My mic volume is very low. When I call 'echo123' (or record with KRecord) it is hard to hear me. You can hear that I say something, but you can't hear what I say if you don't boost up the volume of your speakers because the mic volume is so low.

I have the mic volume at 100% and the 'Mic Boost (+20dB)' in AlsaMixer (or in KMix) is enabled. My sound card is a VIA VT86C686A and uses the 82C686 driver.

What can I do to raise the mic volume?
Is there any way to amplify the mic signal more than these 20dB?

sometimes it is just the microphone plug which is not pushed into the soccet all the way.
try fiddeling around with it a bit whilst doing a recording. than check if sometime during the recording the volume did go up. If it did then make sure to get the socket in the correct position once, and just leave it without toughing it any more

I have tested to record with the microphone plug in some different positions now, but unfortunately it doesn't get any better.

in terminal try

or

instead of skype. more convenient to test for input

then check on/off every switch in your mixer (esp the strange ones). if sound vanishes by setting a switch, check whether it can be leveled by some volume setting then (every news is good news)

j

As I said I testet recording with KRecord, which is very handy because there is a gauge that shows the current mic level. That means I don't have to make recordings to see if a setting make a change, I just take a look at the gauge.



That was pretty much what I did, so now I want to know if there are other ways to amplify the mic signal. What I'm looking for is a script or a program or something that amplifies the mic signal before it is sent to Skype/KRecord.

woun't work - you get awful sound quality. make your hw work by all means. if there isn't a switch or setting in the various mixers or even in /etc/asound.state, and your jacks are tightly pushed to the _right_ outlet, you should consider to get you some new sound-hw

sorry
j

I had the same problem and tried all sorts of solutions, until I raised the volume of my AC97 sliders...depending on your sound card, this may be the solution!