My USB mic sounds distorted

[frogwich]

So I recently bought the OMEN 17 gaming laptop. The problem is that my mic sounds distorted. It kind of sounds robotic or there's a lot of static. I tested a headset with a jack plug and it worked fine. I tested another headset with a USB plug and had the same problem. I tested my headset on a different PC and it worked fine. I don't understand the issue but I thought it might be because of the USB ports. I ran some tests on HP PC Hardware Diagnostics and it says "HP has detected that the BIOS firmware needs to be updated". So I agreed to update but then it says the update got cancelled. I tried a few times, every time it gets cancelled. I don't know if the update will solve the mic problem but I don't know what else to do.

[Raj_05]

Hi @frogwich,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you're dealing with a couple of issues on your OMEN 17 Gaming Laptop: the distorted USB mic audio and the BIOS update not completing. Let's tackle both problems.

USB Mic Distortion

The mic distortion could be related to several factors, including USB port issues, driver conflicts, or audio settings. Since the headset works fine on another PC, the issue is likely specific to your OMEN 17 laptop. Here’s how you can troubleshoot.

Update Audio Drivers:

• Go to the HP Support website and download the latest audio drivers for your OMEN 17 model.
• Uninstall the existing audio drivers through Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers > Right-click the audio device > Uninstall), then install the new drivers.

Check USB Ports:

• Try using different USB ports on your laptop to see if the distortion persists.
• If you're using a USB hub, try connecting the mic directly to the laptop.

Disable Audio Enhancements:

• Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Sounds.
• Go to the Recording tab, select your USB mic, and click Properties.
• Under the Enhancements tab, uncheck all enhancements, and see if the distortion improves.

Adjust Microphone Settings:

• In the same Properties window, go to the Advanced tab.
• Lower the sample rate (e.g., from 48000 Hz to 44100 Hz) to see if it resolves the issue.

BIOS Update Issue

A BIOS update could potentially resolve compatibility issues or bugs that might be affecting your USB ports. Since the update is being cancelled, here’s what you can do:

Manual BIOS Update:

• Visit the HP Support website and download the latest BIOS update for your laptop.
• Follow the manual update instructions carefully. This typically involves creating a bootable USB drive with the BIOS file and updating through the BIOS setup utility.

[Raj_05]

Disable Antivirus Software:

• Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with the BIOS update process. Temporarily disable it before attempting the update again.

Check Power Supply:

• Ensure your laptop is connected to a power source, as BIOS updates are often cancelled when running on battery power to prevent issues if the laptop shuts down.

Reset BIOS Settings:

• Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS setup (Esc or F10 during startup).
• Look for an option to reset BIOS settings to default and try the update again.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support