Microphone for 'sound recorder' or more importantly 'skype' -- asus/andrea mic

[Rob W]

I have a microphone that came with my brand new Asus M2N32-SLI-DELUXE
motherboard which is one of those 'powered' (by mic port) 'noise
cancelling'/'directional' (for 'speakerphone use'/'audioconferencing')
microphones.

The mic itself works terrific in Linux (though linux is a pain in the butt
for dealing with mic sharing between apps at this time).

For some reason, my luck in Windows is not quite the same. First in
Windows, I had to specifically switch it to use the 'rear' microphone port
(because I never bothered hooking up a front microphone port, if this old
beat-up case even has one). Second, I have to be right on top of the
microphone for it to hear anything.

That's not entirely true, I raised the 'boost' all the way up and set the
mic volume fairly high and the microphone "level" in sound control panel
seems to be normally registering sound. However, when I used 'sound
recorder' or 'skype' (I'm not even sure skype works at all in Vista) the
sound is almost nothing, the only thing I can hear is if I rub my fingers
over one of the two microphones (it's a stereo mic).

It's like the 'boost' isn't working.

Guidance welcome.
Rob

 

[Rob W]

Don't ask me why -- but a reboot seemed to fix this. Maybe after I change
default MIC a reboot is required?

-Rob