I request you to check if the External microphone is selected as a default device in the sound properties. Right click on the sound icon from the system tray to open the Sound window. Navigate to Playback tab and click on the external microphone and click on Properties and check for the Device Usage. Make sure Use this device is enabled.
Andy, when you insert the mic plug into the jack, does a popup box appear on the screen asking whether or not you are using a mic or a line-in. The purpose of the question is so that the audio driver can configure the jack properly. I believe the default is for the jack to be configured for line-in, so If the box does not appear then the mic won't work because there won't be enough gain. To activate the popup, go to Start/Control Panel/Sigmatel and check the option to allow popups. Afterwards select mic as the jack configuration and see if that helps. You might have to turn 'mic boost' on.
I'm using Windows 7, the pop up window appears and I select mic, the mic boost and levels are set to maximum but the only sounds being picked up is from the internal mic. This is what it looks like with the mic plugged in;
Your external mic might not be working because you have the internal mic set as the default. Try disabling the mic array.
If that doesn't help, try installing the IDT audio driver R226903. It is a Win 7 driver for a different model but it works in the XPS m1330 and owners of that model with 7 it report better results than with the normal Sigmatel driver.
If you decide to try it, remove the Sigmatel driver from the computer in Remove A Program, then download the IDT driver and and unzip it to c:\Dell\drivers\R226903. Cancel the installation process. Then go into Device Manager to the audio controller (under "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers"). Right click on it and chose to update the driver. Choose to manually find the driver and don't let Windows look for it. Browse to c:\Dell\drivers\R226903 then click "Next". When you restart the laptop Windows will detect your audio hardware and install the IDT driver.
If I remove the Sigmatel driver and use the default Windows driver the external mic works but the internal speakers don't although he headphone socket works.
I would like to ask you about this. It would help me with a different problem I am trying to figure out. Are you quite sure that the above statement was correct. It could not have possibly been the opposite, that
> With the Windows 7 audio driver installed, the external mic did not work,and with the Sigmatel driver the mic worked but audio only came through the headphones?
Please don't think I doubt you at all. i want to use your information but want to be sure that you are sure because it is the reverse of what I would have expected. Normally the mic jacks don't work correctly with the Windows driver, and we have been getting reports of no audio through speakers when using Win 7 plus a Sigmatel driver. I would appreciate your thoughts.
DELL-Sujatha K
Community Manager
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3.3K Posts
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April 30th, 2013 10:00
Hi Andy,
I request you to check if the External microphone is selected as a default device in the sound properties. Right click on the sound icon from the system tray to open the Sound window. Navigate to Playback tab and click on the external microphone and click on Properties and check for the Device Usage. Make sure Use this device is enabled.
Revert for further assistance.
Andy
7 Posts
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April 30th, 2013 15:00
I have checked and it is selected as the default device and it is enabled.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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April 30th, 2013 17:00
Andy, when you insert the mic plug into the jack, does a popup box appear on the screen asking whether or not you are using a mic or a line-in. The purpose of the question is so that the audio driver can configure the jack properly. I believe the default is for the jack to be configured for line-in, so If the box does not appear then the mic won't work because there won't be enough gain. To activate the popup, go to Start/Control Panel/Sigmatel and check the option to allow popups. Afterwards select mic as the jack configuration and see if that helps. You might have to turn 'mic boost' on.
What is your operating system, Vista?
Andy
7 Posts
0
May 1st, 2013 04:00
I'm using Windows 7, the pop up window appears and I select mic, the mic boost and levels are set to maximum but the only sounds being picked up is from the internal mic. This is what it looks like with the mic plugged in;
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
May 1st, 2013 06:00
Your external mic might not be working because you have the internal mic set as the default. Try disabling the mic array.
If that doesn't help, try installing the IDT audio driver R226903. It is a Win 7 driver for a different model but it works in the XPS m1330 and owners of that model with 7 it report better results than with the normal Sigmatel driver.
If you decide to try it, remove the Sigmatel driver from the computer in Remove A Program, then download the IDT driver and and unzip it to c:\Dell\drivers\R226903. Cancel the installation process. Then go into Device Manager to the audio controller (under "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers"). Right click on it and chose to update the driver. Choose to manually find the driver and don't let Windows look for it. Browse to c:\Dell\drivers\R226903 then click "Next". When you restart the laptop Windows will detect your audio hardware and install the IDT driver.
Andy
7 Posts
0
May 1st, 2013 12:00
Jim, I followed your instructions and installed the IDT driver and it's seems to have resolved the issue.
Thank you very much for your help, much appreciated.
Andy
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
May 1st, 2013 13:00
Andy, glad it is working now.
I would like to ask you about this. It would help me with a different problem I am trying to figure out. Are you quite sure that the above statement was correct. It could not have possibly been the opposite, that
> With the Windows 7 audio driver installed, the external mic did not work,and with the Sigmatel driver the mic worked but audio only came through the headphones?
Please don't think I doubt you at all. i want to use your information but want to be sure that you are sure because it is the reverse of what I would have expected. Normally the mic jacks don't work correctly with the Windows driver, and we have been getting reports of no audio through speakers when using Win 7 plus a Sigmatel driver. I would appreciate your thoughts.