Acer Travelmate 8210 built-in microphone problem

Hey all,

Everything on my new 8210 works perfectly... except the built-in mic. Maybe I'm just being foolish about something, but whenever I try to use it, all I get is a very loud hiss. It doesn't pick up my voice unless EVERY setting is maxxed out and my face is right in front of the mic. Even then, the hiss is extremely loud and my voice is so soft, that it's almost impossible to hear!

Any suggestions or ideas? Anyone else with this problem? I really don't want to send this for service just for this problem and probably won't...

 

Nobody knows? Can anyone with an 8204/8210 out there confirm their built-in microphone works? If so, can you tell me your settings or what to check to make sure I'm not being stupid about something? Thank you!

 

I've just returned an Acer Aspire 5100 in the UK after only having it for a week with a similar problem. I could hardly hear anything I'd recorded using the built-in mic!

I'm not sure whether using an external mic was that good either.

In the shop I tried a brand new replacement and that was exactly the same. Also tried a slightly cheaper Acer laptop and that was the same.

I got a refund. Pity really because everything else about the Acer appeared fine.

Spoke to some obnoxious technical guy at Acer UK and he wasn't helpful. Said that must be the normal spec of the Acer laptops!

It's a real pity because I can't see anything out there at the same price that's as good at 500 GBP.

Anyone else with similar experiences?

John

 

And what program do you use to record your voice???

 

I tried all different programs, ranging from video games to built-in Windows utilities in the Sound control panel. None gave me anything more than a buzz. I've e-mailed Acer support and when I receive a response, I will make a decision from there.

 

Have you gone into the advanced controls for the microphone and enabled the Microphone Boost option? I get very low input levels unless I do that.

 

Yes, that and so much more. It's not the level that's the problem... it's that the only thing you hear is a chronic buzz and NO input!

 

Ok I just tried to record something using Windows Sound Recorder (me singing ) and I could'nt hear anything I recorded.Mic Volume in Volume control was set to max and nothing.
Then I opened Control panel --> Sound and Audio Devices Properties,in Audio Tab volume for Sound Recording was on minimum,I set it to max and now my mic is working great. Try this if you have'nt tried it yet.

P.S. I have Realtek HD Audio

 

Ok, I tried what you suggested. I maxed EVERY setting and made sure all that stuff was enabled. Now, I hear a VERY loud buzz, although I finally hear myself in the background of it all --- but I'm too faint to make out unless you knew what I was saying!

Also, another very very peculiar thing: now with everything maxed out, I can hear the RADIO very lightly in recordings. Is there some kind of shielding problem maybe?

 

If anyone is/was interested in the resolution of this problem:

It was a warranty issue. I sent the machine in, they fixed it and sent it back with no hassles whatsoever. Besides being my first laptop with a component that was dead on arrival, I'm very pleased with my machine and experience in dealing with Acer.