[LAU] Low mic recording level in Ubuntu

[peter clarke]

My mic recording level in Ubuntu+Gnome is frustratingly low.  I have
(I think) wound up all the levels to maximum in the mixer, but I still
get only -20dB even with shouting into the mic.  It's the same for all
hardware (2 internal and 2 USB soundcards, different mics), 2
different computers, 2 different versions of Ubuntu (Heron on my
desktop and Ibex on my laptop) and whatever recording software I use
(arecord, audacity, kwave, ecasound).  Also the same with Jack and if
I kill pulseaudio.

This started a few months ago (originally, when everything was first
installed, it was fine) so I'm pretty confident it's an ALSA-related
software issue.

Seems like ALSA (or something) is being told to attenuate the signal
somewhere.  Any clues where to look?

Peter Clarke