Low microphone volume?

[mastrgamr]

Does anyone else have the person they are talking to mention how low you sound to them when speaking on the phone?
It seems like I have a low microphone on my nexus 4, unless the phone is directly in front of my mouth the person can't hear me clearly, I'm thinking it might be hardware but I know with some phones this can be corrected with a custom driver that makes the microphone more receptive

Is there an app or setting that I can use that would disable noise cancellation in case that's what causing my mic to make me sound low?

 

[_stefans_]

Does anyone else have the person they are talking to mention how low you sound to them when speaking on the phone?
It seems like I have a low microphone on my nexus 4, unless the phone is directly in front of my mouth the person can't hear me clearly, I'm thinking it might be hardware but I know with some phones this can be corrected with a custom driver that makes the microphone more receptive

Is there an app or setting that I can use that would disable noise cancellation in case that's what causing my mic to make me sound low?

Actually I have the exact same problem - not sure what we can do to fix it.

If I crank up the volume fully it appears to -sometimes- solve the low audio problem.

 

[Jamal Ahmed]

Actually I have the exact same problem - not sure what we can do to fix it.

If I crank up the volume fully it appears to -sometimes- solve the low audio problem.

if it -sometimes- solves the problem then it might be a software bug. i hope some dev can be notified of this. have you tried a different ROM? if yes, have you notified the dev of the ROM?

 

[_stefans_]

if it -sometimes- solves the problem then it might be a software bug. i hope some dev can be notified of this. have you tried a different ROM? if yes, have you notified the dev of the ROM?

Its actually on stock, so I just rooted it, and will try with a different rom shortly.

 

[equi]

Same thing here.. Sometimes they hear me, sometimes they don't even during the same call..

 

[_stefans_]

I'm starting to think the noise cancellation is playing some tricks.

While driving home this afternoon I was on headset on the freeway, where those I talked to could barely hear me.

Unplugged my headset (klipsch s4 image ii), and sound was good. After a while I plugged headset in again, still bad.

When coming off the freeway I kept the headset on while talking - and all of the sudden it was crystal clear (using the words of the guy I talked to at the time). At the same time I noticed that I had no data (outside even edge coverage), don't know if that is related or not.

Is there some way we could experiment / disable or tweak the noise cancelling?

Ps: I have had the same issues without headset also, so definitely something general software things going on

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

 

[mastrgamr]

Its actually on stock, so I just rooted it, and will try with a different rom shortly.

I had the same setup. I am using the Xylon (stable) 15 ROM for several days now, and SO FAR I think the microphone reception is better. I haven't heard complaint from the person I speak to on the regular. *cross fingers* hope it's 'fixed' in some way.

Same thing here.. Sometimes they hear me, sometimes they don't even during the same call..

That's exactly how my phone was as well. I would be on one call for a while and all of a sudden out of nowhere the person I'm speaking to says I sound like I'm speaking across a room and I'm like 'wtf happened? I haven't changed positions since I started talking to you!'
I did a little testing with the person I was speaking to as well, to test the microphone receptiveness and the mic seems to pickup my voice better, I wasn't speaking directly into the mic and they said they heard me fine.

I'm starting to think the noise cancellation is playing some tricks.

While driving home this afternoon I was on headset on the freeway, where those I talked to could barely hear me.

Unplugged my headset (klipsch s4 image ii), and sound was good. After a while I plugged headset in again, still bad.

When coming off the freeway I kept the headset on while talking - and all of the sudden it was crystal clear (using the words of the guy I talked to at the time). At the same time I noticed that I had no data (outside even edge coverage), don't know if that is related or not.

Is there some way we could experiment / disable or tweak the noise cancelling?

Ps: I have had the same issues without headset also, so definitely something general software things going on

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

I have a sneaking suspicion It might have to do with the noise cancelation as well, I think on paper whoever designed that feature on the phone thought it would be cool but it doesn't seem to be panning out too well. I've read somewhere on this forum about how to increase microphone volume and cancel the noise cancellation using the Terminal Emulator app and/or the phone's dial codes (#*#*some sumbers*#*#).
I have the same earphones (no mic attached) and I have similar experience but I haven't taken note of it like you have since 95% of the time I have my headphones in the phone.

I also want to mention a little trick that I think seems to work when on calls. Whenever I turn the phone over, screen facing opposite of me, I hear less complaints of me sounding too low to the other person. Maybe it's doning something... i dont know.

 

[drsp123]

Same issue - with headset only though

I have the same issue, people really struggle to hear me on conference calls (which I spend a lot of time on), so I have to hold the mic in front of my mouth to speak which gives awful sound quality. I don't have this issue when not using a headset (phone mic works fine).

Nexus 4 + Klipsch s4a = really quiet mic, people can't hear me at all.
Nexus 4 = No problem, phone mic works.

Note - music playback is fine, no issues there.

My klipsch headphones worked fine on my GNex, no issues, so I don't think it is a problem with them. It has been an issue from the moment I switched to a Nexus 4. Have also tried other headset (samsung one that came with Gnex) - and have the same issue of sounding very quiet on the headset mic.

I did wonder if it was an OMTP vs CTIA issue, but the button on my headset works fine to answer/hangup/skip tracks/open voice search etc. so I don't think it is that.

I also tested with another Nexus 4 handset using Soundmeter and got very similar results on both handsets, suggesting it isn't a handset issue (though not a very scientific test).

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Ord Mandrell]

Just In Phone Calls?

Hi Folks,

Is this mic issue just related to phone calls?
I'm using the latest CM10.1 nightly build and my mic is useless for phone calls.
However, Google's voice search works just fine and if I record a video my voice is recorded just fine.

 

[-Mindroid-]

I could be wrong but I suspect the Nexus4 can not use the phone jack for incoming audio.
In my opinion when one plugs a headset into the audio jack the Nexus4 camera microphone
becomes activated, not the headset one. And the Nexus4 cam mic is really bad.

Again, I might be completely wrong. (I hope)

---------- Post added at 04:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 PM ----------

Hi Folks,

Is this mic issue just related to phone calls?
I'm using the latest CM10.1 nightly build and my mic is useless for phone calls.
However, Google's voice search works just fine and if I record a video my voice is recorded just fine.

OMG you have it reversed. What a mess!
I have yet to see Google Search understand anything I say and video sound is horrible. Call audio is great.

 

[drsp123]

Hi guys - I am on stock android - same issue on 4.2.2 as on 4.2.1.

This isn't just related to phone calls, same issue on google search. I tested headset mic pickup volume when speaking normally with Soundmeter - around 35-40dB (what it calls a quiet whisper at 3ft to quiet residential area, Park).

I also tried moving the headset mic closer and further away from my mouth with the phone in the same position - with the headset mic virtually touching my lips it went to about 60 dB (normal conversation at 3ft) - so it does seem to be related to the headset mic. I can only guess it is either a dodgy connection in the handset or some noise cancelling functionality that is cancelling out my voice!

Any ideas or thoughts greatly appreciated

 

[Ord Mandrell]

OMG you have it reversed. What a mess!
I have yet to see Google Search understand anything I say and video sound is horrible. Call audio is great.

Darn it!
I knew I was an outlier.
No way I'm getting a fix for my issue then

 

[akira112]

Anyone figure out a fix? I'm having similar issues with my microphone.

Hooked as bluetooth device in my vehicle, other end hears me fine.
On phone call using speaker phone, other end hears me fine.
On phone call WITHOUT speaker phone, other end cannot hear me at all.
Using a sound recording app to record voice, playback of the recording I can hear my voice faintly if I was YELLING during the recording.
Shazam/Soundhound apps do not work.

I am rooted on rasbeanjelly/trinity kernel. I have to say this issue started a few days ago when I have done no changes to the phone. Already running the rom/kernel for weeks.

I've tried flashing back to stock rom/kernel and the same problems persist.

Any ideas?

 

[akira112]

Anyone figure out a fix? I'm having similar issues with my microphone.

Hooked as bluetooth device in my vehicle, other end hears me fine.
On phone call using speaker phone, other end hears me fine.
On phone call WITHOUT speaker phone, other end cannot hear me at all.
Using a sound recording app to record voice, playback of the recording I can hear my voice faintly if I was YELLING during the recording.
Shazam/Soundhound apps do not work.

I am rooted on rasbeanjelly/trinity kernel. I have to say this issue started a few days ago when I have done no changes to the phone. Already running the rom/kernel for weeks.

I've tried flashing back to stock rom/kernel and the same problems persist.

Any ideas?

Just an update, I unrooted and reverted back to stock and the problem went away, so it was defnitely a software issue. Will be trying other roms/radios/kernels and see if the problem comes back.

I was on rasbeanjelly 4.2.2/trinity

 

[roanor]

akira112, did you get any success with your experiments?

Guys, is there any progress / comments regarding this issue?.. Microphone itself works fine when recording the voice with some app, but during the voice calls it is the mess...

 

[redhatfan]

My Nexus 4 is two months old and is being returned to Google due to the microphone constantly cutting me out on calls to business clients. I've tried every trick from sound apps to custom roms. No joy. I'm hoping my replacement doesn't have the same problem (although given the sheer number of postings on this issue, I suspect a Nexus 4 design flaw)...

 

[dziobak855]

Hello
Is there any solution to low microphone volume problem?
I have been using my N4 for a week and some people complain about my voice's volume. There was no such problem with my previous phone (Defy). There is no difference whether I use phone's mic or bluetooth headset.
My Nexus runs CM10.1 with Franco kernel.

 

[AndroidWelcome]

Also keen for a solution

I just returned my first N4 due to the speakerphone cutting out after a minute or two, and getting stuck in non-speakerphone mode.
The replacement seems to not have this issue, which is nice.
But now people are telling me they can hardly hear me. It happens both with normal mode and speakerphone mode.
Ridiculous.

I will be calling Google tomorrow to see what they say, but I am not going to hold my breath for a decent response. Judging by the number of people reporting this issue online, it's not something Google has a solution for.

If anyone figures this out, I'd love to hear about it.

 

[berg82]

Have sent mine for repair because of this problem. People told they could not here me well.

Skickat från min GT-I9305 via Tapatalk 2

 

[Seikoom]

I have the same issue, couldn't fix it but what I noted was that any mic gain adjustments I made only applied to the phone's mic not the headset mic. That means that there is something else that modifies the headset mic, but I do not know.