Anybody else got TERRIBLE sound when recording or using the A500 for VOIP calls or Skype whatever?
Really awful, and when recording you can hear you own voice clearly indicating the microphone is in front but why?
The recording image is pretty f-ing good! But sound is very disappointing... Is it possible to fix this? Or is a permanent issue?
Can anybody else comment on their recording quality?
Would be greatly appreciated, we gotto make the most of out Iconias right!
The microphone cuts-off everything above approx. 3.5kHz and the noise cancellation (2nd mic under the SDCard cover) seem to make things even worse. You can try to cover the 2nd mic with your fingertip.
I had a tablet that had a problem with the microphone. It worked ok for voice searches and recordings at the beginning, it never worked for skype or google talk video chats. The finger over the microphone thing worked for skype, not so much for google talk. After about a month it stopped working for everything and gave me an "audio connection" problem. Called acer, they said it was hardware related...they offered to fix it, but instead I brought it back to best buy and got a new one. The microphone works spectacularly now. If you can, bring it back and get a new one....
This is a BIG EPIC failure for Acer... I mean its such a small thing that they could have done better, nearly ALL tablets have decent mics...
Related
Uhm, yeah, can't find it...
2 microphones actually. The user guide on Acer.com says "Dual microphone with noise and echo cancellation" and they are located next to each other along the top of the LCD. If you look closely at the top of the LCD while it is in landscape mode (with the docking port pointing down), you'll see the opening for the microphones. =)
man i looked for ages for these mics i still cant see squat. know they are there though as ive used em for recording, and for video calls
Do you have good mic performance in gtalk when on video call?
Mine was acting a bit weird.
They could hear me for a minute or so after starting the conference, but then my voice would fade away and they would only hear some backround noise.. sometimes they could hear me if would only talk directly into the usb host port lol!
When recording mic works fine. Havent tried skype yet.
Is this the case for any of you???
i had issues with the mic with the first a500 i got, the person on the other end would would hear a lot of static. But i've got the tab replaced and its been working fine now!
My mic performance is terrible. My wife has an I-pod 4, and her mic works great (using Hey Tell) sitting in same room, her voice on the Tab is great...mine on the I-pod is terrible. Hardware possibly? Any updates? Skype is terrible also...
Remidies?
Mic is pretty horrible. Often does not pick up voice to text and recorded voice is terrible. First mic is literally between the bezel and the glass in the middle top of the screen. Second mic is in sd card slot which makes no sense. Other than the size and weight it is my only real complaint so far.
my first a500 mic was horrible, it started off fine but after a little while it crapped out and the other side could not hear me, oddly enough whne just doing a voice recording rather than gtalk/skype call it was fine. anyways exchanged it for a new one this one works very well.
!!!???Nooooo
!!!Please keep your Ipod talk out of the android forum. Thank you very much ;(
JimFPU said:
My mic performance is terrible. My wife has an I-pod 4, and her mic works great (using Hey Tell) sitting in same room, her voice on the Tab is great...mine on the I-pod is terrible. Hardware possibly? Any updates? Skype is terrible also...
Remidies?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rishikesh said:
i had issues with the mic with the first a500 i got, the person on the other end would would hear a lot of static. But i've got the tab replaced and its been working fine now!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you can video chat just fine? You don't have the problems stated in my thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1096042
?
Here is a good teardown I found on techrepublic that shows the two microphones in the A500.
(sorry, low post count, I can't post external links yet)
www_techrepublic_com/blog/itdojo/acer-iconia-tab-teardown-easy-to-service-3g-ready/2861?tag=content;siu-container
I am having issues with the mic on the iconia. Volume is pretty low. While using gtalk the other side can barely hear me. Has anyone else been experiencing this?
Same here. Testing Fring and using the built-in mic or a headset mic, it is impossible to hear what I am saying. There is no mic adjustment in the Fring app and I can't find one in the tablet settings? Am I missing something that should be very obvious? How do you adjust microphone senstivity?
same problem with gtalk. It's sometime hard to hear what I say
I ve been having the same issues with gtalk. Havent tried any other voip app yet.
Mic works fine in voice recording apps though, so it can't be hardware related.
Maybe honeycomb issue??
Where are the mics?
i think the mic is atthe top of the screen in the crack dead center .click the vol up and click on the/pop up the middle i think is the mic volume .if/im/wrong sorry
I have the same problem on my galaxy tab 10.1 but mic volume seems low on all apps.
Just got the a500 and have experience similar results, mic volume is extremely low.
I have tried it with various voice apps, including gtalk, voice recorder, camcorder, etc, and the voice is really low.
Im begining to wonder that this is a hardware issue.
Is this issue consistent with all a500s? or only some models?
My mic is so low volume as to be virtrually useless. I tried plugging in an external mic and that was slightly better but not enough.
When using the voice recorder app I notice that the meter hardly moves off the stop, something wrong here.
I wonder if this issue is more common than it should be?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1162054
But some people here have said their mic is fine. I am going to check a few out in the shops and see if they are any better. Really, at the moment it's not suitable for skype or google talk which is what I got it for.
I still think its a honeycomb noise canceling issue. Plug In headphones while u record and u will see the difference.
I bought a second A500 yesterday and the microphone records my voice far better than the unit I've had for almost 2 weeks. With the old unit I can barely hear what I speak, but the new one I can hear myself clearly. Manufacturing date of the old one is may, the new one is manufactured in april. It did not get the 3.1 update yet so it's still running stock 3.01. One other thing I like about the new one I just got is that the volume buttons work a bit easier and don't require as much force to push them down.
Rob
silverball.slayer said:
I bought a second A500 yesterday and the microphone records my voice far better than the unit I've had for almost 2 weeks. With the old unit I can barely hear what I speak, but the new one I can hear myself clearly. Manufacturing date of the old one is may, the new one is manufactured in april. It did not get the 3.1 update yet so it's still running stock 3.01. One other thing I like about the new one I just got is that the volume buttons work a bit easier and don't require as much force to push them down.
Rob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the key right there.
It's a software problem not a material one.
I experienced the exact same thing as you.
Bought a new tablet and tested the mic with stock 3.0.1. The volume was fine.
Updated to 3.1 and the volume was very low.
Well, my mic sucks in a big way. I tried many times to use google talk, tango and so on with horrible results. I have to yell like crazy and they can barely hear me.
So... as a lot of ppl are complaiing and it's a software problem, is it possible they do nothing to solve it????? It shouldn't be that difficult...
dominuspaulus said:
I am having issues with the mic on the iconia. Volume is pretty low. While using gtalk the other side can barely hear me. Has anyone else been experiencing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I opened up my acer and moved the microphone to the front because before when recordingi couldnt catch a sound coming from recording eg. a person talking.
Now I can at least hear the voices of the people im filming.
For gtalk and skype and stuff i use a headphone set with a mic via the headphones jack, much nicer.
Cheers!
Johnny0906 said:
I opened up my acer and moved the microphone to the front because before when recordingi couldnt catch a sound coming from recording eg. a person talking.
Now I can at least hear the voices of the people im filming.
For gtalk and skype and stuff i use a headphone set with a mic via the headphones jack, much nicer.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't say things like these and not tell us the how's and the what's. For example, what headset did you use? How did you move the mic to front?
BTW, I'm on 3.1 and have never had an issue with the mic. Just did a recording while I was driving and talking. Still sounds pretty good to me.
goodintentions said:
You don't say things like these and not tell us the how's and the what's. For example, what headset did you use? How did you move the mic to front?
BTW, I'm on 3.1 and have never had an issue with the mic. Just did a recording while I was driving and talking. Still sounds pretty good to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is actually a thread further back if you bother to look that I opened and described everything and also uploaded a video to see the mic improvement.
Edit: Here is my thread, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1169050
Edit: Headset I used is a brand called EXIBEL Art.no 38-4061, cheap and works PERFECTLY I can hear and be heard as if in the room.
same issues. Sound seems to just stop as well after I use camcorder
Mine works well on any app except gtalk. Although I recently installed voodoo on my rooted Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the mic adjustments helped. Without Voodoo I usually just plug in headphones when I use gtalk and that solves the issue 100%.
When I record a video of the kids, you can hear me fine while holding the device but anyone on the other side is very muffled. I know others have experienced this issue. I Love the camera it does a great job just wish the mic went along with it. I read that acer had 2 mics and sound concelling technolgy installed which some say creates this issue. my question is could this problem be corrected with an update? Or would an external mic possibly work?
Hi, guys Ive been looking for microphone fix on my A500 , when i record any video it has this loud background noise...which in fact my room is silent , also when I'm recording videos outside & using Skype . Im using HC 3.2.1 rooted with thor's CMW ver 1.5 . I been searching the forum for a fix but i cant find it or so as I read that they will fix this issue on HC 3.2, but still i get this issues . Is this a Hardware problem or OS issue?
Also can I still return this tablet to walmart & get a refund? I already exchange the first 1 cuz It got a charging issue. SO basically I'm returning an exchange tablet. It hasn't been 14 days yet. as they mentioned for returns & refunds.
Thanks.
hatyrei said:
Hi, guys Ive been looking for microphone fix on my A500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny, I was coming here to ask for help about something similar...
In my case, I have a refurbished A500 which has been awesome so far, with the exception of the microphone. It records terribly, lots of noise and distortion in any recording I make (using Recorder as the test app I made a short .amr recording which I attach 7zip-compressed).
A friend has an A500, and it doesn't seem to display this issue. While it's no deal-breaker (I can live without recording audio...playback of tv shows loaded on the card works better-than-fine!), I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to fix it, or at least make it a little less...noisy.
I believe the culprit has to do with the speakers creating feedback. The workaround is to use headphones. Hope this works for you.
Take a look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1065219
tabasco22 said:
Take a look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1065219
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did read that entire thread, which only tells me there are multiple unrelated issues around audio recording on the A500...these issues seem to get all mixed-together in that thread, with people who only care about Skype focusing on that and cross-talking to people who have completely different recording issues. I was hoping this thread could avoid the whole need-to-use-Skype distraction and focus on the specific issue of seemingly over-driven recordings. (With the refurb, I'm also out of the whole keep-complaining-to-acer-until-they-do-something-to-fix-it focus there seems to be on that thread. I can't really complain, and any warranty I had expired a while ago.)
The earlier suggestion to use a headset is, however, something I should have considered first (even read in the earlier Skype-centric thread), and am a little embarrassed I didn't. Sometime this weekend I'll pick up a cheap 3.5 mic/headphone set and see if that makes any difference. If it does, and the recordings though it are cleaner, I can be more comfortable it will work for one thing I care about...using the A500 with the SquareUp CC processor.
Mic - Solution for me.
Problem: Microphone recordings sound terrible. Soft, Choppy, Mechanical, like a bad cell call, bathroom (NOT the severe helicopter sound as others have reported). My hypothesis like others have suggested, seems to be noise cancellation issues. Especially since the issues vary app to app. These mics are right beside each other and I assume they're pretty much hearing the same thing, and the rear is trying to cancel what it hears, which is the same as the front! End result being filtering what it hears, ie filtering everything? FAIL.
Test 1: Using Recorder and Skype Test call, I tested different distances talking to the front/back, covering front mic, covering back mic, case on, case off, headphones plugged in/out, etc. In some instances you could hear some, and other hear nothing, some sound ok, some sound horrible. I wasn't satisfied with ANY.
Test 2: Popped off back of tablet and disconnected REAR facing mic. They are side/side, make sure you disconnect the correct one, the one with the diaphragm pointing out. Simple connector. Then tried Recorder/Skype Test call and both sounded Excellent. I have not tried a call with Skype, just the test. EDIT: Tested a real Skype call last night. No sound issues on my end or other end.
Conclusion: Removal of rear mic provided the best quality. There is zero filtering/cancellation/etc.
Gotta try this
Hmm!
Should of thought of this myself. Going to give it shot and post back later!
Unhooked the rear mike --it helps the front m ike is usable now. Not perfect but works.
So for me
1 Run Flexreaper ICS by Civato = better mike
2 Drill hole for front mike = not as muffled
3 Disconnect rear mike= almost as good as a phone but not as sensitive.
Okay on recording and search but Skype still noisy without headset.
Damn connectors were a pain to unhook.
appoaf said:
Problem: Microphone recordings sound terrible. Soft, Choppy, Mechanical, like a bad cell call, bathroom (NOT the severe helicopter sound as others have reported). My hypothesis like others have suggested, seems to be noise cancellation issues. Especially since the issues vary app to app. These mics are right beside each other and I assume they're pretty much hearing the same thing, and the rear is trying to cancel what it hears, which is the same as the front! End result being filtering what it hears, ie filtering everything? FAIL.
Test 1: Using Recorder and Skype Test call, I tested different distances talking to the front/back, covering front mic, covering back mic, case on, case off, headphones plugged in/out, etc. In some instances you could hear some, and other hear nothing, some sound ok, some sound horrible. I wasn't satisfied with ANY.
Test 2: Popped off back of tablet and disconnected REAR facing mic. They are side/side, make sure you disconnect the correct one, the one with the diaphragm pointing out. Simple connector. Then tried Recorder/Skype Test call and both sounded Excellent. I have not tried a call with Skype, just the test. EDIT: Tested a real Skype call last night. No sound issues on my end or other end.
Conclusion: Removal of rear mic provided the best quality. There is zero filtering/cancellation/etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did and I agree this is a fix if you want to use recorder, Skype, talk, tango, etc. But I also learned to forget using the video camera UNLESS you have it using the rear camera (this is one you use by default when you Skype). Looks like it uses the microphone that points in the direction of the active camera.
So I would suspect the noise cancelling algorithm settings are to blame for poor sound recordings.
I solve this issue by using my stereo earphone with mic that came with my Nokia phone. I have tried a bluetooth stereo headset with mic and another wired earbuds with mic, there was either still a lot of noise or the sound level was very low. Basically, it is the same as using a headset. Finally I found one earphone with mic that works well. I actually have two of the same earbuds from 2 identical Nokia 5230. I tested them on two Iconia A500 with voice chat and video chat, it works very well both ways. I have also tried to turned off the Dolby Mobile as suggested by someone. It actually makes it worse and the sound level went down a lot.
acer a501 microphone fix
hi all
today i finally got to the bottom of the microphone issue
versions 3.x had some issues with the mic that cant be fixed - tried different internal and external mics but no good - i thought it was a hardware issue
and not able to solve but after ota update of ics the external mic is perfect - crystal clear and no noise and heaps of level.
the internal mic is crap so i decided to change the microphone with anything i could find - it has to be electret mic.
I had a few lying around and some worked well and some did not - i eventually found one that worked really well will heaps of level - the
only prob was that it was twice the size of the original.
i had to cut some of the plastic away but eventually got it installed.
The internal mic works great now - much better than the muffled one that came with the unit.
I left the second mic connected as it seems to make no difference in or out.
So what i have found -
firmware on 3.x no good for mic
ics makes mic work well if you use exeternal.
internal mic - get rid of it as it is useless.
hope this helps someone as i spent lots of time trying to fix this
OK but...
jzaiter said:
hi all
today i finally got to the bottom of the microphone issue
versions 3.x had some issues with the mic that cant be fixed - tried different internal and external mics but no good - i thought it was a hardware issue
and not able to solve but after ota update of ics the external mic is perfect - crystal clear and no noise and heaps of level.
the internal mic is crap so i decided to change the microphone with anything i could find - it has to be electret mic.
I had a few lying around and some worked well and some did not - i eventually found one that worked really well will heaps of level - the
only prob was that it was twice the size of the original.
i had to cut some of the plastic away but eventually got it installed.
The internal mic works great now - much better than the muffled one that came with the unit.
I left the second mic connected as it seems to make no difference in or out.
So what i have found -
firmware on 3.x no good for mic
ics makes mic work well if you use exeternal.
internal mic - get rid of it as it is useless.
hope this helps someone as i spent lots of time trying to fix this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HoneyComb 3.2 disconnected the rear microphone, Resulted in Better Quality without helicopter noise specially better for skype Etc.
Video recording still Just hardly acceptable. but quality is still bad.
Wont buy from acer anymore.
Anyone experience any issues with Nexus 10 and its mic? I tested google voice and video chat with couple different people and they all had hard time hearing me. I had to talk louder than usual or even almost scream for them to hear me. They're reporting it always sounds muffled or the audio cuts off.
The video feed is coming in fine and I know my network connection isn't an issue. Wondering if anyone else is having similar issue and whether I should contact Google for a replacement.
Thanks!
Edit: Seems like I was able to figure out the issue. I removed the back panel and tested it and the audio is coming through fine. It seems the cover isn't aligned properly over the mic hole. I contacted Google and am getting it replaced.
bkforyou said:
Anyone experience any issues with Nexus 10 and its mic? I tested google voice and video chat with couple different people and they all had hard time hearing me. I had to talk louder than usual or even almost scream for them to hear me. They're reporting it always sounds muffled or the audio cuts off.
The video feed is coming in fine and I know my network connection isn't an issue. Wondering if anyone else is having similar issue and whether I should contact Google for a replacement.
Thanks!
Edit: Seems like I was able to figure out the issue. I removed the back panel and tested it and the audio is coming through fine. It seems the cover isn't aligned properly over the mic hole. I contacted Google and am getting it replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does it work now? My friend has just got one and whenever he calls me on Google Hanouts, his audio works for a few seconds, then gets muffled and choppy - I can't understand him at all......