Thursday, May 6, 2010

Internal microphone workaround

I found a workaround for the internal microphone. The problem is that the current driver sees the microphone as a stereo device, so you have to make it mono. After the workaround it's usable but it has a lot of background noise.

1. Install pulseaudio volume control
sudo apt-get install pavucontrol
2.  Open it
Applications -> Sound & Video -> PulseAudio volume control 
3. Goto tab  'Input Devices' and select 'Hardware Input Devices' from the Show control at the bottom.

4. Unlock the stereo channels by clicking on on lock icon

5. Adjust one channel to zero and the other to 90% to 100%


Skype


1. Install Skype

2. Go to Skype's Options -> Sound Devices and uncheck 'Allow Skype to automatically adjust mixer levels'

3. Hit apply and make a test call


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9 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 8, 2010 at 7:55 AM

    Hi Olaf,
    when a stereo XY-mic has a positve phase on the left channel and a negativ phase on the right channel the signals 100% erase themselves. So when you draw back one channel to zero you get signal from one channel. So I guess the ASUS stereo mic problem is a hardware problem.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ewr2sanMay 17, 2010 at 11:26 AM

    I got it working but did not like the quality of the built in microphone. Frys had a microphone similar to:
    http://www.amazon.com/jWin-JMP10-Mini-Laptop-Microphone/dp/B001AXHVY4

    For $2.
    Worked wonderfully.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ewr2sanMay 18, 2010 at 3:44 AM

    Yep, did some more comparisons between the internal mike and the jwin mic. Hands down the little external mike is a big winner. Louder, clearer sound, truer sound reproduction in a quiet room. Even bigger difference when there is background noise. It takes up less space than a memory stick, well worth the $2.

    ReplyDelete
  4. OlafMay 18, 2010 at 2:04 PM

    Thanks for the tip. I also ordered such a mini mike now. And @anonymous: I don't think it's a hardware issue because under windows the microphone works just fine.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJune 6, 2010 at 4:25 AM

    Thanks for your help. This is all great stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Prasanna RajanJune 29, 2010 at 11:43 PM

    Thanks for the article. Fixed my microphone and webcam with skype. But both audio and video call options doesn't work with pidgin or empathy in my eee pc. Do you have any idea how to fix it?

    ReplyDelete
  7. HonzaSeptember 21, 2010 at 8:24 AM

    Do you have problems with the mic/headphones jack?

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousNovember 24, 2010 at 8:09 PM

    Thanks so much! Just unlocking and moving left channel's volume a bit did it like a charm!

    Thanks again for helping vith this very annoying bug in Lucid!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousNovember 24, 2010 at 8:11 PM

    P.S. To the point, it worked with Acer Aspire One 250D (just to siplify Google search for those who may still need this solution).

    ReplyDelete

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