Simply put, you can only sound as good as your microphone allows. There are so many variables to consider when buying a headset, but very few opportunities to assess the microphone because it is an all-in-one deal. The microphone is how you represent yourself to others, but sadly it’s often overlooked.
For instance, different microphones will sound different, cancel noise differently, pick up breathing and pops differently, and so on. Basically, all mics are not created equally!
Lucky for you there’s the ModMic, a studio quality microphone designed to attach to any existing pair of headphones or headset. Replace the crummy mic on your headset or skip headsets all together and get a nice pair of headphones, then attach the ModMic to create the perfect custom headset.
But before you get there:
What are the signs of a failing or poorly built mic?
Mic failure is easy to recognize if someone can’t hear you, but most of the time the problem is far more subtle.
1) Poor frequency response
A “tinny” or “muddy” sound. Even with an expensive headset you may not sound as good as you think. The problem might often be caused by the mic’s design and build quality more than the actual frequency response. It is possible for two mics with the same frequency response range may sound wildly different, so always do a listen test like this:
Take a listen here and pay special attention to how the ModMic 5 and ModMic Wireless compare with their emphasis on the full vocal range rather than the focus on high frequency (tinny) sounds of competitors:
2) High levels of line noise caused by feedback in your audio line
It often comes in the form of hissing or buzzing. It may not even be something you notice until you listen for it, but this noise gets in the way of clear communication. The static coming through a mic may make sibilant sounds (sounds that make a hissing noise, like the word snake) harder to make out, as well as generally making you sound like hot garbage.
Line noise is often created with the interaction of the mic with the computer’s electrical components, adding a USB sound card isolates the mic from those components, often reducing or eliminating line noise.
3) Plosive noise
These are words and letters that produce air movement. For example, P words like “puff” produce a … puff of air! This can strike the microphone if it is placed poorly, designed poorly, or doesn’t have a good pop filter (that foam tip you see on microphones). Repeat and record (or "listen to device") “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers” if you get that hard breath sound coming through the mic you’ve got a problem that needs to be fixed!
The ModMic’s flexible spine and quality pop filter allow you to position it practically anywhere, ensuring your plosives never reach the mic. Check out this and other features that make the ModMic unique!
In short, the ModMic delivers on all the places traditional headset mics fail. The deep and natural studio quality mic ensures you sound like yourself while the flexible design, mute switch, and recording modes keep noise to a minimum.