Medal records your voice at whatever level your microphone is actually sending, so if you sound barely audible in playback, your microphone itself is set too low
Medal is a clip-recording tool — it captures what your game, your microphone, and your system audio are all doing at that exact moment. If you watch a Medal clip back and your voice is faint while everything else sounds normal, the problem is almost never Medal's settings. It is almost always that your microphone's input level is too low in Windows or macOS, or your microphone is physically positioned too far from your mouth.
The fix depends on where the problem actually lives. You may need to adjust your operating system's microphone volume, change a setting inside Medal itself, or check your microphone's physical placement and quality. This guide walks you through each one in order, starting with the most common cause.
Key Takeaways
- Medal records whatever microphone level your operating system is sending it, so check Windows or macOS microphone volume first before adjusting Medal settings.
- Your microphone's input level slider in Windows Settings or macOS System Settings controls how loud Medal will record you, independent of how loud you hear yourself through headphones.
- Medal's microphone volume slider inside the app is a second layer of control — it only affects Medal recordings, not your system microphone level.
- Physical microphone placement matters: a headset mic should be positioned just below your mouth, and a desk microphone should be 6 to 12 inches from your face.
- If you sound quiet in Medal but normal in Discord or other apps, Medal's input device setting may be pointed at the wrong microphone.
Check your operating system microphone volume first
Windows and macOS both have a master microphone input level that controls how loud any app — including Medal — will record you. This is separate from how loud you hear yourself in your headphones, so you can sound fine to yourself while recording very quietly.
On Windows 10 or 11: Open Settings, go to System, then Sound. Scroll down to Advanced and click Volume mixer. Under Apps and devices, find your microphone in the list. The slider next to it controls input level — drag it to the right to increase how loud Medal will record you. If you do not see your microphone listed, click on it under the Input devices section first, then adjust the slider that appears.
On macOS: Open System Settings, go to Sound, then click Input. Select your microphone from the list. The Input level slider at the bottom controls how loud Medal will record you — move it to the right. Speak into your microphone while watching the level meter to the right of the slider; you want the meter to light up when you talk, with peaks reaching about three-quarters of the way across.
Adjust Medal's microphone settings inside the app
Medal has its own microphone volume control that sits on top of your system settings. Even if your operating system microphone level is correct, Medal's internal slider can make you sound quieter or louder in your clips.
Open Medal, click the settings icon (usually a gear in the top right), and look for Audio or Microphone settings. You should see a microphone volume slider — move it to the right to increase how loud you sound in recordings. Medal also shows you which microphone it is currently using; if you have multiple microphones plugged in, make sure Medal is pointed at the one you actually want to use.
If Medal's microphone dropdown shows a device you do not recognize, or if it says "Default Device," try selecting your microphone by name instead. Sometimes Medal defaults to the wrong input, which makes it sound like your microphone is broken when it is actually just pointed at a different device.
Position your microphone correctly
Microphone placement has a huge effect on how loud you sound. A microphone that is too far from your mouth will record you quietly no matter what the volume sliders say.
If you use a headset, the microphone boom should be positioned just below your mouth, about one inch away. If you use a desk microphone, it should be 6 to 12 inches from your face, angled slightly upward toward your mouth. Avoid pointing it directly at your mouth from the side, which can pick up plosives (the hard "p" and "b" sounds) and make your voice sound distorted.
If your microphone has a mute button or a physical mute switch, make sure it is not activated. Some microphones also have a gain dial on the back or bottom — if yours does, turn it up partway. Start at the middle and adjust from there based on how you sound in test recordings.
Test your microphone in Windows or macOS before recording
Both operating systems let you test your microphone before you record anything in Medal, which saves you from discovering the problem after you have already recorded a clip.
On Windows: Go to Settings > System > Sound > Input. Under Input devices, select your microphone, then click Test your microphone. Speak normally and watch the blue bar rise and fall with your voice. If the bar barely moves when you talk, your microphone level is too low. Drag the input level slider to the right and test again.
On macOS: Open System Settings > Sound > Input. Select your microphone and watch the input level meter on the right side of the window. Speak into your microphone; the meter should light up noticeably when you talk. If it barely moves, drag the Input level slider to the right.
Check if other apps record you at normal volume
If you sound quiet in Medal but normal in Discord, OBS, or another recording app, the problem is likely Medal's input device setting rather than your microphone or operating system. Medal may be pointed at a different microphone than the one you are actually using.
Open Medal's settings and look at which microphone is selected in the audio input dropdown. Compare it to the microphone you have selected in Discord or Windows Settings. If they do not match, click Medal's dropdown and select the same microphone you use in other apps. Record a test clip and check the volume.
If Medal's dropdown does not show your microphone at all, try unplugging and replugging your microphone, then restarting Medal. Sometimes Medal does not detect a newly connected microphone until you restart the app.
Microphone quality and age matter too
Older microphones or very cheap microphones sometimes have weak output no matter what you do with the settings. A microphone that is several years old may have a worn-out capsule that simply does not pick up sound as well as it used to. Budget microphones under $20 often have poor sensitivity from the start.
If you have adjusted your operating system volume to maximum, Medal's microphone slider to maximum, and positioned your microphone correctly but still sound barely audible, your microphone itself may be the limiting factor. You can test this by borrowing someone else's microphone and recording a clip with it. If you sound normal with a different microphone, your original one needs replacement.
Mid-range USB headsets ($40 to $80) and desktop microphones ($50 to $150) tend to have much better microphone sensitivity than budget options. If you record content regularly, upgrading to a better microphone often solves quiet-voice problems permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I sound normal in Discord but quiet in Medal?
Medal is probably set to record from a different microphone than the one Discord is using. Open Medal's settings, check which microphone is selected in the audio input dropdown, and compare it to your Discord settings. Select the same microphone in Medal and test again.
I turned up the volume slider all the way and I still sound quiet. What now?
Check whether you adjusted the slider in your operating system (Windows Settings or macOS System Settings) or only in Medal. The operating system slider is the primary control — Medal's slider is secondary. If both are maxed out and you still sound quiet, your microphone may have low output, or it may be positioned too far from your mouth.
Does Medal have a noise gate that might be cutting off my voice?
Medal does not have a built-in noise gate. If your voice is being cut off or sounds choppy, the problem is microphone level, positioning, or microphone quality. Adjust your operating system microphone volume and reposition your microphone closer to your mouth.
Can I boost my voice in Medal after I record the clip?
Medal does not have built-in audio editing. You would need to export the clip and use a separate tool like Audacity (free) or Adobe Premiere to increase the volume after recording. It is much easier to fix the microphone level before you record.
My microphone has a gain dial on the back. Should I turn it up?
Yes, but start at the middle position and adjust from there. Turn it up gradually and record test clips until you sound right. Turning gain all the way up can introduce background noise and make your voice sound distorted, so find the sweet spot rather than maxing it out.