Headset Mic Amplification Help Please

[iamdarkbowser]

I have been having issues with the mic on my HyperX Alpha being rather quiet while using them with my computer (plugged into onboard from the back). I have spent the last 2 hours researching issues related to Windows, audio drivers ect... I have determined in short that the signal should be amplified before it gets to my computer in order to make myself heard and to avoid distortion that, as I understand, is created by digital amplification. Keep in mind I am not well versed in the world of audio equipment. Also I have no need to amplify the audio going towards my headset, all that is working fine, I'm only worried about the mic. 

 

My questions are thus: what hardware do I need in order to do this and will this type of solution even work for this application?

[keskparane]

You've enabled mic boost?

[iamdarkbowser]

I've got everything I can find at max, including both of those and mic volume in Discord.

[Enderman]

Did you uise a 4 pole splitter?

What ports did you plug it into?

Did you check the manual to see if that controller thing on the cable affects the mic volume with any of its settings?

[iamdarkbowser]

It came with a 4 pole splitter, they are plugged into the correct ports and the only control the controller has over the mic is mute. I can hear audio when I speak, it's just almost uselessly quiet.

[Kilrah]

How are you actually determining that the mic volume is too low?

[iamdarkbowser]

Discord's mic test. When I use manual voice activity the slider needs to be set to about -85db in order for it to trigger, and the audio quality is poorer than I would expect and I think that is due to the mic boost being set to +30db.

[iamdarkbowser]

I just double checked with Audacity and it's the same. This is what it looks like recording me speaking normally.

[The Flying Sloth]

3 hours ago, iamdarkbowser said:

Discord's mic test. When I use manual voice activity the slider needs to be set to about -85db in order for it to trigger, and the audio quality is poorer than I would expect and I think that is due to the mic boost being set to +30db.

Those numbers sound fine, my detection is at -83 and I'm using a studio mic in a relatively high end setup.
There's nothing wrong with low audio levels in Audacity either, signal is very often boosted in post to reach usable levels.
Headset mics will never be the best sounding option but they're certainly one of the most attainable for gamers on a budget.

Sloth