To adjust your microphone volume, you will need to access the level control either in your computer’s audio settings or in your conferencing app settings. As long as your mic is 20-30cm away from you and directed towards your mouth, you will get great sound. For a rich, broadcast-style sound, you can use a studio arm or desk stand like the PSA1 or DS1 to mount your mic even closer to your mouth, but this isn’t necessary for a video call and may be distracting for those on the other end. The NT-USB and NT-USB Mini both come with a desk stand for positioning the mic. To get a clean, clear sound, it’s important to get your microphone nice and close to your mouth. Position Your Microphone Close To Your Mouth These microphones all feature a control for the headphone output level too. On the NT-USB Mini, press the headphone level button to engage zero-latency monitoring on the NT-USB, you have the option to blend between the direct mic signal and the return signal from your computer and on the Podcaster, zero-latency monitoring is always engaged. We recommend using this function when on a call. Engaging this will send the audio from your mic directly to your headphones so you can hear yourself talk as well. Most USB mics feature a zero-latency monitoring function. Encourage your friends or colleagues to do the same! Wearing headphones during a video call will allow you to hear the person or people on the other end clearly, which will help keep the conversation flowing. Smaller spaces like bedrooms and offices are also ideal.Īll RØDE USB mics feature a 3.5mm jack for plugging in headphones so you can monitor your audio (this is why it’s important to select the mic as both your input and output device). If possible, pick a room with plenty of soft surfaces, such as carpets, curtains, or bookshelves. Rooms with lots of reflective surfaces, such as hardwood floors, concrete walls, or high ceilings, will introduce reverb or echo into your audio, which will make your video call hard to listen to on the other end. Choose a Good Recording SpaceĪs with any recording scenario – whether that’s recording a video tutorial, presenting a class from home, or recording music – taking a moment to think about your surroundings and how they might affect your audio is really important.
They are super easy to use and don’t require any additional software or drivers to run – simply plug it into your computer, select it as both your input and output device in your audio preferences and you’re ready to go. The NT-USB, NT-USB Mini, Podcaster, and VideoMic NTG are all great options. RØDE offers a number of incredible USB microphones that will elevate your audio significantly and are ideal for everything from video calls to making a podcast and recording music at home. USB mics plug directly into a computer, without the need to use an audio interface or mixer to connect a microphone. There are a couple of different options to choose from for the simplest solution, we recommend using a USB microphone. By using an external microphone, your audio will sound richer and clearer. The mics built into computers aren’t designed for high-quality audio recording and will make your voice sound tinny and distant, pick up room sound, and generally make communicating more difficult. The single most effective way to vastly improve sound quality for your video calls is to use an external microphone. However, there are some simple steps you can take to get better sound on your video calls. While apps like Zoom, Skype, WebEx and Google Meetings make staying connected super easy, poor quality audio can often make these conferences difficult to get through. Video call and conferencing apps are increasingly becoming the go-to platform for staying in touch with friends, having meetings with colleagues while working remotely, and delivering important business communications.