mic input levels are low

[peterh4000]

HI All,

I've just got my audio-injector board up and running.
the built in microphone works but....with 100% set for both "capture" and [both] "mic boost" in alsamixer
my input recording levels are still very low.

if I run $ arecord -d 20 -vv -f cd test.wav and shout loudly into the mic
the input level never exceeds 15%. Normal voice is under 3%

Also it appears to be set up as a stereo mic in alsamixer but I don't see how to make it mono.
Might that be a part of the problem?

is there a hardware way to boost the mic level?

thanks in advance!
-Peter-