low volume and hum using mic

[kozikowski]

How to run Windows Sound Recorder.
It has a sound meter. If you didn't get a bouncing color during your recording, then your show would have been silent.

Also:
http://www.pottersschool.org/kb?id=400124

Koz

[Xerlome]

I didn't get reading on Windows recorder, or the mic option listed in Audacity, until I set it as default. Same problems, low volume voice, and hum. Under sound, still says. "This device is working properly." Both Audacity and Windows recorder work fine for recording internet streams.

[kozikowski]

So the Microphone, MicPre cable, Audacity and Windows Sound Recorder all work fine until you try to use your computer's USB connections.
Koz

[Xerlome]

I still don't know whether there is some error in my settings. The mic is the only thing I've ever had a problem with using USB. Speakers seem fine, no hum except with the mic.

How can I check the mic driver?

[kozikowski]

Who made the speakers and what's the model number? That could give me an additional clue.
Koz

[kozikowski]

To specifically answer you, I don't know that you do. If you didn't install any custom software when you first used the MicPre cable, then you're using plain, ordinary Windows software.

The answer to the post just before this one may tell me a lot about what's going on. Microphone systems that get their power from the USB connection are very sensitive to any deviation in USB services. They're the ones with that background mosquito buzz and occasional distortion problems. Higher power systems like speaker, headphone and stereo line devices much less so.

I wish there was a simple device I could recommend that you plug in and it tells you all about the health of the USB connection. This has come up several times.

Koz

[kozikowski]

There's still the remotest possibility you have the connection turned down in Windows Control Panels, but that does not account for the background noise level going up and down when you touch the microphone body.
Koz

[kozikowski]

OK, here's another "out there" idea. Can you make it worse? You should be able to adjust the sound in Windows Control Panels and make your voice worse when you yell into the microphone.
Koz

[Xerlome]

The speakers are Logitech S-120
P/N: 880-000065
M/N:S - 00026
120V ~ 60Hz
100 mA

How would I make it worse? Because I got such low volume, I already set highest volume in Control Panel-Sound. Is this what you mean?

I'm still wondering about the driver. I plugged in the cable before attaching the mic. The computer started looking for the driver before I attached the mic. Does this mean anything?

[kozikowski]

The speakers are Logitech S-120
P/N: 880-000065
M/N:S - 00026
120V ~ 60Hz
100 mA

Those last two numbers mean there is a little power supply that plugs into the wall, right? That means the speakers are getting the power to run from the wall, not from the USB connection. Your microphone cord is getting its power from the USB connection. They're different.

How would I make it worse? Because I got such low volume, I already set highest volume in Control Panel-Sound. Is this what you mean?

Yes. I want you to make it worse to see if you can. Windows Control Panels have the ability to control the volume of a USB sound connection (unlike Macs). You're going to establish the difference between "It doesn't go up far enough," and "The control doesn't actually do a thing."

The computer started looking for the driver before I attached the mic

What did the instructions say? Did you get software with the cable or a way to download it? Do they suggest there is a new special control panel that allows you to control the microphone volume?

When I looked up that part number, I got the cable with the volume control in that little control pod.
This is still a little magic because the people in the computer store that checked the cable we assume didn't have special drivers or software. They plugged it all in and it started working — or it made much higher volume sound than you're getting. Did they have the same Windows you have?

??

Koz