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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
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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
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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.
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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.
Hi
I have a i9500 which I have enjoyed its high res images and full HD detailed images in 13MP (ozcan rom capability). Everything works flawlessly in my s4. Am not so sure what the problem could be when it comes to the recording of sound in video and voice recording.
I have been scrounging the net for a possible solution but realized that the s4 has a design flaw of pop and crack sounds when video recording. I do experience those but negligible. The sound quality recording is very good on the s4. My issue is it comes with an unpleasant water tap hiss that requires ambient audio to be a certain threshold to completely drown it like an ordinary conversation in a few feet from the microphone. This problem I encountered in both stock rom & ozcan rom.
The trouble comes in when you decide to record video in absolute or near silence. It will be very notable on playback at volume 10 but hardly audible at volume 4. This happens both in voice or cam recorder. Has anyone figured out how to rid of this unpleasant hiss?
Isn't anyone experiencing /has experienced this at all?
Hi,
I have experienced this while recording myself playing guitar, but I thought it was the amplifier hahaha. Sorry I can't help, it seems it's an issue with S4 itself, and if that's the case you can't do anything AFAIK. If I end up discovering a solution I'll update you on this, but I don't think I'll find anything...
~Lord
XxLordxX said:
Hi,
I have experienced this while recording myself playing guitar, but I thought it was the amplifier hahaha. Sorry I can't help, it seems it's an issue with S4 itself, and if that's the case you can't do anything AFAIK. If I end up discovering a solution I'll update you on this, but I don't think I'll find anything...
~Lord
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Click to collapse
Oh, I've just seen your reply, I hope am not too late. An in depth further analysis on the nature of this problem is, in the recorded video if you care to open it in a professional video editor, the left audio channel is the one with the distortion. The right one is crystal clear for my case with 0% hiss. In voice recording, only one channel is doing the recording and I assume it is the left one because the distortion is also present in it as bad. I'd like to here of your case though.
Just now I plugged in the earphones with the mic and voice recorder app automatically switched to using the mic on the earphones and this only happens in voice recording. Video recording doesn't automatically switch to external mic with the earphones plugged in, am not certain it is a video mic vs earphone mic compatibility issue. The good news is the earphone mic picks up very faint clear sounds even whispers in 1.5 feet proximity and WITHOUT ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT the distortion (water tap/whistling sound I get) that I get from the internal mic of the phone in voice recording only. Now what is the chance that it is my internal mic next to my charging port that is at fault?
After doing alittle more research right now, I have learnt that the voice recorder does its recording in mono hence has only one channel and the Video recorder does its recording in stereo since it has two audio channels (left and right). This now explains when it fails to use the earphone microphone as an audio external recorder.
Now the S4 has two different microphones as now seen by the video recorder's audio output. I have established that the culprit channel is the left channel. One simple test has now narrowed down which microphone is faulty. I ran the voice recorder app and placed my phone on my bed. I scratched with my finger really close to where the mic 1 (next to the usb charger is) then did the same to the mic 2 next to the earphone jack port. Thank God!! the audio recording has confirmed that it is indeed using the left channel which is the mic 1 placed next to the charging port. This gives me the chance to use this video to rectify the issue. My only problem is finding a genuine part because there are people complaining of quality issues with the replacement parts.
Kernel ranger said:
After doing alittle more research right now, I have learnt that the voice recorder does its recording in mono hence has only one channel and the Video recorder does its recording in stereo since it has two audio channels (left and right). This now explains when it fails to use the earphone microphone as an audio external recorder.
Now the S4 has two different microphones as now seen by the video recorder's audio output. I have established that the culprit channel is the left channel. One simple test has now narrowed down which microphone is faulty. I ran the voice recorder app and placed my phone on my bed. I scratched with my finger really close to where the mic 1 (next to the usb charger is) then did the same to the mic 2 next to the earphone jack port. Thank God!! the audio recording has confirmed that it is indeed using the left channel which is the mic 1 placed next to the charging port. This gives me the chance to use this video to rectify the issue. My only problem is finding a genuine part because there are people complaining of quality issues with the replacement parts.
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Click to collapse
Hi there Kernel ranger! Did you manage to fix the noise of the mic? I'm having the same trouble. This morning I recorded a Koto concert from a distance and the left channel is plagued with some kind of electrostatic noise. Right channel seems ok, though. I think I will have to clean that rubbish with Ozone...
Regards
chinchulin01 said:
Hi there Kernel ranger! Did you manage to fix the noise of the mic? I'm having the same trouble. This morning I recorded a Koto concert from a distance and the left channel is plagued with some kind of electrostatic noise. Right channel seems ok, though. I think I will have to clean that rubbish with Ozone...
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Am glad people with the same issue are following this thread. I'm telling you! I ran all the tests I could and confirmed 100% that my Microphone Mic Flex Cable Ribbon part needed replacement but before I could even do it, someone liked my s4 as it was and I sold it to them. What is your s4 model number? Now I got a Note 4.
What you can do is first get it cleaned with even rubbing alcohol if necessary, if this problem just started just recently. After cleaning it and the problem persists, you will have to get a repair kit like I did from ebay then order Microphone Mic Flex Cable Ribbon part to replace the faulty one. Youtube has tonnes of video about how to replace that part and it will only cost you $10 at the most if you do it yourself correctly.
Has anyone dealt with a dead mic ?
One day out of the blue on 4.4 mic stoped working.
Installed L 5.1. beta 3 and the mic still seems dead (Calls and Google voice) HOWEVER in sound recorder the mic works (picking every single sound) ...
Further more installed the HiQ Mp3 recorder which apparently can use front and or back mic and it works in all configs .(front back and stereo)
Tried different values via engeenering mode with no luck ....
****** Apologies to all this post was misplaced in this forum *********
I guess I should replace the charging board alltogether however I am puzled that the recordings come out clean ......
Anyone with a similar experience ??
(btw sound on wired headset is fine ... bluetooth sound is broken I think due to beta since the bt headset and speaker I tried didnt work)
Phone is Jiauy S3A
Ok Results
The issue was a dead mic (low mic) or rather a near dead mic.
Replacing the mic (on the same board ) resolves the issue (note that you can use third party mics i used asamsung one)
Best test to realise where is the fault
Open the camera recorder and start recording
Close the top mic hole with your finger, start talking in the lower mic and in the end gently (very gently) blow towards the hole.
Repeat on the top hole with the lower hole closed
After that listen to the video
If there is a problem with a mic the voice might be heard but the blow will be almost inaudiable in the problematic mic.
I have exactly the same problem - mic works fine on sound recorder and on the video camera, but Google Voice Search and using the phone does not (I've tried your blow test and it's all fine). This surely cannot be a hardware fault, can it ?
I've tried updating to LL5.1 beta3, but same problem. I've fiddled with the audio settings in the engineering menu, using a variety of values, and turned off the noise reduction without any success.
Any ideas ?
clayts450 said:
I have exactly the same problem - mic works fine on sound recorder and on the video camera, but Google Voice Search and using the phone does not (I've tried your blow test and it's all fine). This surely cannot be a hardware fault, can it ?
I've tried updating to LL5.1 beta3, but same problem. I've fiddled with the audio settings in the engineering menu, using a variety of values, and turned off the noise reduction without any success.
Any ideas ?
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Click to collapse
Google voice was the main indicator that the mic was bad ....
Do the blow test again and try as "gentle" as possible and then compare the results, if the uper mic is louder then then mic is dead or nearly dead.
Most probable that you ll need to change your mic
Thanks for your help - can you provide a link to the replacement mic you used (or did you use one from an old phone) - and is it easy to replace ?
Unfortunately I did go to a service shop for the repair, so I dont have a model number, all I know is that he proposed two different types, one was a noname and the other one was made by samsung (so my guess is that any samsung service center can sell you one) .
The process took about half an hour, unsoldering the old mic and soldering the new and the cost was 10 euros ( around 11 USD)
Sorry I couldnt be any more helpfull on that.
I found that, after video recording with stock camera app, main mic stop working for calls. only upper mic working. you can test it with 2 phones in both hands. but I was find simple solution: many people holding phone when taking pictures so the controls are on right side. but if you turn you phone so the shutter button will be on left side, after video recording, main mic still working!!! btw. if you like to take a shoot with control button on right side, just after you finished, turn your phone for 180° and make one more shoot, just to save your main mic for calls. no reboot needed after this action. tested on many roms, KK or LP, happend with all roms and stock camera. so problem is with stock camera app and sensor that give the information to phone to disable main mic.
Well mine was definitely a hardware fault - got a replacement lower board (USB/mic/speakers) and replaced it myself - all good again.
I think i've got the answer. The lower mic is broken for some of us. When we got to the camera app and take a video and turn the phone around it will indeed change the mic and then will use the upper one (still working) in future calls. This is why you can then be heard after when you call someone, but you'll be using the upper mic and the lower mic is still broken. Once your reboot you have to redo this. I'd like to buy a new board (usb + mic) but we cannot find any on internet anymore. Except some sellers on Ebay who are selling it from 150 dollars to 900 dollars (no joke). I guess i don't have much solution except doing that trick and use the upper mic and then try not to reboot the phone.
Hello everyone, I've checked the forums and I've not really seen many answers to this question as it's something that's been bugging me for a while now.
I don't know when it started, but I noticed recently after recording a video and playing back, the sound on one side is completely gone. Almost like Stereo mode has been disabled, I have determined that it is the microphone that is often used during Loudspeaker calls, I tested this by placing a call to a friend on a regular call, then a WhatsApp Call, and finally a Skype call - and each platform is having the same issue - my loudspeaker microphone is not picking up audio. Is there a fix for this? I took apart the device, cleaned thoroughly but I'm wondering if the microphone itself has become busted. If anyone has a similar issue, or has found a fix for this - could you please provide me with some information? I love my Note 3 and would love to start recording some videos again.
Thanks everyone!
Ginger Bearded Guy
Ginger Bearded Guy said:
Hello everyone, I've checked the forums and I've not really seen many answers to this question as it's something that's been bugging me for a while now.
I don't know when it started, but I noticed recently after recording a video and playing back, the sound on one side is completely gone. Almost like Stereo mode has been disabled, I have determined that it is the microphone that is often used during Loudspeaker calls, I tested this by placing a call to a friend on a regular call, then a WhatsApp Call, and finally a Skype call - and each platform is having the same issue - my loudspeaker microphone is not picking up audio. Is there a fix for this? I took apart the device, cleaned thoroughly but I'm wondering if the microphone itself has become busted. If anyone has a similar issue, or has found a fix for this - could you please provide me with some information? I love my Note 3 and would love to start recording some videos again.
Thanks everyone!
Ginger Bearded Guy
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Click to collapse
First factory reset and check again. .if same it s material problem
I've Factory Reset about 10 times since this post, and attempted all kinds of different things. I can confirm that it is a definitely a hardware issue, could you recommend what to do so I can get this fixed? Again, my primary microphone works fine while making calls - it is only when I enable Loudspeaker that the other party is unable to hear me due to the "Top Microphone" on the device not working for some unknown reason. Again, I've attempted cleans, fixes etc - but the issue only occurs during loudspeaker calls and when recording video as the top microphone is used with the primary microphone for Stereo Recording.
I know the microphone still picks up some form of audio but at a very low level - as I have called a friend and enabled loudspeaker and continued on to blowing in the hole where the microphone is situated. They can hear the loud distortion created by the air, but not a voice or anything like that. I really have to shout (And I mean LOUD) if anything audio is to be picked up.
I noticed that when I was playing with Snapchat and was trying to record music from my earbuds that the best place to hold my earbud was next to the hole on the back of the phone and that when I held the earbud next to the speaker on the front (specifically the bottom one) the audio from the headphones was almost inaudible. This seemed pretty weird to me since when I talk to people it's usually into the bottom part of my screen and not the back of the phone... Regardless, when I switched to the mic on the back it was equivalent to hearing the music directly from the earbuds. Any reason for this?
My microphone wasn't working that well..everybody I talked to on the phone said I sounded muffled . I got a replacement today. You have to notify project Fi
It's a common problem, RMA won't fix it as it is a software issue.
It happens because of noise-cancellation being set to too aggressive. You can't change it without root, so we'll just have to wait for Google to fix it via patch.