Steam microphone works, what should I do? The microphone does not work in Steam: typical errors and methods for solving them. A more systematic approach

Even now we are not considering this simple situation when the microphone does not work in steam, and at the same time it “does not exist” in the entire system. In this case, of course, the issue is not in the gaming environment - you need to check the microphone settings in the entire system. We start, as always, with the connection, and then move on to the driver and settings available in the control panel.

The problem is much more complicated - the microphone in other games, programs, services, in particular in Skype, can work perfectly. But for some reason it is not on Steam or even in a specific Steam game. In this situation, you will have to try several options to make this device work. Strictly speaking, there is no single recipe for how to set up a microphone in Steam.

The first few techniques

Firstly, if the microphone does not work in Steam, then you can try to turn to the general environment settings. To do this:

Secondly, perhaps everything is connected with the settings of a particular game - this is when the microphone goes through the speakers. The fact is that in this case, the speakers are used by default, and there is no automatic switching.

So, go to the game’s sound settings and select the device to be played – a microphone. Note that such switching will have to be done constantly as needed - from speakers to microphone and back.

Thirdly, the problem may lie in connected add-ons; they may block the use of the microphone.

For example, this has been seen with some of the latest versions of Shuttle Play. You just need to delete this version and install another, oddly enough, older one - everything will be fine with it.

A more systematic approach

But we have given separate and quick attempts on how to set up a microphone. Perhaps they will be enough to quickly correct the situation. Although, in general, a more systematic approach is required, which we propose below.

First, we check the microphone connection port - usually these are pink plugs. We are trying to change the connectors, this is especially true when connecting via USB. If the connection occurs through a hub, then you can try to bypass it. It is unnecessary to remind that each next action is accompanied by a check to see if the sound situation has been corrected.

Secondly, we update the drivers, and not only for the microphone, but also for the sound card as a whole.

Thirdly, we check the system microphone volume settings. In this situation, it is convenient to use any program (for example, Skype) that has a built-in check of all auxiliary equipment, including the microphone.

Fourthly, analyze what else you have that uses a microphone. Some services are simply not compatible with system settings and block them. This applies, for example, to such specialized utility programs as “Creative Mix Console” and “RealTek HD Audio Manager”. It is necessary to check all the internal settings of these programs and disable all that are not trustworthy.

At this stage, we have full confidence that the microphone is in working order, and at least outside of Steam everything works as it should.

Next, we carry out a check in a specific Steam game immediately after its launch. We use the settings of the game itself - the “Microphone Control” section (it may be called “Check”, but this is no longer important).

If the device does not work, then this is a direct consequence of it being turned off by the game itself after it was launched (we are not even talking about the situation where the server settings can turn off the microphone).

The first thing you need to do is update the codecs used by the game.

Next, we take into account that there are programs that can directly interfere with the operation of the microphone. These include TeamSpeak, Skype, Ventrilo. It is better to disable these programs before starting the game.

An interesting detail - your microphone may be fine, and even it produces something, but with very poor quality. Poor quality means:

Echo response is often interference from the speakers being turned on. Some microphones pick up sound from all directions, including from speakers. You can try muting your audio devices to improve your voice quality.
Low volume – to increase it is better to use the operating system settings. Go to the Main Menu, its Control Panel. Next, select “Sounds and audio devices” and the “Volume” tab. Go to the “General Volume” window and then “Options”. Go to “Properties” and check the box next to “Mic Volume” in the list. Now all that remains is to go to “Options”. There, select “Advanced options” and click on “Settings” - check the box for amplifying the sound on the microphone.
Crackling and distortion are already problems in transmitting sound over an established physical connection. You may be holding the device too close when talking.

Working with the server

Insufficient sound quality may also be due to a poor network connection. Here it is worth checking the modem - the state of its cl_cmdrate parameter, which is responsible for the frequency of sending data to the server, including from the microphone. The optimal value for the sending frequency is 20. At 13, it is the sound that begins to suffer. 40 is usually used by fans of local games.

The problem is often determined by some servers forcing this setting to be changed to balance the load. A good sign that the quality of your microphone was affected by the server during the game - after startup there was sound, but gradually it became worse and disappeared completely.

This parameter is configured in Steam in the “File” / “Settings” / “Internet” tab - here you should select the desired speed, usually 2500, this is the most suitable for any connection, although you may have to “play” with the parameter in the future .

It is very useful to be able to make settings using the console - you can use the “~” key to launch it, another way is to launch the application with the “-console” parameter.

So, select the desired game in Steam and call up its context menu. Next, go to properties and in the launch parameters settings command we determine the desired speed.

After setting up, check the microphone in the console by entering the line “voice_loopback 1”.

We carry out a conversation and at the same time type into the console to select the sound quality sequentially: rate n, where n is a value from 2500 to 9999 (input, of course, in some increments, usually from 100 to 300).

When we get acceptable quality, we complete the check by entering “voice_loopback 0”.

ATTENTION. Please note that some Steam servers use “Miles” as an audio system, but it has worse sound quality from the microphone. A more advanced system is “Speex”, it works better with sound, but under increased load it also has problems.

It’s worth checking the operation of your microphone on several servers at once, playing with the settings, including voices.

It is the server that determines the codec responsible for voice communication. To switch between servers, we use two identical commands - “sv_voicecodec voice_speex” or “sv_voicecodec voice_miles”.

The required sound quality allows you to select five commands: “sv_voicequality n”, where n is a number from 1 to 5 (“1” corresponds to a transmission rate of 2400 bits per second, “2” – 6000, “3” – 8000, “4” – 11200, “5” – 15200).

Here is a list of all the actions that you can perform if you encounter problems with your microphone in Steam. Please note: this list does not claim to be 100% complete. The environment is constantly evolving, new games and new hardware capabilities appear, so the situation requires constant monitoring and analysis.

Check your connection
Sometimes such problems arise due to inattention. You may have plugged the microphone into the wrong jack; it's easy to miss, especially if you're in a hurry. Most microphone plugs are pink and must be connected to the corresponding jack on the sound card. Some microphones do not have color codes, in which case you will need to refer to the sound card manual to make sure the connection is correct. Checking this option first can save you a ton of time.

USB Microphones
Connect the microphone to another USB port. If the microphone was connected through a port on the front panel, connect it to one of those on the back. If the connection is via a USB hub, connect directly and see if there is a change. This way you can find the problem faster.

Check your drivers
This applies to USB microphones and sound cards. Sound card drivers are very important, especially on Windows Vista. Find out the sound card manufacturer (for example, Realtek, Creative, SigmaTel, etc.), visit their official website and download the latest drivers. If you don't know where to find this information, check your manual (for built-in sound cards) or contact your computer manufacturer.

Make sure your microphone is configured correctly in Windows
To make sure it is configured correctly on Windows, please follow these instructions (Windows 7):
1. Click the button Start and select Control Panel. Find Sound here or via Equipment and sound.
2. Select Sound.
3. Go to the tab Record.
4. Make sure your microphone is selected as Default device.
5. Make sure the microphone is working and responding to your voice using the volume bar on the right.
6. Go to Properties microphone. Make sure the correct connector and controller are displayed.
7. In the tab Levels adjust microphone volume and gain. Do not set large values, this may cause distortion.
8. Save all changes and check the microphone again.
9. If everything works fine, then move on to the next section. If not, you will need to reinstall the drivers and check the connection.

Additional sound card driver software
Many drivers for audio devices have additional programs that make it easier to control and configure sound. These programs can perform the functions of managing audio streams that Windows handles. Creative Mix Console and the RealTek HD Audio Manager are examples of such programs.
Check the settings of these programs. Disable enabled sound enhancement features or effects and see if the problem persists.
If you think that the problem is caused by the sound card drivers or additional software, find out the sound card manufacturer (for example, Realtek, Creative, SigmaTel, etc.), visit their official website and download the latest version of the drivers.

Check your in-game microphone settings
So, you have made sure that your microphone is correctly connected and configured in Windows. The next step is to check the microphone settings in the game. Below is an example:
Select "Mic Test" in Audio Settings. If the microphone is working, you will hear it (if you don't have headphones, you may hear an echo). If everything works here, check the microphone in the game. First, make sure that the voice button is assigned correctly in Settings, Options/Settings > Keyboard/Controls > Voice Chat/Communication.
If the microphone still does not work in the game, the problem may lie in switching the microphone inputs when starting the game. To solve this problem, please read the article Microphone input switches when launching a game.
Last information. The server can control the operation of the microphone. Whether it will be active in the game, as well as the codec used and sound quality. Try several servers to test this option.
Note. In some games, your microphone will not work while you are in spectator mode.

Close conflicting applications
Programs such as TeamSpeak, Skype, Ventrilo and others can intercept the microphone's audio stream. Close these programs while playing on Steam to ensure that the game has full access to the microphone.
If you insist on using third-party programs that use the microphone in the game, then Steam support will not be able to help you troubleshoot microphone problems.

Feedback/Echo
Typically, the cause of echo is the use of microphones near speakers. The use of a headset is recommended. Some poor quality microphones are omnidirectional, i.e. pick up sound from all directions, including sound from speakers. Turn the microphone down and see how it affects call quality.

Quiet sound/low volume
Some microphones require amplification. To set it up on Windows, please follow these instructions (Windows 7):
1. Click the button Start and select Control Panel. Find Sound here or via Equipment and sound.
2. Select Sound.
3. Go to the tab Record.
4. Go to Properties microphone. In the tab Levels adjust microphone volume and gain. Set the optimal levels for you using the function Listen from this device, in the tab Listen.

Crunches/Hiss/Distortion
A damaged cable or poor connection often causes poor voice quality. Check if the microphone is connected well. Often the plug may not be inserted all the way, this can weaken the signal. If this problem occurs in other applications/games, use another microphone to check the functionality of the first one. Some microphones are made from poor materials to reduce their price.
The placement of the microphone is also important. Do not bring it too close, 2-3 centimeters is the optimal distance from the microphone to your mouth.

The first few techniques

Firstly, if the microphone does not work in Steam, then you can try to turn to the general environment settings. To do this:

So, go to the game’s sound settings and select the device to be played – a microphone. Note that such switching will have to be done constantly as needed - from speakers to microphone and back.

Thirdly, the problem may lie in connected add-ons; they may block the use of the microphone.

For example, this has been seen with some of the latest versions of Shuttle Play. You just need to delete this version and install another, oddly enough, older one - everything will be fine with it.

A more systematic approach

Secondly, we update the drivers, and not only for the microphone, but also for the sound card as a whole.

At this stage, we have full confidence that the microphone is in working order, and at least outside of Steam everything works as it should.

The first thing you need to do is update the codecs used by the game.

An interesting detail - your microphone may be fine, and even it produces something, but with very poor quality. Poor quality means:

Echo response is often interference from the speakers being turned on. Some microphones pick up sound from all directions, including from speakers. You can try muting your audio devices to improve your voice quality.
Low volume - to increase it is better to use the operating system settings. Go to the Main Menu, its Control Panel. Next, select “Sounds and audio devices” and the “Volume” tab. Go to the “General Volume” window and then “Options”. Go to “Properties” and check the box next to “Mic Volume” in the list. Now all that remains is to go to “Options”. There, select “Advanced settings” and click on “Settings” - check the box for amplifying the sound on the microphone.
Crackling and distortion are already problems in transmitting sound over an established physical connection. You may be holding the device too close when talking.

Working with the server

Poor sound quality may also be due to a poor network connection. Here it is worth checking the modem - the state of its cl_cmdrate parameter, which is responsible for the frequency of sending data to the server, including from the microphone. The optimal value for the sending frequency is 20. At 13, it is the sound that begins to suffer. 40 is usually used by fans of local games.

It is very useful to be able to make settings using the console - you can use the “~” key to launch it, another way is to launch the application with the “-console” parameter.

So, select the desired game in Steam and call up its context menu. Next, go to properties and in the launch parameters settings command we determine the desired speed.

After setting up, check the microphone in the console by entering the line “voice_loopback 1”.

When we get acceptable quality, we complete the check by entering “voice_loopback 0”.

It’s worth checking the operation of your microphone on several servers at once, playing with the settings, including voices.

Have you connected to a chat in a broadcast or multiplayer, only to discover that for some reason the microphone in Steam does not work? Everything was fine in settings and other applications, but the Steam voice overlay refuses to launch? Then this material is for you.

If there was sound from the microphone before, but then disappeared, or if you have never been able to take part in a Steam voice chat, try to remove the error using the instructions presented in the article.

Global Settings

When the microphone does not work in Steam, the first step is to check and restart the basic sound settings. Some features may not be available in Parental Control mode. If you use this type of security, first enter the four-digit code to regain full access to the program. Then:

Open Steam settings.
Go to the “Voice” tab.
Click on the “Change device” button.
The program will offer to configure settings for different types of devices. Open the Micro menu, click Set as Default.

If the problem occurs only in specific games, check their settings in Steam. Speakers as the main sound source can block audio communication via microphone. Toggle this setting manually; If that doesn't help, try uninstalling the latest updates and downloading an older version of the game.

Microphone check

We started our diagnostics by checking to see if the microphone works correctly with other applications. Now let's try to understand if there are other fundamental problems that interfere with voice communication:

Inspect the USV port or audio plug to which the device is connected. Change connectors if possible. If there is damage to the plug, it is recommended to have the microphone repaired.
Update the sound card drivers, and separately the microphone driver.
Turn off applications using your microphone and try connecting to Steam chat again.
Launch the game, enable the overlay and go to settings, then click "Microphone Control". If there is no sound, but there is sound in other situations, it means the game is turning off the device. Download and install the codecs used by the application.

Server problems

Sometimes the answer to the question of why the microphone does not work in Steam lies in the poor quality of the network connection. If everything is fine with your speed, then the cause of the problem is in the server settings or technical problems. But even in this case, you can configure the connection manually for better results.

Go to settings, then set the value to 2500 or higher. This is enough for most games, including “loaded” MMORPGs.