How to set microphone sensitivity in Windows 10

Method 1: Windows Features

In Windows 10, the microphone sensitivity can be adjusted using the built-in functions of the operating system, through "Control ".:

1. Ir a "Options".. To do this, click the gear icon on the Windows main menu.
2. select partition "System".
3. Click on the tab "Sound". to the left and click on the line "Sound Control ".
4. A new system window will open in which you need to click on the tab "Recording".to display the input devices. Click with the left mouse button on the desired equipment and then go to "Properties".by pressing the corresponding button.
5. Click on the tab "Levels".. In the block «Microphone amplification». Use the slider to adjust the microphone sensitivity. Move the ratchet to the right to increase it, to the left to decrease it. After the setting is complete, press the confirmation button at the bottom.

The number of sensitivity boost points depends on the microphone model used. In general, built-in units do not allow a large number of adjustments, unlike specialized external equipment.

Also read: How to set up a microphone in Windows 10

Method 2: Sound card driver

Many sound cards have their own application to adjust the sound from both the headphones/speakers and the microphone. The most common application is Realtek HD, but there are other varieties of software as well. For example, external sound cards always have proprietary software with a large number of settings. The following links will help you understand how to launch the Realtek application if you have a Realtek audio card, as well as determine which driver you need to install in order to configure your audio playback and recording devices.

Read also:
Installing Realtek HD on a Windows 10 computer
Techniques to Open Realtek HD Manager in Windows 10
Identifying the drivers needed for your sound card

Run your sound card's proprietary software and find the section reserved for microphone settings. Here you need the article «Microphone amplification». or as close to this value as possible. The format of the adjustment depends on the specific software: sometimes you have to specify the value in digits, sometimes you have to move the knob.

You'll likely find more adjustable parameters here than in Windows, some of which can also indirectly affect sensitivity. Adjust them as you see fit to achieve optimal results.

Method 3: Software for gaming devices

If you're using a gaming headset with a built-in microphone, look for specialized software to control it—most mid-range and higher-end devices have it. Low-priced headsets, even from popular brands like SteelSeries, may not have any proprietary software.

The interface of these applications is always different, but finding the microphone settings will not be difficult. You'll need to select the headset itself (if the software s different gaming devices), or if it's a headset-only app, skip to the subsection "Microphone". (can also be called "mic") and activate/adjust there "Microphone Sensitivity" ("Microphone Sensitivity"). For a better effect, try the additional settings suggested in this tab. If there's a listen button, turn it on and say something to see the microphone now pick up sound.

Method 4: Third Party Software

If internal tools in Windows 10 and others don't allow you to adjust microphone sensitivity, you can use versatile third-party programs that offer advanced features for working with audio equipment. One such application is VoiceMeeter, designed to mix and monitor incoming and outgoing signals.

VoiceMeeter from the official website

1. and install the software by following the step-by-step installation wizard. It is necessary to restart the computer for the new virtual hardware to start working. Locate the application through the list of installed system software.
2. In section 1. "Hardware input". ("Hardware input") select the microphone you want to adjust. Click the group name and then the device from the popup list.
3. Next, you need to adjust the sound output. To do this, in the group "Hardware Out". tap on the tile "A1" o "A2" and select the audio equipment, for example, built-in or external speakers for each channel.
4. Go back to the microphone settings (group 1) and use the slider Fader Gainto increase the sensitivity by raising it up. The built-in meters will allow you to monitor the sound level.

This completes the sensitivity adjustment. It remains, without closing the program, to open any means of communication or application that uses a microphone (that is, VoiceMeeter must be running in the background).

If there is an audio output problem, you will need to set VoiceMeeter's virtual input as the default playback device. To do this, go to the audio settings window to the tab "Recording". as shown in the first method. A new one should appear in the hardware list after installing the software – "Voice Meter Output".. Highlight it and press the key "Default"..

If VoiceMeeter is not to your liking, find another microphone app. The material at the link below collects the most popular options in a small but informative overview.

Also Read: Microphone Sound Enhancement Software

Method 5: Standalone applications

You can configure the microphone and the input signal in general directly from the interface of some applications that use these devices in their work. For example, OBS Studio is often used for streaming on the video hosting site YouTube, and audio and video equipment can be configured through it using built-in tools and additional plug-ins.

Using OBS Studio as an example, let's see how to adjust microphone sensitivity in Windows 10:

OBS

1. Launch OBS Studio. If you have a microphone in the mixing , go directly to step 4. You can add it through the window "Sources".. Click the plus icon and select "Capture audio input stream"..
2. In the window that opens, check the item "Create new". and enter a name if necessary. press the button "OKAY"..
3. Select an input device from the dropdown menu and click the confirmation button.
4. Click on the gear icon below "audio mixer" on the microphone. In the popup menu, tap Filters..
5. Click the plus sign to select a filter for the signal. Click on the line "Compressor"..
6. Set a name for the filter if you want.
7. Adjust the sensitivity by moving the slider next to the option "Output Gain"..

You can also apply other settings to optimize the sound of the microphone. For example, if the microphone is very weak, it is better to set the gain from 8 to 24 dB, but set the trigger threshold to -25…-35 dB, the attack from 3 to 20 ms, and the decay from 25 to 100 more.

Also read: How to set up a microphone in OBS