Sennheiser XS USB-C Lav microphone very low volume input.

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Sennheiser XS USB-C Lav microphone very low volume input.

I purchased Sennheiser USB-C lav microphone which cannot make it work the way I like it. The input volume is very low and I need to use another methods for db gain.

I tried all ways from settings, audio-midi gain, aggregate devices etc, etc. all is up to 100% and nothing works. Good is that I don't need this mic for online meetings, rather record my self for my podcast/video recordings.

Currently, what I am doing is recording my podcast/video save it in wav/mp3 and in audacity apply NOVA plugin to increase the volume. This is not natural at all.

Funny thing is that the mic works flawlessly on my iPhone 15 Plus and this could be the last solution which I am trying to avoid by any means- i.e. connecting my iPhone as mic. The reason is I have separate account on Mac Studio only for podcast/video production and don't want to mix it with my regular apple account.

Posted on Apr 17, 2024 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 17, 2024 1:56 PM in response to panaka09

before you spend any money, you can look at the system report to see how much power is required and available, like this one:

 menu > about this Mac > (System Report) > USB

...

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Answer 2

Apr 17, 2024 9:20 AM in response to panaka09

The classic issue with low input from a Microphone is not enough POWER to the Microphone. (readers try to plug an unpowered Microphone is the Mac input, which does not provide ANY power.)

I am not sure whether this can be used for debugging in your case, it may not apply.

Most input devices seem to benefit from running Audio MIDI Setup utility.

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Answer 3

Apr 18, 2024 7:16 AM in response to panaka09

The blue slider NOW looks like it is at maximum gain.

any difference in actual use?

Audio MIDI Setup User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

.

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Answer 4

panaka09 Author

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Apr 18, 2024 1:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Looks OK to me.

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Answer 5

panaka09 Author

Level 1

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Apr 18, 2024 7:05 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

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Answer 6

panaka09 Author

Level 1

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Apr 17, 2024 10:08 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Do you think powered usb-c hub will solve it?

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Answer 7

Apr 18, 2024 6:07 AM in response to panaka09

does not look like Power is the issue.

what does running Audio MIDI Setup (from the Utilities folder) do your you? is the device recognized? any change?

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Answer 8

panaka09 Author

Level 1

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Apr 18, 2024 9:46 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

No, this has been like that since I started. That was the second thing I changed.

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Answer 9

Apr 18, 2024 10:56 AM in response to panaka09

Has the device-maker been any help?

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Answer 10

panaka09 Author

Level 1

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Apr 18, 2024 11:02 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

device-maker?

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Answer 11

Apr 18, 2024 11:10 AM in response to panaka09

the people who made money by selling you this device, which is not working to your satisfaction:

Sennheiser USB-C lav microphone

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Answer 12

panaka09 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 18, 2024 11:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Oh no I haven't approached them. Good point. Will try, thank you!

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Answer 13

panaka09 Author

Level 1

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Apr 19, 2024 6:33 AM in response to panaka09

They said if the microphone works on other devices I have to contact apple support. Actually I tried it on windows computer and is working great.

Nevermind, I found the solution with TDNova.

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Answer 14

Apr 19, 2024 7:56 AM in response to panaka09

Please, others will find your post by searching, get this far, and not know--

¿what is TDNova, and how does it solve this problem?

did you mean TDRNova?

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Answer 15

panaka09 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 20, 2024 5:42 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yes, I record -> edit -> make video in mp4 then back to iMovie and extract the mp3 file. Then in Audacity apply TDR Nova on the mp3. Then put it back in iMovie and save it again in mp4.

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Sennheiser XS USB-C Lav microphone very low volume input.

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