Headphones / Headsets / Microphones

[don9016]

There is no option for microphone boost under the Levels tab in properties. My voice is a bit quiet when played back compared to my old headset. I don't want to move the mic closer and don't want to shout, so is there any way to enable microphone boost?

[Shabble]

It's a manufacturing fault - return it, otherwise the below works:  

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Re: Logitech USB Desktop Microphone and low gain windows 7[ New ]

05-09-2012 08:36 PM

Having exact same problem here, and have a solution.  I recently ordered 2 of these while in the process of a new computer build.  Once connected to my new computer, I tried a slew of various settings and could only get it moderately operational when using Ventrillo or Skype due to their software preamps.  I normally don't tear into things under warrenty, however I figured there was a simple solution inside, and there was.  Whoever is assembling these, is soldering the microphone elements in reverse.  These mics have a preamplified mic element that needs a small voltage (of correct polarity) to actually preamplify.  With it reversed, the element has no initial preamplification.  I took out my trusty soldering iron and reversed the connections, and it came to life.  I removed my 2nd microphone from the box and connected it to my computer .... same thing.  So 2 mics in a row with the same problem.

Note:  When viewing the circuit board from the component side with the switch at the bottom, the mic connection labeled "M1" will be on the left side.  The M1 left solder pad should be the center conductor of the mic, and the right pad will be the shield.  Hope this helps.  GL."

[Shabble]

Having exact same problem here, and have a solution.  I recently ordered 2 of these while in the process of a new computer build.  Once connected to my new computer, I tried a slew of various settings and could only get it moderately operational when using Ventrillo or Skype due to their software preamps.  I normally don't tear into things under warrenty, however I figured there was a simple solution inside, and there was.  Whoever is assembling these, is soldering the microphone elements in reverse.  These mics have a preamplified mic element that needs a small voltage (of correct polarity) to actually preamplify.  With it reversed, the element has no initial preamplification.  I took out my trusty soldering iron and reversed the connections, and it came to life.  I removed my 2nd microphone from the box and connected it to my computer .... same thing.  So 2 mics in a row with the same problem.

Note:  When viewing the circuit board from the component side with the switch at the bottom, the mic connection labeled "M1" will be on the left side.  The M1 left solder pad should be the center conductor of the mic, and the right pad will be the shield.  Hope this helps.  GL."

[don9016]

ghetto fix for this! may or may not work for everyone, but it worked for my Realtek ACL892, which is virtually identical to chips that 90% of PCs use for audio.

Requires:

- 2 free jacks on your soundcard. If your soundcard doesn't support remapping (Realtek, with drivers, supports it), you need a line out not shared with your current audio (i.e., if you're on 5.1, you can't use the 4th jack intended to support 7.1) and a line in port. The front panel and motherboard ports are typically separate, so that may be a viable route.

- A 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (male to male). You could also use the SPDIF port if you have a RCA->3.5mm or the optical SPDIF if you have a TOSLINK->3.5mm cable. I found two 3.5mm m2m cables in my drawer of crap, so they're apparently not super uncommon. Monoprice has 'em for $0.85.

What we're doing is redirecting the microphone's output to the linein port, which ends up bringing the volume to a normal level. Whatever app you're using can then have its audio input set to the linein port; 99% of VOIP and recording software allows this, although I don't recommend this for doing anything that requires great quality.

1) Plug your 3.5mm cable in to an output port and an input port.

2) Right click the speaker icon in your system tray and select playback devices. You should see a new, active playback device. In my case, it was called Speakers. Click properties. Click the Levels tab, and move the slider to 100%. Close the window.

3) Click the recording tab and find the new device listed here. In my case, it was called Line In. Follow the same procedure to set the volume to 100%.

4) Go back to the recording tab and highlight your Logitech microphone (usually called USB Audio Device). Click properties. Click on the Listen tab. Check "listen to this device." In the playback dropdown, select the device you modified in step 2. Before clicking ok to close out the window, verify the level is set to 100% in the Levels tab.

5) Load up Audacity or another recording-capable program to verify that your recording volume is now much higher. You'll need to select the device from step 3 as the input source.

Let me know if this works for you, if you find the Logitech mic to be too quiet. I run without Realtek drivers installed (no need when I only use 1 part of headphones off my front panel), but I have another PC that uses the same Realtek chip and I will soon try this same "mod" on that PC to see exactly what steps are needed.

[JustJoshin]

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Shabble wrote:

Note:  When viewing the circuit board from the component side with the switch at the bottom, the mic connection labeled "M1" will be on the left side.  The M1 left solder pad should be the center conductor of the mic, and the right pad will be the shield.  Hope this helps.  GL."

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Pretty dissapointed in Logitech that such an obvious mistake like this was not found and fixed as part of quality control.

Never the less, I signed up an account just to come back here and thank Shabble for the soldering solution. This indeed fixed my microphone and brought the levels up. Thank you for finding the source of this problem and sharing the information Shabble.

Hopefully other people will find this thread like I did.

[JustJoshin]

Note:  When viewing the circuit board from the component side with the switch at the bottom, the mic connection labeled "M1" will be on the left side.  The M1 left solder pad should be the center conductor of the mic, and the right pad will be the shield.  Hope this helps.  GL."

[Lachy]

sorry for reviving the thread, but just to confirm. with the connections on the M1 area. The core SHOULD be on the left side and the shield on the right, or the other way round?

Thanks

[Disprein]

Yes, the core should be on the left side, and the shield on the right.

You can check this yourself: the shield should be connected to the 'GROUND' (it's a common rule), and the 'ground' track covers almost all the circuit's area. The core ('signal' wire) should be soldered into a narrow track.

Many thanks to Shabble for discovering the solution and for sharing it.

I purchased microphone and it was very quiet. I took off it's bottom lid and saw that the mic had been connected in reverse. As I had no soldering iron at home, I returned my microphone to the vendor and got a replacement, and for that time the connection was ok: core to the left. The levels were acceptable then.

I cannot believe that Logitech makes such mistakes. I had a high opinion about quality of their products.

[joshua88]

Hi, are there any pictures for the right connection as I have problem trying to visualise

[feebee]

I am having the same problem with quiet level that doesn't change after following adjustments in the control panel. 

I am good at practical stuff but not electronically savvy so would like to know if the mic is faulty but I am having problem following the suggestion here - after unscrewing the bottom casing and holding the component with the switch at the bottom, I can see a single black wire running from the microphone 'stalk' into the connection 'M1' on the left, then there is a bunch of coloured wires (red, green, white, black x2) running from the electricity supply into the connection 'CN1' on the right. But I don't know if this is correct or not (I'm assuming not as the mic is quiet) and I don't know what is meant by 'core' and 'shield' (is that the half-moon opaque plastic thing around the wire?) and what the correct connection is supposed to be. Could someone clarify this for those of us still in the dark? Sorry for the ignorance...

Help would be most appreciated and Logitech really need to get this sorted.

[dfirman]

Just had a look at mine and it appears to be soldered correctly.

The single black wire coming from the stalk will split into 2 wires, one green one black. 

The green should be soldered to the left pad and the black wire soldered to the right pad.

If you peel the glue back slightly you should be able to see.