Mic monitoring is the ability to hear what the microphone is recording through an earphone so you can better control the output. In this guide, we will talk about what it is and the reason why it is used. We will also touch on the way to enable this feature and its applications as well.
What is mic monitoring?
It is an audio feature that enables you to hear your voice accurately from the earphone. As you talk through the microphone, you voice is heard from the headset. You can use this feature on computer, laptop, camera and suchlike devices. It is also available for xbox, PS4 and playstation alike for years.
There is variable mic monitoring. One is through the device on which you record the sound, the other is through the 3.5mm jack on the microphone. This also comes in two types. Normally, we hear what we record to adjust it to an ideal level. For example, the SYNCO G2(A2) features a 3.5mm jack on the receiver for plugging earphone in and monitor the audio. We can also have in ear monitor with mic. What does it mean? It enables you to listen to a personal mix of vocals and background sounds for live performance.
Go and buy SYNCO audio monitoring microphones at B&H Store
Four benefits of mic monitor in conference and recording
Besides making sure you are heard properly, there are many reasons why people observe audio whenever they have communication or record using their preferred device. Here are three main typical benefits:
You can get fast and efficient troubleshooting when conferencing and recording
Microphone monitoring can help you hear yourself speak before you start a meeting, a phone conversation, or any other activity. You can alter the audio settings by listening to your voice through your headphones. You can change the level, delete or add sound effects, and replace a damaged microphone or cable. You'll be able to fix quickly and get back to your activity in real time.
An audio monitor microphone is also useful for video creators. Because you are capable of hearing yourself, it's easy to see if you're cutting off or if there's too much noise. Without anyone prompting you, you are capable of detecting the problem and adjusting the recording accordingly.
You can avoid shouting
Mic monitoring ensures that you will never need to yell to be heard. Because your voice can be heard clearly through your earphone, you can tell if you're speaking too softly or too loudly. You can even change the pitch of your voice to seem more professional or older. You can easily hear and solve any faults, not just the loudness of your speech.
Mic monitoring online helps you quickly fix your voice to leave a professional impression. People frequently misinterpret us based on the sound, tone, and volume of our voices. If you reply to a client in a loud voice, you may seen as aggressive, reckless, and demanding. Meanwhile, speaking quietly can be interpreted as being excessively soft, untrustworthy, and unprofessional.
You can feel relaxed
Since you can hear what you say, you know what is going on thus feeling more relaxed and confident. It also contributes to fluent speaking experience and excellent audio output for speakers. This is really help when you use the phone microphone for podcast.
You can save the time of post-production for recording
Keeping an eye on what you are recording also allows for simple post-production. You have a decent volume level, the background sounds are perfect for your film, and there are no errors in what the mic collects... All of this streamlines the editing process, allowing you to devote more time to developing a shooting strategy.
How to turn on mic monitoring on PC and other devices?
The ways of enabling it are differed by different devices. The followings are tips for four commonly used devices.
PC
Firstly, you should connect a microphone and earphone to it. Since there are two main systems used on computer, we will offer tips separately for Windows 10 and macOS users.
For mic monitoring on Windows 10, the following steps are feasible:
- Open the Control Panel, find Sound and click it. For finding Control Panel option quickly, you can type the words on the search box.
- Click the “Recording” tab on the top of the small window, and then double-click the default microphone.
- Click the “Listen” tab on the top of another window.
- Choose “Listen to this device”.
- Select the earphone that you plug in to listen to the microphone output on the “Playback through this device”.
- Click OK.
For mic monitoring on Mac, the simplest way is to install mic monitoring software like QuickTime and make setup on it. The steps are as following:
- Click File and select New Audio Recording on the QuickTime Player bar.
- Turn up the volume slider.
- Turn up the mic monitor volume to max.
Laptop
Actually, laptops share the same procedure as computers. You can follow the aforementioned steps accordingly.
Camera
Unlike computers and laptops, mic monitoring is quite easy on camera. Many X Series cameras feature a 3.5mm jack for plugging your earphone in to hear what is recording. You can have a real-time audio checking once you connect the earphone. But what if there is no headphone jack on the camera? Using a microphone featuring monitor jack is the best idea.
How to turn on mic monitoring on phone?
In general, iPhone or android mic monitor can be achieved by observing the sound level bar in your microphone audio recording app.You will see the bar up and down and know whether it is soft or loud. However, this doesn’t tell you what is going to with the sounds. To listen to the live sounds accurately, you can use the phone microphone that features a 3.5mm monitoring jack. In this way, you can hear what is captured and make adjustment accordingly.
When to use: 3 situations when audio monitor helps a lot
Although audio monitoring is of great benefits, there is no need to use it whenever and wherever. There are three situations when it can play a big role.
Gaming
Gaming headsets with mic monitoring allow you to concentrate more on the games with fewer distractions. It's especially useful if you are playing a game where it is important to chat with your members. It can be employed in either a recreational or competitive gaming mode. However, you'll probably find it most handy in a Team Deathmatch or Squad Deathmatch. With so much going on and maintaining check of your surrounds, it's easy to forget to call anything out or miss an important callout.
Go and buy SYNCO audio monitoring microphones at B&H Store
Vlogging
You can also utilize the mic monitoring when you're going to record vlogs outside. When you go outside to photograph, you'll almost always find yourself in a noisy environment. The jingle of cars, the chit-chatter of people, and the music from the mall will obstruct your filming.
A wireless mic and in ear monitor combo make you hear the volume of the microphone as well as ambient noise. This feature allows you to listen to yourself more carefully, making it easier to recognize mistakes and adjust the volume.
Video conference
If you're in a business setting, mic monitoring for pc comes in handy. You should always be able to hear yourself, whether you're on the phone with a client or at a meeting with coworkers. This will assist you guarantee that you're speaking properly and at the optimal volume.
Low latency mic monitoring is also a great technique to identify any speech errors you might make. If you call a client by their first name instead of their last name, for example, you can hear the name in your earphone and correct it as soon as possible.
[For more information, see the article Why and when to use monitor microphone?]