Mic sensitivity is a problem for many people who want to use their mic but can’t because it’s too sensitive. There are some quick and easy steps you can take to lower the volume of your microphone so that you’re not getting blasted by loud sounds or picking up background noise from other sources. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to lower mic sensitivity.
How Does A Microphone Work?
A microphone detects sound vibrations from air particles that are then converted to electrical signals. Generally, a diaphragm is attached to an electromagnet that can pick up the incoming waves and send them through wires into a speaker or recording device.
There are microphones in nearly every electronic gadget we use today, such as our smartphone speakers, home intercoms, and even wireless headphones. The most common type of microphone is found in a headphone set or attached to a computer, where it can be adjusted by sliding bars. Microphones can also come in different options to suit various needs, such as having better pick-up high sounds or low ones.
What Is Mic Sensitivity?
Mic sensitivity is the measure of how well a mic picks up sound. A mic’s sensitive rating helps you understand what it can pick up and indicates its operating range. While sensitivity is not the only factor in determining how well a mic will pick up sound, it does play an important role.
High sensitivity mics are very good at picking up sound and can capture sounds from a distance. On the downside, they also pick up background noise and may need preamps to get their full potential. These mics usually need phantom power or an amplifier before they work correctly.
Low-sensitive microphones do not pick up distant sound or background noise as well. They are used close to the speaker and need less power. Medium sensitivity microphones fall between high and low sensitive mics but usually do not need much amplification before use. Most standard studio recording uses medium-sensitivity mics like the Shure SM57 or Audio Technica AT2020USB+. These mics are versatile and can be used in many different situations.
Mic sensitivity can become a problem if you use a microphone with the wrong settings, such as a susceptible mic for vocals. You may need to use more amplification or use it closer to your source to get good sound quality without too much background noise. The problem with how microphones work is their sensitivity – they pick things up so quickly, which can be a nuisance if you’re trying to record in a loud environment or if something is making noise right next to it.
You can address this by lowering the microphone’s volume, which we’ll show you how to do below using good quality headphones and good mic technique. Setting your mic appropriately will provide several benefits to both you and your viewers. The three most important things you can do when setting up your microphone are:
- Making sure that the volume is not too loud.
- Using headphones during recording sessions.
- Ensuring that the mic’s sensitivity is appropriately set.
- Minimizing background noise in the room where you record.
Mic Volume Vs. Mic sensitivity
Mic volume is the amount of input signal that your mixer receives. It’s an overall measurement, and it doesn’t tell you much on its own. For example, a loud sound like a snare drum could be measured as +12 dB (hyper) or -30dB (hypo), depending on how far away it is from the microphone.
Mic sensitivity tells you how loud your mic will go before it starts to clip or distort. For example, hyper-cardioid dynamic vocal mics might be rated at +60 dB (hypo), while condenser mics are typically lower than that. The important thing here is that the mic sensitivity takes into account the preamp gain, which is how much you’re increasing or decreasing the signal.
Mic volume and Mic sensitivity: If we combine these two terms to form one term called ‘gain.’ This is simply a measurement of amplification or attenuation (reduction), expressed in decibels. For example, every time you double the amount of gain, you add another +db.
Mic level: this is a term used to describe any signal up until it hits your mixer’s fader. This means that all mic levels will be different from each other, and if they’re too loud or quiet for their intended use (like recording vocals), we need to use a preamp or amplifier.
Therefore, the difference between mic volume and mic sensitivity is that mic volume describes the amount of input signal that your mixer receives. In contrast, mic sensitivity tells you how loud your microphone will go before it starts to distort.
How To Lower Mic Sensitivity On Windows 10
For audio specialists and novices alike, Windows 10 has a variety of sound control capabilities. However, failing to calibrate sensitivity (or gain) appropriately in Windows 10 might result in recordings with background noise, annoying breath noises, sound pop-ins, and other audio difficulties. Take the following easy steps to lower mic sensitivity in Windows 10:
- On your desktop’s home screen, left-click the “Start” button. This button, which resembles the Windows logo, is normally seen in the bottom left corner of the home screen. After left-clicking on the gear symbol in the list that displays, select “Settings.”
- Next, left-click on “System” to open up a series of system settings that you can tweak.
- Choose “Sound” from the left-hand menu.
- Ensure your favorite microphone is set as the current input device under the “Input” section.
- Select “Device Properties” from the left-hand menu.
- Click on “Additional Device Properties” on the right side of the screen with the left mouse button.
- This will open a new window with numerous tabs containing options—Left-click on the “Levels” option.
- You’ll be able to adjust the microphone level and perhaps a boost setting here, which will affect the volume of your mic signal as it enters your computer.
How To Lower Mic Sensitivity On Android
If you are using an Android phone, there is a way to lower your microphone’s sensitivity. This can be done by going through the built-in settings on most devices. However, if this doesn’t work for you or isn’t available in your device’s version of Android, then there may be a third-party application that will do what it is that you need.
You can take the following steps to lower the sensitivity of your microphone:
Go through Settings > Accessibility and see if there is a “Hearing” section where it will allow you to adjust input levels for things such as speech, sound effects, etc. If so, look under the microphone and find Hear my voice or similar. Adjust the slider to a lower level and test it out by using an app that makes noise, such as Google Play Music or YouTube, etc.
If there is no “Hearing” section, then you will have to find another application that can do what you want for your device. Unfortunately, this may be difficult, if not impossible, depending on which version of Android your phone is running. An application you can use for this is the Microphone Amplifier app. Here are steps to follow:
- Microphone Amplifier is a free download. Download the app.
- Grant Microphone and Storage permissions to Microphone Amplifier.
- Proceed to the main screen after dismissing the Presets menu.
- To increase or lower the mic’s sensitivity, move the Audio Gain slider 2-10 points to the right or the left, respectively.
- To enhance noise suppression, move the Input Filter slider 2-10 points to the right.
- To turn on the amplifier, press the bottom-center power button.
- To make a test recording, press the bottom-right REC button.
- From the home page, you may access your Records. Listen to your voice and tweak the parameters until it sounds clear.
How To Lower Mic Sensitivity On Iphone
Apple devices have a default setting that allows users to pick up their voice. Sometimes, it can be too sensitive and accidentally picks up things you may not want to be recorded in your video or audio file. Here are some steps for how to lower mic sensitivity on iPhone.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Phone Noise Cancellation, and change the slider to the “On” position.
To adjust the sensitivity of the AirPods microphone:
- Go to Settings, find Bluetooth and tap the blue “i” next to AirPods on the “My Devices.”
- Under Press and Hold AirPods, ensure that Noise Control is selected.
Conclusion
You can lower your mic sensitivity by adjusting the settings on your computer or device. If you are currently struggling with too much background noise, try lowering the microphone’s input volume. This will also allow you to record audio at higher volumes without clipping or distorting it.
When recording voiceovers for videos, remember that most people don’t speak as loud as they think they do, so make sure to use a headset instead of speakers, which might distort and amplify their voices in an unpleasant way. This blog post with instructions on reducing mic sensitivity will get you back up and running in no time.
