XPS/Audigy 2 Mic Issues

I use my mic a lot too. Have you tried going into the sound settings and calibrate your mic? I use it a lot in Battlefield 2 and found that it works a lot better after doing that.

Let me know if you need help finding the calibration tool.

Hope this helps.

Guardian

All,

Is this with a front panel mic connection or with the mic connection on the Audigy 2 rear I/O panel? If the front panel mic jack is the problem, it may just be the internal connection is not making proper contact. Open the case (with the power off) and reseat the cable from the front panel mic jack to the sound card.

If it's the rear panel Audigy mic connection, there may be a problem with the card and in that case contact Dell support.

Try this Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 1, 2/ZS & 4 2.08.0002 beta:

http://files.creative.com/manualdn/Drivers/AVP/8888/0x9B1818DE/SBA2_PCDrvBeta_LB_2_08_0002.exe

All,

Run the Creative Diagnostics. It should be on Start- Programs- Creative. Then, check the mic.

The Creative Diagnostics do not test the microphone.  The windows diags do and they fail.

PsychoT,

Get the card replaced.

* CHAT with Dell

* EMAIL Dell

* Call Dell 1-800-624-9896

I have tried both front and back mic ports without any difference in sound also, I have gone on to try several more mics with no noticeable improvement. I did have a problem with the driver installation though, the "non beta" driver from creative gives me a "no audigy 2 zs found on system" error and the beta crashed my system once. I did get the beta version installed but the issue is not fixed.

With calabration tried and volume controls maxed I still have to yell to get a hearable sound on any program from Teamspeak to the windows Sound Recorder. Its rather frustrating. Currently I am using a desktop mic, I pick it up and place it nearly in my mouth each time I wish to speak.. I can be heard... but still at a low volume.

I am still seeking a fix for this brand new XPS system hehe.

Message Edited by Shocktrooper on 10-25-2005 12:51 PM

Oh and the windows diagnostic tool passes on my system.

This is a problem that has been going on for a long time with no apparent resolution. There have been numerous posts at the Dell support and SoundBlaster forums.

I wound up getting a USB headset, which works fine, but then I am unable to use its mic and listen to the internal audio card at the same time.  Anyway, it looks like some progress is being made. Check out the bottom of page 4 of this thread:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_audio&message.id=57660&view=by_date_ascending&page=4

there is a new driver that appears to help a bit. I installed it and it does improve the mic gain somewhat, though the sound is still weaker than from my USB mic.

Chris,
     The card has already been replaced.  I just want you to know that replacing the card does not fix the issue.  replacing the front I/O panel does not fix the issue, replacing the cables does not fix the issue.  Supposedly the issue has been escalated up to the L2/L3 level and i haven't heard anything back, this was over 2 months ago...

 

Heya,

I am just curious, is the legacy setting for sound disabled in the Bios?

Guardian

---

@skink wrote:

This is a problem that has been going on for a long time with no apparent resolution. There have been numerous posts at the Dell support and SoundBlaster forums.

I wound up getting a USB headset, which works fine, but then I am unable to use its mic and listen to the internal audio card at the same time.  Anyway, it looks like some progress is being made. Check out the bottom of page 4 of this thread:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_audio&message.id=57660&view=by_date_ascending&page=4

there is a new driver that appears to help a bit. I installed it and it does improve the mic gain somewhat, though the sound is still weaker than from my USB mic.

---

 

 

After reading the above post and the linked thread I have come to the conclusion I got ripped off. Dell told me they included a Audigy 2 ZS card.. I paid just under $3000 for the setup I got and my sound card is a hack. The Creative cards you buy in store do not have this problem and the Creative drivers dont recongnize my card as a Audigy 2 ZS... I dont know what kind of hoax or stripped down piece of cr#p they gave me but I am calling them on it. For a brand new "top of the line" gaming system you would think they would know that gamers use microphones for online gaming.

The moderator here has been nice so I am not trying to flame him, but you call tech support and you get some guy in India or something. I have called on this issue 3 times and gotten 3 different answers.. non of them fixed the problem.  I am calling back one more time and if they do not offer some sort of fix then I want a new card.. that wont fix it but I will keep making them send me a new card until someone pays attention to the issue.

I even called Creative and they tried to help but they didnt know what to do either. Its a Dell issue that Dell is ignoring and for those of us effected we are growing very impatient. I have already had two friends purchase new systems and the first thing I told them was dont buy a dell unless you plan on buying a new sound card off the shelf.

Shocktrooper,

I talked with my L3 today. We are working on a fix. When found, I will post it.

All,

Open the case and look at the rear of the sound card. Look for AD_EXT printed vertically on the card. Do you see the jumper post by AD_EXT? Starting from the bottom, let's number them 1 thru 14. What post have jumpers on them?

Just a note to say I bought a new Dell this week with an Audigy 2 in it, and it has exactly the same problem.  My Wife's Dell (also an audigy 2) bought earlier in the year has the same problem too.  I thought it was the mic to start with and chucked it out and bought a new one. Oops.  Reading the creative forum it does look like it's a known problem with this particular sound card.  It doesnt seem like anyone's actually doing anything to fix it though.  Would be nice to get some information on what's happening about it.  I used to be able to use Skype and can't at the moment.