"Electric" sound coming from Mic input on laptop and low Mic volume

[Svenrolic]

The Situation:
I have a Toshiba Qosmio X775-3DV80. I'm using it with a UK to US plug because the base housing here is 240v (220v?). A week ago I replaced my Turtle Beach x12s with a pair of AKG 712s and an Antlion Modmic. When I did this, I downloaded the latest Realtek Drivers and the Dolby Surround Sound drivers around the same time. During troubleshooting I reorganized my wires, so I am unsure if the power cables etc were moved prior to troubleshooting. I also downloaded the Razer Game Booster which seemed to apply some system changes.

Prior to changes:
Friends noted my Mic volume was low, this was fixed by seperating the mic devices on the Realtek interface when I updated it.

After changes:
There is a Buzzing / Electric sound coming across the mic input with any Mic I've tried so far; the Antlion Modmic, the Zalman Z1-Mic, and the original Turtle Beach x12s.

Troubleshooting / Fault Isolation:
Note: The issue occured a while after downloading the new sound drivers, so I don't believe they directly contributed.
1. I disabled all other microphone inputs and tested with each of the combinations on/off.
2. I did the commonly suggested tinkering with the "sound options > Recording Tab > Microphone" noise isolation options etc. while using the "listen" function. With no Mic boost the mic is barely audible and the interferance seems to overpower my voice. I tried this with both the windows interface and the Realtek interface. With mic boost on 10-30db I can hear the electric sound which seems to die down then cut in and out eventually becoming constant.
3. I muted the mic from the switch on the cable itself (common on TurtleBeach headsets, and present on the AntLion as well. The electric sound/buzzing was still there. I repeated step 2.
4. I moved all cables away from the Mic Input, and recieved an Audioquest Dragonfly (USB headphone adapter with amp etc built in) and repeated step 2 with the mic being the only input on the right side of my laptop.
5. I disconnected all power sources and all other inputs/outputs to the laptop, and moved it elsewhere and plugged in just the mic(s). I played the "listen" through the built-in speakers. I repeated step 2. The electric sound/buzzing was still there.
6. I uninstalled the "Razer Game Booster" as in my mind it was the only software change. There were no changes to the electric background noise.
7. Last night I did a full system restore and it uninstalled all drivers and programs installed in the past two weeks. Every mic still has the electric signature coming across. After this I reinstalled everything that I noticed was changed (drivers etc.) because if the issue was still present with them uninstalled/backdated then it wasn't them, correct?

Any help/assistance/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If you can help me fix this so I can skype home to the folks it would be awesome.
"All Hail the Helix Fossil." -Whalen
"Now is not the time to use that." -Professor Oak
"c:" -Sven


Laboris Gloria Ludi

 

[Joost Zuijderduijn]

Can you give me a sound sample of that, I need to witness it myself, before I am going to scream out information that might've been irrelevant for the situation you are in now.

 

[Svenrolic]

Can you give me a sound sample of that, I need to witness it myself, before I am going to scream out information that might've been irrelevant for the situation you are in now.

http://chirb.it/x9BAzC - Mic Muted on the inline mute
http://chirb.it/DLPHwF - Mic not muted, trying to get a better recording.
I'll try to get a better recording after work today.

 

[Joost Zuijderduijn]

Can you give me a sound sample of that, I need to witness it myself, before I am going to scream out information that might've been irrelevant for the situation you are in now.

http://chirb.it/x9BAzC - Mic Muted on the inline mute
http://chirb.it/DLPHwF - Mic not muted, trying to get a better recording.
I'll try to get a better recording after work today.

Thanks for posting the sounds Svenrolic,
The sounds I am hearing have nothing to do with your mic.
What I think that it is, it's your environment, the sound crackling noise, sounds so much simular to a room that is not well isolated, or an room with a window open.

If I can help you with anything further, I'll be here.

~ Joost Zuijderduijn

 

[Svenrolic]

Can you give me a sound sample of that, I need to witness it myself, before I am going to scream out information that might've been irrelevant for the situation you are in now.

http://chirb.it/x9BAzC - Mic Muted on the inline mute
http://chirb.it/DLPHwF - Mic not muted, trying to get a better recording.
I'll try to get a better recording after work today.

Thanks for posting the sounds Svenrolic,
The sounds I am hearing have nothing to do with your mic.
What I think that it is, it's your environment, the sound crackling noise, sounds so much simular to a room that is not well isolated, or an room with a window open.

If I can help you with anything further, I'll be here.

~ Joost Zuijderduijn

So you're suggesting a grounding issue? I'll record the sound it makes with nothing plugged in with the exception of a mic with and without the inline audio muted. If you're correct what would be the solution to "isolate" the room, or at least allow me to use a mic without annoying people I'm trying to talk to?

 

[Joost Zuijderduijn]

I use a very complicated setup to communicate over software (Example: Skype, Ventrilo etc.)
But try to look up for Blue Ice Microphones, it's rather expansive but it's what I bought to make the problem go away.

Also, what we could do. Is that I am going to be home tonight, I don't know in what zone you are living, but I could go with you into a skype conversations trying if I hear the problem aswell.

Let me know further.

~ Joost Zuijderduijn

 

[Joost Zuijderduijn]

Can you give me a sound sample of that, I need to witness it myself, before I am going to scream out information that might've been irrelevant for the situation you are in now.

http://chirb.it/x9BAzC - Mic Muted on the inline mute
http://chirb.it/DLPHwF - Mic not muted, trying to get a better recording.
I'll try to get a better recording after work today.

Thanks for posting the sounds Svenrolic,
The sounds I am hearing have nothing to do with your mic.
What I think that it is, it's your environment, the sound crackling noise, sounds so much simular to a room that is not well isolated, or an room with a window open.

If I can help you with anything further, I'll be here.

~ Joost Zuijderduijn

So you're suggesting a grounding issue? I'll record the sound it makes with nothing plugged in with the exception of a mic with and without the inline audio muted. If you're correct what would be the solution to "isolate" the room, or at least allow me to use a mic without annoying people I'm trying to talk to?

Also to explain why I think it's your environment.
Because "After updating realtek > "There is a Buzzing / Electric sound coming across the mic input with any Mic I've tried so far; the Antlion Modmic, the Zalman Z1-Mic, and the original Turtle Beach x12s."
Multiple mics with the same problem, I doubt that's coincidence.

I have 3 options:
Try to update your audio plug-ins.
If the buzzing / electric sound came across the mic input after you updated the realtek interface. Try to go back to your previous version.
For your mic I have a different solution > It could be a power limit issue check if there are no other audio devices that require a mic aswell, also check the boost panel if there are any changes to your setup after you downloaded the newest Realtek Driver.

 

[Joost Zuijderduijn]

I forgot to ask one thing, What kind of motherboard do you have? Intel?

If you have an intel motherboard, here is what you could do. http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-020642.htm

Download the audio wizard from intel and let it run on your computer, it should troubleshoot the occuring problem you have at the moment, and on the hand of that information, you can fix that problem.

Let me know more about it.

~ Joost Zuijderduijn

 

[Joost Zuijderduijn]

Actually forget about what I said all above here, what I want you to do first is.

is check this: http://prntscr.com/4lfzqn

and this: http://prntscr.com/4lfzvf

If the power booster is marked, that could cause the buzzing sound