[UNSOLVED - HW problem] Internal Mic Not Working on Dell Inspiron

[jej]

I've never been able to see the capture device in alsamixer, even with 5.4.

[HAWR]

That's the boot menu? I can get it by pressing the <Shift> key during startup?

Yes, that's it. In the menu you have to take the Adcanced Options and choose the 5.4 kernel. In Linux you have to remove the 5.13 kernel in the Update Manager > View > Linux Kernels

[HAWR]

I've never been able to see the capture device in alsamixer, even with 5.4.

Is there nothing when you choose F4? Is there maybe a column Input Source?

[jej]

OK, I reverted to the 5.4 kernel. Still not seeing a capture device in Alsamixer.

[jej]

In Alsamixer pressing F4 shows

no.png (3.01 KiB) Viewed 638 times

[HAWR]

Okay, I didn't know that. Try the following commands in that order and see, what happens

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apt install --reinstall pulseaudio
apt remove --purge alsa-base
apt install alsa-base

[jej]

Still get the "no" sign from alsamixer.

[HAWR]

And in pavucontrol when you record audio/video or in the Input tab you can see a microphone?

I've just seen, that I dont know, if you have pavucontrol (PulseAudio VolumeController)?

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sudo apt-get install pavucontrol

You can find it in the Menu > Multimedia

[jej]

Pulse Audio shows the internal microphone:

[HAWR]

Okay, I thought, that it is also not detected there. Then we can go on tomorrow.

[HAWR]

Hello jej,

unfortunately I haven't found an explanation yet why nothing appears under Capture in alsamixer. But we should try again, whether we might have success with further options in alsa-base (possibly also in combination with hdajackretask). I think that by the captured installation of alsa-base the option we already set is no longer available. If it is, please remove it and try the following options, each with a reboot and the options you know in alsamixer, pavucontrol and hdajackretask. Before you begin, please run the following command and see, if this has an effect:

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apt install --reinstall alsa-base alsa-utils pulseaudio linux-sound-base libasound2

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sudo -H xed /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

options snd_hda_intel model=laptop-amic

options snd_hda_intel model=laptop-dmic

options snd_hda_intel model=inv-dmic

[jej]

I reinstalled alsa-base and then tried all three options in your above post, followed by a reboot. None gave me a capture device in Alsamixer, nor did I get a working mic. It seems the mic is picking up something, as I get a listing in Pulse Audio Control, and background noise when I play back a video recording. But I can't capture my voice on a recording.

[HAWR]

It seems the mic is picking up something,

Do you know, if that is new or is it related to one of the options above?

[jej]

No, that has always been the state of things. When I open Onlinemictest.com the internal mic shows in Pulse Audio Control as recording. But still, no voice recognition, only background noise. And no capture device in alsamixer. It almost seems as if the internal monitor and internal microphone are switched somehow?

[HAWR]

And do you see movements on the onlinemictest website, when you are speaking?

When I look at your alsamixer screen, there are two Internal Mic columns. The right should be the Boost and the left one your Mic, which is unbalanced. Can you set the Boost to 0/0 and balance the internal Mic (see F1 for help to choose the right keys for left and right balance)? And of course test again.

[jej]

That second column, for mic boost, disappeared somewhere along the way. This is what I have now:

I just texted my daughter, from whom I got this machine (after she got it from me). She said the mic was unreliable under Windows, so, after all this effort, I think it may be a hardware defect. I apologize for taking so much of your time. For me the time wasn't wasted, because I've learned a lot through our exchange. Thank you again.

[HAWR]

She said the mic was unreliable under Windows

Yes, then it could be a hardware failure. If you want a microphone, maybe you have a headset which you can use.

For me the time wasn't wasted, because I've leaned a lot through our exchange. Thank you again.

You're welcome and I always learn in the process, too. So it's mutual If you want to close the thread, edit your first post and maybe add [UNSOLVED, probably hardware failure] to the headline.

Edit: One last thing you could try: shutdown, disconnect from power, take out the battery, press the power button for about 30 seconds, wait a few minutes, insert the battery again and boot.

[jej]

Postscript: I bought a $9 USB microphone, which worked like a charm immediately.

[HeLiX]

Hello,

I had the exact same problem with a Dell Inspiron 15 3567, I am a Debian user but the solution is probably the same.

I see on your screenshots of pulse audio control and alsamixer that the microphone volume is 100%. This is the default value but it is actually way too much, it amplifies a lot the ambient noise and you can't hear your voice. For me a good value is around 40%. You can try to reduce the volume in pulse audio control and record yourself speaking to find the good value.

Maybe this can help other people as well