Winlink: Windows 11 appears to have a Microphone Enhancement For USB Sound Card separate from the Sound Dialog

[David Tanks]

  Interesting discovery of a setting change in a Windows 11 update that was 

  causing problems with audio in soundcard-based programs.

  David AD4TJ

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Brian - W7OWO <harve...@gmail.com>

To: Winlink Programs Group <winlink-pro...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Monday, June 1, 2026 at 12:49:03 PM EDT

Subject: [winlink-programs-group] Windows 11 appears to have a Microphone Enhancement For USB Sound Card separate from the Sound Dialog

After the latest Windows 11 update,  I noticed my VARA FM's VU meter was not bouncing around at its usual -10 dB but was fully pegged counterclockwise, even though I was connecting and exchanging messages from a nearby gateway.  I brought up the Sound Dialog (mmsys.cpl) to investigate if the enhancements or AGC had been turned on by the update.  I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, as all the values were off as expected.  Going into Settings -> Sound -> and the properties of the microphone, when scrolling through the page, I found a setting entry labeled "Audio enhancements"  that had a drop down box that was set to "Voice Clarity" as shown below.

Switching it to Off resolved the issue.  Looking over my gateways, I see both DRAs and DigiRigs have that feature turned on.  One of which I replaced the computer three months ago.  I clearly remember the VU meter showing a value on just the static as it uses the radio's headphone jack. I remember resetting the level after installing it at the bunker, in case I had bumped the volume knob.

Since I nearly always use the sound dialog, it is quite possible this feature has been there for a while, but possibly this recent update turned it on.  It just surprised me to see a sound device setting separately controlled outside the Sound Dialog.  

Brian - W7OWO

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