If you notice symptoms like microphone not working, stuttering, jarring, crackling or choppy recording, intermittent issue with microphone recording, distorted recording, follow the troubleshooting steps below.
Troubleshooting
The sections below will offer more information to troubleshoot your recording issues, please follow the troubleshooting steps in a sequence.
Check the audio ports for damage and clean the ports
Audio performance issues may occur if there is any type of damage caused to the audio cables or the audio ports on the PC. You may experience symptoms like microphone stops working, works intermittently, choppy or distorted audio, static noise, etc.
Audio ports are exposed to elements that may cause a build-up of dust or even physical damages. If you notice that the port or connector has dust or other contaminants, use a can of compressed air to clean the ports.
Warning: Do not use any type of cleaning solution, water, or even a damp cloth. Disconnect the audio cable before using the can of compressed air to clean the ports.
If you do notice a physical damage, contact Technical Support to learn more about repair options that are available in your region. If there is no damage, proceed to the next step.
Restart your Computer
A simple reboot can resolve many issues almost immediately. Restarting your PC is an effective way to clear the memory (RAM) and ensure that any errant processes and services that started are shut down.
Restarting your PC closes all the applications or software running on your PC, applications running on the taskbar and dozens of other services that may be running in the background which were started by various applications.
Warning: Before restarting your PC, ensure to bookmark open web pages, save any open documents, spreadsheets, or other unsaved work.
Check the microphone connection (external microphone only)
Standard headset or microphone
Most analog microphone ports are pink and belong in the corresponding pink connector on your headset or microphone. Most standard headsets with microphones are designed to work with the single audio connector on your laptop PC.
Note: Audio ports may not be colour-coded on all PCs, refer to the User Manual of your PC to ensure the microphone is plugged into the correct port.
Using mobile earphones or iPhone earphones with one single jack will not work on a PC that has two split audio ports (one port each for speaker and microphone).
USB headset or microphone
Try swapping between USB ports. If you are using a USB hub, bypass the USB and connect the USB headset or microphone directly to the USB port on your PC.
Bluetooth headset or microphone
Ensure that the Bluetooth headset is paired with your PC and is selected as the default recording device on the PC. Refer to the bluetooth troubleshooting section in this knowledge-base article.
Set default recording device and check the microphone volume
The default audio recording device is the device that Microsoft Windows uses to record or listen to the sound. When you connect a microphone, Bluetooth headset, or other microphone-enabled the device to your PC, you can select which device you want to use by default. Windows can record audio through the microphone port, built-in microphone or Bluetooth. It is essential to select the correct recording device and check the volume settings, for recording to work on your PC.
To set a default recording device and check volume settings
-
- Right-click the Volume icon in the notification area (bottom-right corner) and select Recording devices.
- Select the recording device and click Set Default.
- Click OK.
- Click the Volume icon in the notification area and set the volume to your preference.
Run Microsoft Sound Troubleshooter
Microsoft Windows includes a variety of 'troubleshooters' designed to quickly diagnose and automatically resolve many PC problems. Although Windows Troubleshooter cannot fix hardware problems, they are a great place to start if you encounter a problem with your PC. Windows Troubleshooters are built into the Control Panel in Windows 10, 8.1 or 8 and 7.
How to run Windows Troubleshooter in Microsoft Windows 10?
- Click Start and select Settings (gear icon).
- Click Update & Security and select Troubleshoot.
- Click Recording Audio and then click Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
If the issue persists, proceed to the next step.
Troubleshoot Bluetooth devices (Bluetooth speakers or headphones)
Pair your Bluetooth headset with your PC.
Note: Your Bluetooth headset and PC will usually connect anytime the two devices are in the range of each other with Bluetooth turned on. The range of the Bluetooth signal may vary across different Bluetooth devices.
Note: Some Bluetooth headsets may require a passcode to pair and connect, check the User Manual of your device for specific instructions.
- Windows 10 - Connect to a bluetooth device in Windows 10
Reinstall or Update chipset driver, audio driver and BIOS
XUM recommends updating the device drivers and BIOS as part of your scheduled update cycle. Device drivers and BIOS updates may contain feature enhancements or changes that will help keep your system software current and compatible with other system modules (hardware and software) as well as increased stability.
It is essential to update the following device drivers for optimal recording performance and to resolve common microphone related issues:
- BIOS
- Chipset driver
- Audio driver
Download and install Microsoft Windows updates
Windows updates can support your Windows operating system in many ways. Windows updates can solve specific problems, provide protection from malicious attacks, or even add new features to the operating system.
How to install Windows Updates in Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows 8 or 8.1?
- Right-click Start and click Settings.
- In the Settings panel, click Update & Security.
- In the left panel, select Windows Update.
- On the right panel, click Check for updates.
- Restart the PC after downloading and installing the updates.
If the issue persists, proceed to the next step.
Perform Windows System Restore
System Restore is a built-in Windows tool designed to protect and repair the operating system. When something goes wrong with your PC, System Restore should be used prior to restoring the PC to factory defaults.
Select the Operating System installed on your PC to find more information about how to perform System Restore:
If the issue persists, proceed to the next step.
Restore your PC to factory defaults
If the diagnostic tests on the USB ports passed, it is most definitely an issue related to software installed on your PC. If the above troubleshooting steps did not resolve the issue, you can try to restore your PC to factory defaults as a last resort.
XUM PCs are built with a small amount of hard disk space reserved for reinstalling your operating system. This method is the easiest way to restore your PC to factory condition. The restoration process deletes all user data from the PC, so be sure to back up all your files prior to starting this process
Warning: Restoring your PC to factory defaults or reinstalling the operating system using any recovery media will erase all data on your PC. Ensure to back up all important data like documents, spreadsheets, pictures, videos, etc. before restoring or reinstalling the operating system.
Select the Operating System installed on your PC to find more information about how to restore your PC to factory defaults:
Note: After restoring or reinstalling the operating system, it is recommended that you download and install the latest device drivers .
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