Why are Google Talk notifications at a low volume?

When I am chatting with someone in Google Talk and I receive a message, the notification sound is played at a very low volume, low enough that I have some difficulty hearing it. But if I receive a message in Google Talk while the application isn't open, the notification sound is at full volume. I have notification volume cranked up to maximum in Android's settings, and Google Talk doesn't seem to have a separate setting for this that I've been able to locate. How do I get my notifications to be played at full volume in Google Talk? The device is a Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX with Jelly Bean 4.1.2.