Headset too quiet in Linux, amplification increases static

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
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1

Hey everyone,

Not sure if this is better suited for this forum or the audio section, but I see this is more of a Linux issue than a headphone one.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a cheap Logitech G230 headset. They sound good but I can't get decent mic levels. I'm running Antergos (Arch) with Gnome 3. The motherboard I have is a Asus Z87-K with a Realtek® ALC887 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC (copied from website). Pulse Audio sees everything, but the mic volume is too low and when I amplify it within Gnome's settings, there is a lot of static. I have tried using front and back ports. I found something on the Arch wiki about changing the rate and it didn't solve anything.

I have an older Creative PCI sound card I could try if I need to. Problem with it is the lack of compatibility with my HD Audio connectors on the case.

Any suggestions?

2

Have you tried using alsamixer to increase the mic gain?
You can increase the mic boost, by pressing the + (plus) key.

3

I increased the boost a bit, people on the other end of a hangouts call can hear me, but the static is still there. It doesn't seem to be any settings that the GUI in the gnome settings can't already control.

I ended up plugging in my old Sound Blaster Audigy 2. It's not the greatest thing in the world, but it seems to be working. I may be tempted to buy another, newer PCIe sound card, but that can be hard to justify for a $65 headset that I use once a week.

4

Well as far as audio goes my knowledge ends with the use of alsamixer and pavucontrol.
But you can get all crazy with it.
You may want to wait for other people with better knowledge of alsa and pulseaudio than me or ask in the arch/antergos forum.