Microphone gets weaker over time?

Question

I have a problem with microphone sensitivity or strength. I'm not sure when it started, and it's not an internet\connection issue. It goes like this:
I try a voice recording and read some text.
First 10 seconds will be clearly audible. Next 10 seconds will sound, as if I have my nose full. And after that it just gets further and further, as if I'm walking away from the mic.
I've tried moving the mic(if that was some cable stuck issue), I did not move the mic during recording, mic is close enough(headset mic) to my mouth. Realtek\Windows driver have sensitivity on max, attempting to increase Db adds interference, as well as disabling Echo\Noise block in Realtek.
It may be an option that this mic is dying, just like any other cheap mic, but before ordering a new one, I'd just like to be certain about what cause this.

I used to have all kinds of troubles with default Realtek and mics, and after long trials I fixed it software-side. However, I haven't yet experienced this kind of "sound dampening", so could use some help.

Answer 1

Since you mention realtek i'm going to guess it is a microphone with a 3.5mm connector. Most of those types of microphones are very simple, with no electronics, just two wires and a microphone in a little plastic housing. There isn't usually much to go wrong with them, typically they either work or they don't work, but that is not always the case, it is hard to rule out that it could be a bad microphone. Another thing with this type of microphone is that they draw their power from the microphone port itself, so if the sound card isn't delivering enough power it could start off strong and fade? That is just a theory anyway.



Something simple you may not have thought of, if this is a desktop computer, there is usually a front panel audio port, and a rear one. The rear one is typically on the motherboard, or on an expansion sound card, wheras the front one is connected via some extra cables. I don't know why, but I have never had a front panel audio connector that was problem free, or worked as well as the direct port in the back. I JUST had an issue with a new headset, where my old mic was 3.5mm and the new one was 3.5mm, but the new one was terrible when plugged into the same ports, on the front of the computer. I thought it was just a crappy headset, however I ended up using the rear audio ports at one point, and suddenly the headset sounded amazing. So two different mics on the same port didn't work equally. So if you have multiple microphone ports, try a different one, especially if the one you are currently using is a front panel audio port on a desktop computer.



If switching ports isn't an option, or doesn't fix anything, try a new mic. If that doesn't work you will probably be adding or replacing a sound card soon, which aren't too terribly expensive for the cheaper ones.

Answer 2

Sounds like a hardware issue. Either your mic or sound card. Try a new mic first, it's a lot cheaper.

Answer 3

Make sure you don't use the Generic Realtek Drivers, go to your motherboard makers website, and download the latest drivers.

Answer 4

Try the New one. It's the better option.