Massive static from mics on 1400?

I have changed this post a little since I have found out more details and made it easier to double check...

So basically I think the Vostro's audio capability in the realm of recording may be flawed severly... to the point that speech recognition software won't work... this might not seem like a big deal in and of itself to you but it points to a pretty serious flaw in the hardware.

I have recorded a wav of me talking into the built in mic (which sounds the same as if I plug a good mic into the mic jack on the front) and it has a noticeable buzz/hiss.

I then recorded with a USB mic, not a very epensive one but one that has done well in the past. This bypasses the internal audio chip... and the recording is crystal clear.

Due to some odd issue at this forum, when I upload the zip file with the audio files in it, they don't work right, so I am linking to another forum I post at which has the files hosted, please see here:

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showpost.php?p=7740201&postcount=1557

Simply play each file and I think you will see the issue.

While it may not sound horrible to you, try this:

Go to control panel in vista, double click Speech Recognition and try to set it up, for me it always failed no matter how many times I tried becuase it couldn't discern my voice from the background garbage.

I tried with my USB mic and it was bingo on the first go.

Please bear in mind I have used many mics on many systems (laptop and desk) and never heard anything this bad out of even the cheapest add in cards.

I have heard this confirmed from at least 2 other people and think it may well be a hardware problem. Please at least chime in if this happens to you, not sure where it could go but it would be good to know!

 

To me personally it just sounds like the fans from the computer..maybe im wrong though...:S

 

If you mean internal feedback from the power running them maybe... if you mean just hearing them, then I am pretty sure that's not it...

The mics are at the top of the LCD display not in any direct line of the fans and the fans were running pretty low at the time I did the recording... my voice should have all but eclipsed any fan noise...

 

Anyone else have built in mics that sound like this?

Not sure why but just realized the zip file contains a wma file that doesn't have the extension... i thas it before I upload but for some reason it goes away when you re download the zip from the site

Anyhow just add a .wma and it should work, sorry bout the pain in the butt to do it.

 

i have the same problem on my M1330, the audio is really noisy

I talked to the Dell rep and they said that the dual array mics are known to pick up computer system sound

 

That would be all good except I plugged in my own mic into the mic input jack... that is not a dual array mic and it has the exact same buzz when recording.

At this point I don't think it's the mics at all but rather the audio processor on the system as my own plug in mic does the same thing.

It also happens in the Dell diagnostic boot partition under mic test so it's not a windows or driver issue...

They are sending me a replacment laptop (cross fingers a lot) but if that doesn't fix it I am going to start chewing someones ear off... heck I might put a recording of the buzzing/static on loop in the background of my call just to make sure the person who deals with me has to deal with it too...

 

That would explain why I didnt hear the noise from the file you attached.

Perhaps it needs just a driver update?

 

No I mean the audio processor that does the recording is putting the static on the recording... I am surprised you didn't think it sounded bad as to me (especially when there is no voice at all) the static really stands out...

I can play mp3s and videos from other sources with no audio problems (I guess I got lucky on that front and didn't get the headphone jack buzz - although from the descriptions it sounds exactly to me like my headphone jack buzz moved to my mic recording abilities somehow).

EDIT: Confirmed it's somethign with the built in hardware, just tried a USB microphone which should bypass the built in stuff and recording is crystal clear and reasonably loud...

 

I get this too

 

Check the first post, I have updated with new results, it's definitely something with the vostros hardware!

 

Can anyone else comment on if they have this issue or not? It would be nice to get a feel for how common this is...

 

Bump as I still think this is important... please see updated OP for a recap...

 

Is is the same problem with the Inspirons as well eh ?

 

I can't say for sure but I would think so as they are pretty much the same hardware...

 

Yep,

Got the same crappy static over here also.
Anyone have ideas on how to make it go away?

Beugnet2