Microphone fuzzy/static-y and can't hear my voice

My microphone just sound like total **** whenever I try to use it. I am very new to OpenSUSE (I just started using it today) and this is a fresh install. I have a basic knowledge of Linux in general. Anyway, I am using this on a Lenovo G50-45 laptop that previously had Windows 8.1.

open kmix and see the mic’s preamp level, it may need to be increased (or decreased).

I don’t have kmix. I searched for it and no results and I also tried to look for it in the software store, but nothing. I should mention that I am using the Gnome Desktop.

kmix is part of kde (it can be used with gnome but don’t do it), I don’t do gnome, maybe someone else can help

Possibly the settings are bad.

Can you please run in a konsole/xterm, as a regular user, the diagnostic script below (with your computer connected to the Internet) :


/usr/sbin/alsa-info.sh

Do not select to update if asked, and select the SHARE/UPLOAD option when asked. Let the script run to completion. When it completes, in the konsole/xterm will be a web-address/url that you are told to share with those giving you help. Please post that web-address/url here so we can look at the configuration you have set up for your mic and thus hopefully we can provide you a specific recommendation.
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Run ‘alsamixer’ . Both kde and gnome desktops can run that. (it comes with the package alsa-utils on openSUSE)

You can run it by opening an xterm and type ‘alsamixer’ (no quotes).

The alsamixer wiki gives some instructions: alsamixer - Wikipedia

Here is the URL: http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=76c2ef4ec17e4c402e809ab9e46f81a096ede2a4

Your PC has two instances of the “intel” module of the alsa driver running.

It has HDMI (codec ATI R6xx HDMI) labelled as the first device (0) , and not your analog audio (Conexant CX20751) which is device (1), the second device.

ARECORD identifies card-1 (and not card-0, where card-0 is the first default card) as your mic source:


ARECORD

**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 1: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: CX20751/2 Analog [CX20751/2 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

by default your applications will try to use a mic in card-0 to record, where the HDMI likely has no mic.

Further, your mixer is not well tuned for the mic in your CX20751 analog. I note:


**Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0**
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 **[0%] **[0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 **[0%]** [0.00dB]
**Simple mixer control 'Capture',0**
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 80
  Front Left: Capture 80 [100%] [6.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 80 [100%] [6.00dB] [on]
**Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic Boost',0**
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 2 [67%] [24.00dB]
  Front Right: 2 [67%] [24.00dB]

Mixer Control Mic Boost is at 0%. I recommend you move the boost up to ~65% .

Still, you need to either change the order of your audio devices (which YaST can not do as they both use the same driver - BUT this can be done with a custom 50-sound.conf edit) or you need to use pulse audio to ensure your applications properly use card-1.

Either approach should work.

I configured it with YaST but now it says I have nothing for input.

I am not surprised. Note I posted:

I guess the effort on your part was to try YaST to see if my assessment accurate ?

Again, this can be done with a custom 50-sound.conf edit or you need to use pulse audio to ensure your applications properly use card-1.