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Microphone issue on the Nexus 5

Hello, so, I've seen a lot of people complaining about microphone noise but that's not my problem.
The Problem:
Sometimes when people call me they say they can't hear me, or hear me like I'm meters away from the phone, other times it's fine. Tried recording with the camera and with sound recording apps from the play store and they all record the sound perfectly on both mics.
The Debugging
Seeing this seemed to be happen randomly on the calls but I couldn't reproduce it anywhere else I decided to start digging the root of this problem.
I searched the web and got this thread on Google Forums: http://productforums.google.com/d/topic/nexus/JZGA5p-VX1A/discussion where they mention recording with Google Keep, so I did a comparison betwen a recording with ASR (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nll.asr) and Google Keep, here:
ASR: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13954549/ASRbgnoise.ogg
Keep: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13954549/Keepbgnoise.3gp
As you can see (hear), the problem doesn't seem to be hardware related, as the recording with ASR sounds perfect, even when I recorded with noise cancellation on, off and using the camera mic, with background noise, but I can barely hear the Google Keep recording, it sounds like I'm meters away from the phone.
The problem seems to affect about 1/4th of my calls and with Google Keep it seems that it's always there, atleast on all my recordings, I think it might be a software bug on the noise cancellation, what do you guys think? I think that if it was hardware problem it would happen with all apps?
Any help you guys could give me on how to further debug and/or fix this would be very welcome.

any help would be appreciated

Having same problem with mine
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Same issue here. Waiting for an update. I'll RMA if that doesn't do anything.

thank you for your feedback, I updated the OP to make it easier to read.
Atleast I'm not the only one with this problem...
I'm a programmer and I know a bit of android but I only have the general idea how the noise cancellation works, I don't really know the details, so if a dev could help me debug or fix it would be great.

shameless self bump

I had the same issue, only the mic was basically useless on every single call, unless you used speakerphone.
I was going to RMA, but decided to flash
Cataclysm before I did. Surprisingly, this corrected the issue completely! Not sure what the rom changed, but I'm not complaining!!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

well that ROM seems to have a non-stock dialer, may have something to do with the dialer app?

Oh crap, I thought I was the only one! I'm having the same problem, but it's so random!

Just wanted to say I'm having this issue too. I noticed it gets worse if I point the microphone directly away from me while on a call. I think there's some interference with the noise cancelling microphone at the top of the phone.

Me too *bump*
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

thx for your feedback. I'm still trying to figure out how to further pinpoint this bug, I need help from some dev...

I too have experienced this but only while the phone was charging.. weird.

I'm also having this problem...it seems to work about 50% of the time...I thought it was a signal strength issue.

I also have the same problem that will surely be a software bug and that has to do with the microphone from the top! while there is no solution for it, I glued some black adhesive tape to cover the microphone hole in the top, and it seems that resulted ... nobody complains hear me far away ...

Hi same issue

Since someone said the Cataclysm ROM fixed that bug i've contacted the ROM dev to see if he has any idea what could be that fixed it so i can pinpoint what is wrong

daily bump

Just posting that I too have this problem. Usually happens when calls first connect. I have to say "hello" 2 or sometimes 3-4 times before the other person can finally hear me. It's annoying listening to my girlfriend say "ugh what's wrong with your new phone? See you should have gotten an iPhone" LOL.

I posted about this in another thread. I have the same issue.
If you haven't tried already, record a video in a quiet environment on your phone. You can hear a hissing noise and any time you talk it sounds kind of staticy.

Annoying buzz or static noise when using headphones in Nexus 5

For your information.
-Unrooted, it only has the Aviate launcher but this thing has been going on weeks before it.
-No cellular service(I am using it only at WiFi. It is like as if it were an iPod touch.)
-Happens in videos, YouTube daily motion etc.
-Only when using earphones.
Hey forum! I once again bring up another problem with my Nexus 5. I had it for 60ish days, and this thing has only been occurring for a few weeks. It is this annoying sound which occurs when I plug my headphones and watch some YouTube videos. Initially I thought it was my headphones, but I used two and found that the problem was the same. I believe it is definitely my Nexus 5, but I do not know why and how. It is a pest to me which I want to exterminate, and I gladly could use some help. Is this worthy enough to send back and get a new device? If so, what do I need to be aware of (additional charges, if I can ask for a new color etc).
I found this video which has strong resemblance to my problem only his occurs on speaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XZSef6fuKU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Thank you for your help,
EL
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I'm having the same issue on my N5 (stock, rooted). I've been searching online, but have yet to find an explanation or solution. I'll report back here if that changes.
Hopefully somebody else on this forum can chime in with some useful information.

I'm getting an annoying buzzing through my headphone jack as well. Noticed it more when playing through my car stereo. I'm inclined to say it's software related, not hardware. Hopefully in 4.4.3 there will be something that will take care of it. I can't see the hardware degrading that quickly, i've only had my phone for less than 4 months and this issue is just starting.

So I think I solved this problem on my phone. Before, I was having glitchy hiccups at least once per song. This hasn't happened once in the past two days since I went into the xposed module gravitybox and disabled "More music volume steps." Hopefully this helps someone else or perhaps inspires them to their own solution.

ancient light said:
So I think I solved this problem on my phone. Before, I was having glitchy hiccups at least once per song. This hasn't happened once in the past two days since I went into the xposed module gravitybox and disabled "More music volume steps." Hopefully this helps someone else or perhaps inspires them to their own solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have more music steps in the ROM settings I changed, but not on Gravity Box. I'll have to see if those are possibly a cause.

I have the same issue but also when playing music using the internal speakers of the phone. It happens when playing music with Spotify and YouTube but I do not think it ever happened to ingame music of any game.
I will also try the XPosed module and report back if it worked..
Edit: Using this tweak of GravityBox did not work for me. The buzzing continues

everyone with this problem
does it only happen when you have the phone plugged into a car or home charger?
i have always gotten this on all my android phones when charging and listening to music in my car or with headphones.. its just one of those things that happens because all the components inside our phones arent shielded as well as they should be

It does not has anything to do with the charger because it happens without it plugged in

Does anyone have updates on the issue? It still occurs on my phone, even on Android L. So I guess it cannot be a software issue

Mine does this all the time when I'm watching videos on YouTube on speaker or headphone... On every ROM from stock to slimkat (using now) and sometimes through the music player. I'm guessing it's some sort of WiFi interference?

My newly acquired Nexus 5 also suffers from this issue
It's exactly the same as in the video. And I don't know why, it's more apparent when watching youtube videos, and much less common when listening to music (both locally with Poweramp and while streaming with Spotify).
I also can confirm this has nothing to do with the device being in charge or not.
Help??

I'm going to buy Nexus 5 soon and that issue sounds really bad to me. Any more information about it? I listen to music on my phone every day and I'd be really disappointed if the noise happened to me.

For me that issue stills persists after over half a year of owning the Nexus 5. I tried several ROMs, some Audio Mods. Nothing helped. I guess it must be a hardware issue.
I wrote a ticket about it to LG, but never got an answer. Since there is not much discussion about it in the internet it appears like it is only an issue with a small amount of devices. So if you are going to buy one the chances are low to get this bug.

You are probably right but when I consider my luck, I still get worried. Keeping my fingers crossed though Thanks for an update.

i think all nexus 5 devices have it, but not everybody notices it.
from my experience with various brands, as much as i dislike them as a company, but samsung has the best headphone jack sound output.

rayiskon said:
i think all nexus 5 devices have it, but not everybody notices it.
from my experience with various brands, as much as i dislike them as a company, but samsung has the best headphone jack sound output.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. I'm not a big fan of Samsung either, I had some phones from them and I didn't really like those Also for comparision, HTC Desire Z's sound that was coming from the minijack output was perfect for me on my Soundmagic PL11 buds (I'm not an audiophile).
I need to get a new phone anyway and Nexus 5 seems to be something I was looking for - cheap, powerful and comes with Full HD screen. Even if headphone jack isn't going to work well...

TheReduxPL said:
I see. I'm not a big fan of Samsung either, I had some phones from them and I didn't really like those Also for comparision, HTC Desire Z's sound that was coming from the minijack output was perfect for me on my Soundmagic PL11 buds (I'm not an audiophile).
I need to get a new phone anyway and Nexus 5 seems to be something I was looking for - cheap, powerful and comes with Full HD screen. Even if headphone jack isn't going to work well...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The headphone jack on the N5 works well, i listen to music through my phone almost on a daily basis, so you don't have to worry about that, but i've come across the glitch linked in OP several times, and it can be reproduced. it doesn't just appear out of nowhere.

i had have this issue from when i bought my device
Annoying buzz and static noise but ya live with it ,regard's joe.

since upgrading to lollipop i can notice this sound glitch (while listening to music over headphones) more often, it occurs once in every 10min for sure... it's really annoying

I hope it's not placebo, but for me, since the lollipop upgrade, I haven't noticed this noise. I've even been listening to more music than before, as this quite got on my nerves, but now it seems to be gone.

[Q] Distorted audio when recording video in loud enviroment

Like the title might indicate I'm searching for a solution to the described problem.
Sometimes I like to take videos at shows and since switching to the new Nexus 5 the videos are basically useless since the audio is distorted as hell. I came from the i9000 and in CM / Voodoo Sound there was an option for recording audio in loud enviroment. Is there something similar for the Nexus 5, any Kernel solutions etc.? Any help is appreciated! :good:

there's no fix afaik

Problem is noise cancellation. Google have acknowledged the problem and are working on a fix, but it hasn't been released yet.
As a work around, you can try covering the noise cancellation microphone. You may have some success temporarily.

rootSU said:
Problem is noise cancellation. Google have acknowledged the problem and are working on a fix, but it hasn't been released yet.
As a work around, you can try covering the noise cancellation microphone. You may have some success temporarily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for filling me in ... really haven't been up to date with the facts in a while ... really hope they can make it work. Audio performance on hte i9000 is still top notch.

Issue with my phone specifically or Pixel 3 generally (speakers for audio)

If I ask Google to play news for the day or listen to a YouTube video, and the voice audio is talking and the speaker volume is on the higher end (does not have to be 100% but it seems greater then 65%) there is slight distortion in the audio, not horrible but noticeable. It's like a very slight buzzing sound
I am within my two weeks return policy. But, with ALL the things I have read that could be wrong with this phone, I am afraid to return it and get the other issues others are having. As at this time, the only issues are the one that I mentioned above, all other issues others are having I have checked and I currently don't have those.
Is the issue that I am mentioning above, an issue with my specific Pixel 3 or is this a general flaw with the phone?

Question [URGENT] Microphone issue on P7Pro

Hi, I owned my P7Pro since few weeks and, few days ago, I began to suffer of mic issue, people couldn't hear like my voice is sub cut, or as I'm speaking underwater...
I don't know if it's a software or a hardware problem. Is there people who's suffering of this issue that can help me ?

Whenever anyone complains that they can't hear you, first confirm that it's you and not them.
Try using Google's Recorder app and playback what you sound like, or record a video and listen to the audio back.

The problem is P7Pro got 2 mics, I'm hearing me when I record a video, but, I have the problem when I'm using g-recorder app

Anyone ? :/

you're rooted or not?

seadersn said:
you're rooted or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, my phone is full stock, I use the record app to test, looks like my bottom mic is working, but not top one ... and it's not easy to clean cuz the hole is tiny af

If you've gone into safe mode and did a factory reset and the issue persists it's time to call Google and RMA the device.