A participant's audio (MP3 or WAV) sounds too quiet or distant after recording, even at normal playback volume, making their voice hard to hear compared to other participants. This usually isn't noticeable during the live session, only after the files are downloaded.
Causes
This usually happens when:
Input volume or microphone gain is set too low. Input volume controls how much of the microphone's signal the computer picks up; gain controls how much the microphone amplifies the voice before it reaches the computer. If either is too low, the recording comes out quiet.
The microphone is positioned too far from the speaker’s mouth, especially off to the side, so it doesn't pick up the voice at a strong enough level.
What to do if the issue already happened
You have two options to improve an existing recording, though there are limits, raising volume also raises background noise, and if the original signal was very weak, some detail may not be recoverable:
Edit with Zencastr: Zencastr’s built-in audio enhancements apply loudness normalization and leveling to bring quiet sections up to a more consistent level. You can download a single combined file or separate enhanced tracks for further editing elsewhere.
Use external editing software: Download the original or enhanced tracks and apply filters like EQ and compression in an external audio editor.
How to prevent this issue in future recordings
To avoid overly quiet or hard-to-hear audio in future recordings, each participant should follow these best practices.
Position your microphone properly
Keep the microphone 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) from your mouth, angled slightly off to the side rather than directly in front.
Adjust microphone’s input volume or gain
Input volume and microphone gain affect how loudly your voice is recorded.
If you’re on Mac, follow Apple’s instructions to adjust input volume. You should aim for a range between halfway and two-thirds of the meter.*
If you’re on Windows, follow Microsoft’s instructions to adjust input volume. Adjust the input volume slider to a range between 50 and 70.*
*These ranges are general guidelines. Since ideal levels can vary by microphone, the best way to confirm is by doing a short test recording.
Additionally, if your microphone has a physical gain knob, adjust it until your voice sounds full but not distorted.
Invest in a microphone stand or boom arm
If you regularly record, consider investing in a microphone stand or boom arm. It helps keep your microphone at the correct distance consistently, even if you move around while speaking.