To Adjust your Master Volume:

Step 1)
Open your Volume Control (also called "Mixer") settings window. This window could be in several locations, depending upon your system setup: In the tray of your taskbar (double-click on the yellow speaker in the bottom-right corner of your screen ) or in the Control Panel (open your Control Panel and double-click the Multimedia icon, then click the Playback speaker button - while here you may want to check the "Show volume control on the Taskbar" check box if it is not already checked).

If you cannot locate the Volume Control via one of the two locations above, do a search for the file SNDVOL32.EXE on your computer.

Step 2)
In the Volume Control window, make you sure you see controls for the Master Volume (or Volume Control Balance), Wave Output (or Wave Balance), and Microphone Balance.

If you do not see some of these controls, select Options » Properties from the Volume Control menu bar. Then check the appropriate devices under "Show the following volume controls".

Step 3)
Move the volume sliders up or down for the appropriate device to turn up or turn down the volume.

Step 4)
Be sure that the "Mute all" and "Mute" boxes are not checked for the Master Volume (or Volume Control Balance) and Wave Output (or Wave Balance) devices.

Step 5)
If the "Mute" box is unchecked for the Microphone Balance device, please check it. If this is not checked, then the microphone input will be fed straight back to the PC speakers and you could end up talking over the person on the other line.

If the "Mute" box is checked for the Microphone Balance device, then try "Un-checking" it.

Step 6)
Set the Microphone Boost. Be sure you have the Advanced Controls option set (to set it, select Options » Advanced Controls, and a check will appear next to the menu item "Advanced Options"). Click the "Advanced" button under the Microphone Balance device. In the "Advanced Controls for Microphone" window, be sure the "Microphone Boost" box is checked (click the box to check it). This box may also be called "mic option 1", or something similar.

To Configure your Microphone:

Sometimes, the person on the other line may have a hard time hearing you clearly. If this happens, you should make sure that your microphone is properly configured and is working.

To test if your microphone is working, you can record something and play it back with Sound Recorder (ships with Windows).

To Start Sound Recorder:
1) Click Start.
2) Select Programs » Accessories » Entertainment (may be Multimedia), and then click Sound Recorder.

To Record a Sound:
1) Make sure you have an audio input device (such as a microphone) connected to your computer.
2) In the Sound Recorder window, select File » New.
3) To begin recording, click the record button.
You can talk into your microphone to record your voice.
4) To stop recording, click the stop button.

To Play your Sound:
1) Click the play button.
2) Adjust your master and/or wave volume in Volume Control (may be called Mixer).
3) Click the stop button to stop playing the sound. If the recorded voice and the background noise level are played back at about the same relative volume, you may need to turn up the microphone volume and/or adjust the microphone boost. Then repeat the test. If the background noise is still very noticeable, you may need to try a different microphone with your sound card.

Please refer to FAQ's for further instructions or help with Audio Settings.