(How To / MOD) Microphone Gain Increase on All S5 Variants + Mod *Update 02/11/16

[thejester123]

Well everybody, as it has been asked many times now so i bring you the guide to increase the ""Microphone Gain"" on lollipop.
You will need to make some changes to the mixer_paths.xml content located in system/etc.
Open in Notepad++ or editor of choice and search for <path name="rec-main-mic">.
See below for what to edit,be careful not to adjust more than the value stated.
Save and set permissions to 644 or rw-r-r then reboot.

<!-- ================================================================>
<!-- Recording Scenario -->
<path name="rec-main-mic">
<path name="main-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC2 Volume" value="95" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-sub-mic">
<path name="sub-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC4 Volume" value="94" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-headset-mic">
<path name="ear-mic" />
<ctl name="ADC2 Volume" value="14" />
<ctl name="DEC5 Volume" value="72" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-stereo-mic">
<ctl name="Main Mic Delay" value="4" />
<path name="sub-main-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC2 Volume" value="95" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
<ctl name="DEC4 Volume" value="94" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-high-gain-main-mic">
<path name="main-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC2 Volume" value="87" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-high-gain-sub-mic">
<path name="sub-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC4 Volume" value="87" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-high-gain-headset-mic">
<path name="ear-mic" />
<ctl name="ADC2 Volume" value="14" />
<ctl name="DEC5 Volume" value="84" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-high-gain-stereo-mic">
<path name="sub-3rd-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC2 Volume" value="87" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
<ctl name="DEC4 Volume" value="87" /> <------------- Increase Value to 106
</path>

<path name="rec-NS-mic-interview">
<ctl name="ES705 TX1 Enable" value="1" />
<path name="main-sub-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC2 Volume" value="87" />
<ctl name="DEC4 Volume" value="87" />
<ctl name="ES705-AP Tx Channels" value="One" />
<ctl name="Internal Route Config" value="7" />
</path>

<path name="rec-NS-mic-conversation">
<ctl name="ES705 TX1 Enable" value="1" />
<path name="main-sub-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC2 Volume" value="87" />
<ctl name="DEC4 Volume" value="87" />
<ctl name="ES705-AP Tx Channels" value="One" />
<ctl name="Internal Route Config" value="8" />
</path>

<path name="rec-NS-mic-conference">
<path name="main-sub-mic" />
<ctl name="DEC2 Volume" value="87" />
<ctl name="DEC4 Volume" value="87" />
</path>
<!-- end of Recording Scenario -->

You "WILL" have to reflash the mod after each ROM update

Hope this helps :good:

Downloads:

Attached At Bottom Of Post

Versions Explained:

10.x version is just a standard up-scaled mic and speaker gain..

11.x Same as 10.x but uses the internal speaker as well as loud speaker for sound playback


Credits to: @byte9 @stalli0nUK @langeveld024 @oetzi83

 

[byte9]

Credits to: @byte9

Ideally CM would take it serious and patch in upstream but they stand by "we use the same values as Samsung" which clearly is broken if ANY testing had been done.

Most people don't even catch the gain issue as the volume stands out a lot more. For me the fix comes with the xml and long term will probably be with a new phone.

Moto X Pure or Note 5 incoming.

 

[phoberus]

Can you also make a file for better (very) loud recordings?

Can you also edit, that in normal recording volume its like on stock?

 

[thejester123]

Can you also make a file for better (very) loud recordings?

Can you also edit, that in normal recording volume its like on stock?

I will upload a "Stock" version but if you backup your original before flashing the zip then you can always reverse the changes . The recording mic gain is pretty loud in my mod, you can increase it more but I do not recommend this at all.

 

[phoberus]

I will upload a "Stock" version but if you backup your original before flashing the zip then you can always reverse the changes . The recording mic gain is pretty loud in my mod, you can increase it more but I do not recommend this at all.

Sorry, I think I writed it a little bit wrong.
I mean a zip to record in loud places, not loud audiofiles. For example, at a concert
But the mic volume on phonecalls and peaceful surroundings should like stock, is this possible?

 

[j1gga84]

Okay, I tried the modified file for one day and it is a bit too loud for me. When I was driving and you had driving sound in the background while recording a voice message in WhatsApp it sounds very distorted.. When it is quiet around you it is very good. Is there anything I can do against this? Maybe lower the values a bit? So if I lower it do I have to lower all values?

The microphone is definitely not as good as my galaxy S2's microphone, that has a superb audio quality.. I guess Samsung makes savings on microphone quality or it is limited by settings..
I don't know if it would be helpful to send you the xml File of my S2 to compare the values. There I had installed CM11 and sound was great

Regards

Sent from my GT-I9100 using german Tapatalk 4

 

[thejester123]

Okay, I tried the modified file for one day and it is a bit too loud for me. When I was driving and you had driving sound in the background while recording a voice message in WhatsApp it sounds very distorted.. When it is quiet around you it is very good. Is there anything I can do against this? Maybe lower the values a bit? So if I lower it do I have to lower all values?

The microphone is definitely not as good as my galaxy S2's microphone, that has a superb audio quality.. I guess Samsung makes savings on microphone quality or it is limited by settings..
I don't know if it would be helpful to send you the xml File of my S2 to compare the values. There I had installed CM11 and sound was great

Regards

Sent from my GT-I9100 using german Tapatalk 4

You can send it and I will compare the two files, I will take a look at lowering the values and see where we can improve the quality , thanks for the feedback..

 

[thejester123]

Sorry, I think I writed it a little bit wrong.
I mean a zip to record in loud places, not loud audiofiles. For example, at a concert
But the mic volume on phonecalls and peaceful surroundings should like stock, is this possible?

The mod does not affect the mic during phone calls, that remains untouched. I am looking into making it a little more audible in loud environments.

 

[thejester123]

http://d-h.st/zQOs <-- Right I have given this one a test round my screaming kids and there is minimal if an distortion when making whatsapp voice messages @j1gga84 . Will update OP later on today...

 

[j1gga84]

You can send it and I will compare the two files, I will take a look at lowering the values and see where we can improve the quality , thanks for the feedback..

Many thanks, I will send you the file after work today evening

regards

 

[Stupifier]

The mod does not affect the mic during phone calls, that remains untouched. I am looking into making it a little more audible in loud environments.

Just to clarify.......This mod does not change ANYTHING for your average phone call conversation. Correct?

 

[thejester123]

Just to clarify.......This mod does not change ANYTHING for your average phone call conversation. Correct?

Yes that is correct

 

[shotymedan]

I can't wait to try this... Thanks!

 

[j1gga84]

You can send it and I will compare the two files, I will take a look at lowering the values and see where we can improve the quality , thanks for the feedback..

Damn I am on Android 4.4.4 (SlimSaber, a derivate of SlimKat) on my old Galaxy S2 and there I cannot find that file..
Do you know if it is maybe somewhere else under KitKat?

EDIT:
Okay I checked the new file, it is better but still a bit scratched in the peaks. What did you changed compared to the first file? I would also say, that the voice is a bit deeper than on my Galaxy S2 but I think that is not settings related but hardware

regards

 

[thejester123]

Damn I am on Android 4.4.4 (SlimSaber, a derivate of SlimKat) on my old Galaxy S2 and there I cannot find that file..
Do you know if it is maybe somewhere else under KitKat?

EDIT:
Okay I checked the new file, it is better but still a bit scratched in the peaks. What did you changed compared to the first file? I would also say, that the voice is a bit deeper than on my Galaxy S2 but I think that is not settings related but hardware

regards

I dropped the "rec-high-gain" areas by 10 that was all so perhaps a little more fine tuning and we will have this bad boy perfect . Thanks for your testing,feedback and patience...

 

[jcl972]

Noob Question

deleted

 

[j1gga84]

I dropped the "rec-high-gain" areas by 10 that was all so perhaps a little more fine tuning and we will have this bad boy perfect . Thanks for your testing,feedback and patience...

Good morning,

many thanks again for your work
I checked it again while driving today. It is better than with the first file but still a bit distorted in the peaks.
Volume is good but quality is still a bit "scratched"
I could also record a sound file in whatsapp and send it to you via Mail if you need it for further improvement
If everything is ok I will share your thread in german android-hilfe forum and translate it to german

Btw. I found a very little error in the opener: "Back to Sock Zip" - I think you mean Stock Zip

regards

 

[thejester123]

That is not a problem at all @j1gga84. Haha, minor spelling errors darn it, I have a new file to upload when I get to my laptop

 

[phoberus]

is increasing the gain better for a quiet environment or a loud compared to stock?

 

[j1gga84]

is increasing the gain better for a quiet environment or a loud compared to stock?

I would say for a quiet environment because microphone gets more sensitive, in a lound environment it gets distorted but thejester123 is still optimizing the file and the one you can download right now is much better than the first one from yesterday :good:

regards