it does open up the possibilities to causing more damage if you get an unskilled technician though. I guess like someone said, I was lucky and got an amazing technician. (The guy's hands moved ridiculously fast unscrewing the laptop and he really knew what he was talking about).