Mic Problems I've tried Pavucontrol!

**Alex Eagle** · October 4th, 2014

So, I was looking for a solution to a mic that has distortion or nothing. Mine barely picks up anything. I've already tried the alsamixer and pavucontrol solutions. Please help.

Thanks guys.

**Alex Eagle** · October 4th, 2014

UPDATE:

Just watched my video. I unplug my webcam mic to show what happens in pavu when I do that, and the sound came back when I plugged it back in?! Still need help though because it's temperamental.

Thanks

**tgalati4** · October 4th, 2014

What is the computer that you are using? What is the microphone that you are using? Some microphone ports put out 5 volts DC and require a microphone that takes 5 volts to get decent gain out of it. Other microphone ports are really Line-in ports. They don't have strong enough preamps to raise the signal level to something usable.

Open a terminal:

Code:

alsamixer

Look for a capture switch called "microphone boost".

**Alex Eagle** · October 4th, 2014

I've tried alsamixer too. There's two screenshots of alsa in the settings I've got it in ATM.

I have a Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo Mobile V5535. I don't know the specs of my mic jack. I'm using a Panther GT webcam and my internal mic. They both work, but my headphone mic doesn't. I'm using a basic trust headset.

Alsamixer Page1.png Alsamixer Page2.png

Thanks

**tgalati4** · October 4th, 2014

How is the headset plugged in? USB or microphone 1/8" jack? Does your webcam have a microphone? Internal laptop mics are crappy. They might as well include a can and some string.

What is the output of:

Code:

aplay -l

The specification page reveals the following:

Designed for the value conscious mobile professional, ESPRIMO™ Mobile is the perfect synthesis of form, function and style.

RealTek ALC268
HD Audio-in: Line-in, Microphone

The RealTek ALC268 chip is OK. Do you have two input ports, a Line-in and Microphone-in?

Value conscious means made of cat food. Perfect synthesis of form, function, and style means the laptop is a compromise of all three and does none of them well.

My Acer laptop has an ALC268 with both an "Internal Mic Boost" and a "Mic Boost". It's possible that the webcam or the internal microphone is blocking the headset microphone.

**Alex Eagle** · October 5th, 2014

Mic jack at the front. It's a regular 3.5mm. Webcam has a mic, but everything about my cam is cheap and crappy, just like the internal. I've always had bad experiences with internal mics. I'm a bit of a PC buff and people ask me to fix stuff sometimes. Some of the problems are with mics. And half of the time I walk out their front door and say, "Stick your short arm in your long pocket and shell out for a good mic".

Code:

 aplay -l

returns:

Code:

 **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: SIS966 [HDA SIS966], device 0: ALC268 Analog [ALC268 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

I have two jacks, and by the sound of it, it's a line in and mic in, although don't quote me because I'm somewhat a novice on the audio front. I would have thought it's whatever you said.