Windows 10 Low, silent, muted recording input, level, volume on USB microphone in Windows 10

[The-Dave]

I have had a Microsoft Surface Pro (v4) for several years, and I just reset it to factory settings and upgraded all the software to find out my the recording level on my Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 was so low as to be inaudible in recordings.


After lots of distractions and gaslighting from Microsoft, it is 100% a Windows BUG.


I purchased a Microsoft Surface because I knew that running Microsoft hardware with a Microsoft OS should be reliable. Unfortunately, it didn't help in this case. And by tugging on the threads exposed by other people with the same problem, it's DEFINITELY NOT a hardware problem.


MY FIX

1. Right click on the speaker icon and select "Sounds"
2. In the "Sound" dialog, click on the "Recording" tab
3. Select the microphone with the problem, in my case
   Microphone, HD Pro Webcam C920 (Default device)
4. Click the properties button in the lower right corner
5. In the "Microphone properties" dialog, select the "Advanced tab"
6. In the "Default format" dropdown box select a different default format, in my case:
   2 channel, 16 bit, 32000 Hz (FM Radio Quality)
7. Launch "Voice recorder" and Voila! It records even the noise of the small fan in my office

After fixing it I actually had to go to "Sound settings" and reduce the gain on the microphone.


VERIFYING THE FIX

• Switching back to "2 channel, 16 bit, 16000 Hz (Tape Recorder Quality)" reverts to the low-level
• With the setting at "2 channel, 16 bit, 32000 Hz (FM Radio Quality)"
  • Switching between "Audio Endpoint" and "Generic software device" drivers made no difference
  • Toggling the various "Exclusive mode" toggles had no effect
  • Plugging into my KVM had no effect
  • Plugging into my monitor plugged into my KVM had no effect

HARDWARE - Based on other threads with similar problems and completely different hardware, hardware has nothing to do with it
Microsoft Surface Pro v4 (i7/16Gb/256Gb)
Windows Pro 10 Build 19640.mn_release.200530.1731 (blank install with all updates applied)
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920


I found the solution (kind of) in the last post in this thread from UTF16:

Low USB microphone recording volume (AT2020) - Windows 10
(but I definitely shared the OPs pain, and plagiarized their post here)


TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS THAT DIDN'T WORK

• Reinstall/update the driver
  1. Open Device Manager

2. Select the audio device in question (Search would be handy)

a. Either:

i. "Sound, video and game controllers" -> HD Pro Webcam C920

b. Or

i. "Audio endpoints and outputs" - > Microphone (HD Pro Webcam C920)

3. Right-click on the device and select "Update driver"

4. In the "Update drivers - HD Pro Webcam C920" dialog

a. Select "--> Browse my computer for drivers"

b. Then select "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer"

c. In the "Show compatible hardware list" select "Generic software device"

d. Reboot


• Contact the manufacturer

Installing the Logitech "Capture" application did not allow any device specific changes​

Because it's using the Microsoft Windows default USB drivers!​

• Boost the volume.

You can't turn up the gain in sound settings higher that 100%​

With the correct encoding, a sound level of 80% is more than enough.​

• Run the recording audio troubleshooter.

All this does is say there's no problem, and offer to contact support​

During which you'll select your application and get forwarded to tech support where you'll be asked to type in the type of problem you're having​

Then when tech support replies (if ever) they'll ask you to describe the problem​

Then if you talk to a human being, they'll ask you to describe the problem​

• Install Windows updates.

Granted this was on a Microsoft Surface that I had just reset to the factory image, and then applied all updates.​

And windows update said it was up-to-date within hours.​

I still tried this at the pleasure of Microsoft Support.​

And I switched drivers and reboot at their request​

And then they disappeared.​

• Contact Microsoft support.

I tried online, email and telephone, and got very friendly people, who were very concerned about whether they could help, but clearly they can't.​

Rather than having the skills, the means or the motivation to actually troubleshoot a problem, they instead just have you try useless steps until:​

1. They find a fix on accident
2. The customer gives up and stops trying (most likely)
3. The eventual heat death of the universe, just prior to which they'll chalk it up as a success

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