Way to go Rubystars !
I have a suggestion regarding low volume microphone- you might want to try to turn on the 'mic booster' I think this feature is found right next to the mic volume in the advanced sound options. Too great a boost creates a loud background noise but a mild boost might increase the recording volume without noticeable noise.
I said that if you read..
But I don't know of any option for "mild boost" or anything like that..
it would help if you said where the option was - though I suspect it doesn't exist.
You check/tick the checkbox , and that increases the volume generally . You can then turn the volume down.
AS I SAID.. Windows is good at turning volume down.
Did you know that you can turn the volume down right to 0? And increase in small increments?
try it.. goodness me.