Microphone not working at all in Skype

Question

I have been able to get the built-in microphone (it's an Acer laptop) to not only work, but work perfectly in Ubuntu's own Sound Recorder, but when starting up Skype, there's no sign of my microphone at all.

I've reinstalled Skype, checked ALSAmixer and tried various settings.

Solution 1

I've had weird problems where the mic was muted and I had to use pavucontrol to unmute it. You can install the additional pulseaudio utilities:

sudo apt-get install paman padevchooser paprefs pavucontrol pavumeter

Check the input tab in pavucontrol and make sure its not muting your mic. You can also play with the configuration tab in case that is wrong, but note your initial setting first.

Keep in mind what arochester and Joao are saying, make sure pulseaudio is selected in the skype audio options.

Solution 2

I have an Acer Aspire netbook and had exactly the same problem - microphone worked for recording, would not work with Skype, only PulseAudio input available on Skype so I couldn't manually provide the microphone name.

Absolutely weirdly what worked for me was to go to my PulseAudio volume control for the input on the microphone and make sure my left and right channels were not at the same level. I have no idea why, but turning down either channel made the microphone work well enough for skype...

Solution 3

by these steps :-

1. Run alsamixer
2. Unmute all the outputs by pressing m
3. Press tab to go the capture settings
4. Highlight the “Mic” setting using the arrow keys.
5. Press space to enable the microphone.
6. Highlight the “Capture” setting using the arrow keys.
7. Press space to enable capture (note that just because you have volume bar here doesn’t mean it is enabled).
8. Press escape.

Solution 4

I had the same problem on my Lenovo E325.

This is what solved the problem for me:

1. in Terminal type alsamixer
   
2. With F6 you can change between audio devices, with F4 you are changing the Capture settings - make sure, that Capture device is not muted (a good indicator is if you can change with up and down arrow the amount of bars for the CAPTURE)
3. Assuming you have PulseAudio installed, Go to Options/Sound Devices in Skype
4. Click "Open pulse Audio Volume Control"
5. While in Volume Control Settings, make a test phone call (you may use skype Echo or call your friend, you need a way to check if the method is working)
6. While making the call, you can see in "Recording" Tab of Volume Control different devices you can choose from - try to change between them and see if person on the other sound of the line is hearing anything.

I think the cause of this problem is that if you have many Audio sources (e.g. Audio In Jack for external Microphone and Built in Microphone, like in my case) you have to let Skype know which one it should use. When I changed it in Recording Tab it resolved my issue. Good luck!

Solution 5

I just unchecked "Allow Skype to automatically adjust my mixer levels" and mic is working now

View more solutions

Comments

[Admin]

The sound settings for Skype are IN Skype and NOT in the computer sound settings. Skype>S Button (bottom left)>Options>Sound Devices. You need to experiment with the various settings available to find the right one...

[João Pinto]

Have you set the microphone to pulseaudio server on your Skype audio options ? If other pulseaudio enabled apps can work with your mic skype should also be able to do it.

[Jawn]

Hi - pulseaudio is the only option that's available inside skype

[Admin]

Yes, this is realy strange, but as glenatron said... On acer aspire one netbook you have to unbalance left/right channel for microphone.. greater difference greater input volume.. :/ weird

[Jawn]

Hi Djeikyb! Thanks for your advice. I did this and actually noticed that the microphone were really low and try to boost it in many ways, but failed :(

[Jawn]

Hi Peter. That's strange. Will try it asap when I have a mic around and get bcack to you!

[neydroydrec]

How do you see what is enabled and what is not?

[Alvar]

In the question it's stated that the microphone is built in and not inserted via a USB. so why would it show up in lsusb?