Does master sound level in settings affect input sound level?

villandra · 30 Nov 2022

I'm doing call center work from home. I'm having frequent callers having trouble hearin gme.

Mic sensitivity doesn't seem to go up very high in sound settings in Windows 10. (We use a tunnel and rmeote desktop and it uses our local settings, we can't change them in the remote desktop). Or, rather, mic sensitivity goes up to 100% but on the mic test in sound settings it seems to not get a strong signal.

I am wondering, does increasing the master sound level also increase microphone./ input sensitivity?

Yours,
Dora Smith

Berton · 02 Dec 2022

Just noticed there's been no response yet, would say the quality of the microphone is important along with how close it is to voice. I worked daily for over 30 years with a mic and it had to be close to both provide volume and restrict other noises, noise-cancelling mics. I've received many calls from the centers that had so much noise in the background as to be not understandable, could tell some was created by children in the room. Added to accents made things difficult. Most times the volume of calls has to be adjusted by the recipient with the control on their device, Notebooks can sometimes be an issue while Desktops usually have speakers with amplification.

Malneb · 03 Dec 2022

I am wondering, does increasing the master sound level also increase microphone./ input sensitivity?

No

Master gain is for the main audio output which governs all applications that show in the audio mixer as outputs, essentially all mixer channels route to the master (Main output), basically the sound that comes out of the speakers.
The microphone is a input so its not effected by the main output.

Read this over. There is a boost setting which you probably need to turn up.
How to Make Your Mic Louder: Steps to Boosting the Volume - Skybuds

Failing all this and you still cannot get it loud enough, your options are one or all of the following.

- Try using a software mixer that can amp line in
- look at getting a better Headset
- look at getting an external microphone preamp
- look at getting a better audio interface like an internal or external soundcard. Even just an external mixer on your existing default line in could do a whole lot for you and give you some good controls like gain staging, muting and EQing your input.

You should also set this Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device in the properties window of your microphone. I am guessing you are broadcasting your microphone through software that is proprietary? and came from the company you are working for? well this setting will allow that application to take control of the Mic which can be part of the issue.

You don't have to do all of these or you could combine them all but they are some options and its hard to say without further context.

Finally if you are using a cheap non brand or something that is like 20 years old then this may be the resulting factor. Not always the case though sometimes the cheap ones are real good just depends. You also want to take this concern up with your manager and they should help you figure it out being a call center they need to know how to troubleshot these problems.