A microphone is a mechanical device, so it will always produce output regardless of what your volume settings may be.
To get technical, you are controlling the gain of the volume of the stage after the microphone. So in the real world the microphone should always show input unless physically disconnected. Computer manufacturers don't follow any standard practices it seems, so you may see it both ways.
To get technical, you are controlling the gain of the volume of the stage after the microphone. So in the real world the microphone should always show input unless physically disconnected. Computer manufacturers don't follow any standard practices it seems, so you may see it both ways.