Configure your microphone and volume settings to make the most of Arcade's voice chat features.

  The following procedure sets the input levels for AGC (automatic gain control) and sets the outputs to mid-level.

1) Double-click on the speaker graphic on the lower right corner of your PC's task bar. (If this is not shown on your task bar - go into your Control Panel (START->SETTINGS->CONTROL PANEL) and go into Multimedia. At the bottom of the pop-up box it says "Show volume on the taskbar". Also make sure while you are here, that your Preferred device for Playback and Recording are your soundcard and both are the same. When you double click on the speaker  in your bottom right taskbar it should bring up a Volume Control panel. There will be a number of volume sliders available, depending on the features of your PC.

The control panel has two or more modes, depending on your version of Windows. You will only be concerned with two modes, Playback and Recording. The control panel defaults to the Playback mode (where you can set output levels) when it is labeled 'Volume Control' and in the Recording mode (when you can set input levels) when it reads 'Recording Control.'

When the box says "Volume Control" you are in the settings that come through your speakers.  This is what YOU hear. When the box says "Recording Control" this is where you set the volume for your microphone.  This is what OTHERS hear.  

To switch between Playback and Recording modes, choose 'Properties' under the Options menu. You can switch between modes and when you close the dialog box, the mode will change to the selected one. You'll see in the box below the option to chose Playback or Recording - this is how you switch between the controls. 

ADJUSTING PLAYBACK VOLUME - this is for what comes out of your speakers.



1) Check that the control panel reads 'Volume Control.' If not, switch it.

2) Make sure 'Mute' is checked on the volume control panel at the bottom of the Microphone volume control. This does not prevent others from hearing you--it prevents your speakers from feeding back into your microphone and giving you that high pitch squeal.

3) Under the 'Options' menu, make sure that the 'Advanced Controls' option is checked. If it is not checked, select it.

4) Move the Microphone Volume bar to a mid setting. Click on 'Advanced.'

5) At the bottom of 'Advanced' make sure that 'AGC for WaveIn' or 'Microphone Boost' is checked. Select 'Close.'

ADJUSTING INPUT/RECORDING LEVELS - this is where you adjust your microphone to the settings people hear!



1) Switch to 'Recording Control' using the 'Properties' control under the 'Options' menu.

2) Make sure that 'Microphone' is checked under 'Show the following volume controls'

3) Close this panel.

4) From the "Recording Control" panel move the Microphone volume temporarily to the middle and make sure the box underneath it is checked if it says "Select" and NOT checked if it says "Mute"

Test it out by using sound recorder, if that hasn't worked, double check that your microphone is plugged into the correct spot on your soundcard.

Happy chatting!