Does the microphone get any louder on the Swift 3 | SF314-42?

dancemonkeymadness
dancemonkeymadness Member Posts: 48 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
in Swift and Spin Series
My microphone only gets as high as 6% according to the testing tool. I can't use voice for anything... Cortana can't hear me... 

I've uninstalled all my audio devices and reinstalled them via manually downloaded drivers from Acer's support site. There are no audio enhancements to disable. The volume is 100%. Troubleshooter only tests the speakers and not the microphone, so that's useless. 

It would help if I had some clue of what this laptop is supposed to use for the microphone audio, considering there are three drivers from two different OEMs: AMD and Realtek. The Realtek device doesn't work as a microphone at all. Doesn't pick up a single thing. The only thing that picks up anything at all is AMD's driver, and again, it only gets to 6% on max volume. 

The microphone has never worked. The camera has never worked with Windows Hello. I have no idea what my expectations should be because Acer hasn't given me any... I can't even find out what audio device is supposed to provide the microphone... I can't even find out why the camera isn't compatible with Windows Hello, or if it's supposed to be compatible with Windows Hello. I just kind of assumed a $700 ultrabook would at least work with Windows Hello since the E15s do.

Best Answer

  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 578 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    Answer ✓
    Enable Realtek as your default driver and use Realtek Audio Console to configure your microphone.

    Your laptop's manual doesn't say your camera is Windows Hello compatible. In fact, since your laptop comes with a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello, it is very unlikely that Acer would provide you with 2 biometric devices.

Answers

  • dancemonkeymadness
    dancemonkeymadness Member Posts: 48 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    Can someone at least tell me if they have Windows Hello or the microphone working on their Swift SF314? Just that information alone would be vastly useful in troubleshooting this....
  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 578 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    Have you give permission to use camera and microphone?

    It's under Settings/Privacy.
  • dancemonkeymadness
    dancemonkeymadness Member Posts: 48 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    edited September 2020
    Yes. Windows Hello says my camera isn't compatible... I have cleared secure boot settings in BIOS, reinstalled Windows clean (no saving files or anything), the same thing, and it came factory default saying the camera was incompatible.

    The microphone is enabled as well. I wouldn't be able to test it if it were disabled. Privacy settings have nothing to do with testing if hardware functions at all. If Privacy settings were stopping it, the microphone would not function at all. It IS functioning, but it is only at 6% for the volume input, so it can barely pick up my voice unless I yell. Input volume is at 100% so it should be picking up more than 6% of sound. 

  • dancemonkeymadness
    dancemonkeymadness Member Posts: 48 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    edited September 2020
    This is how far it gets if I scream.... 17%

  • Joe9844
    Joe9844 Member Posts: 578 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon
    Answer ✓
    Enable Realtek as your default driver and use Realtek Audio Console to configure your microphone.

    Your laptop's manual doesn't say your camera is Windows Hello compatible. In fact, since your laptop comes with a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello, it is very unlikely that Acer would provide you with 2 biometric devices.
  • dancemonkeymadness
    dancemonkeymadness Member Posts: 48 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    I didn't mean to solve the thread here... is there any way to undo that? I was just trying to give you kudos or something, lol. 

    Thank you for letting me know about the camera. I kinda figured it wasn't covered since it came default like that, but it's always nice to know for sure. 



    My only options. When I select Stereo Mix, the microphone will not work at all:



    I'm not really sure what I'm expected to change in Realtek's app, as it does not appear to really offer much:




  • dancemonkeymadness
    dancemonkeymadness Member Posts: 48 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    Fixed it! Uninstalled the AMD audio stuff, and reinstalled the Realtek audio drivers here, then rebooted: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/support-product/8263?b=1

    I think I was missing the Realtek console driver... and the AMD console driver replaced it. Stupid driver update program... should've paid more attention to it. Audio works great now. :) 

    For review:
    - The Swift 3 SF314-42 does not have a Windows hello compatible camera... there is nothing wrong there.
    - If you are missing the Realtek console driver, the end result will be really, really bad mic reception. 
  • Macc22
    Macc22 Member Posts: 1 New User
    I have the same problem.

    Unfortunately, even after uninstalling all AMD sound drivers and reinstalling the Realtek Audio driver and the Realtek console driver, I couldn't make any improvements.

    With which driver does the microphone work? 
  • dhena
    dhena Member Posts: 2 New User
    Hi Can someone assist to get this sorted.. i am having hell as i have meetings on MS Teams and no one can hear me 
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,234 Trailblazer
    @dhena you should start a new thread with your question, since this one has been answered and your answer could be different. Do you have the same model of Swift 3? What does the sound setting list for mics? I assume you have the mic volume already at 100%...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • lawyer2030
    lawyer2030 Member Posts: 1 New User
    dancemonkeymadness said:
    Fixed it! Uninstalled the AMD audio stuff, and reinstalled the Realtek audio drivers here, then rebooted: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/support-product/8263?b=1

    I think I was missing the Realtek console driver... and the AMD console driver replaced it. Stupid driver update program... should've paid more attention to it. Audio works great now. :) 

    For review:
    - The Swift 3 SF314-42 does not have a Windows hello compatible camera... there is nothing wrong there.
    - If you are missing the Realtek console driver, the end result will be really, really bad mic reception. 
    Hello. I have the same problem with the same Acer Swift 3 Model. Could you make a step-by-step procedure on how you were able to fix the microphone issue? Thank you very much. It would be highly appreciated. 

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