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With the Modmic 5 recently being released, we thought it was time for another Pro-Tips article! 

Omni vs Uni when to flip that switch

It is pretty awesome that the ModMic 5 has both Unidirectional and Omnidirectional microphone capsules and that you can switch between the two with a flip of a switch, but what does that really mean?

Well, first let's talk a little bit about what Omnidirectional and Unidirectional mean. Omnidirectional means the mic will capture sound 360° around the capsule head. Whereas Unidirectional means the mic will only pick up sound in essentially a single direction (refer to the diagram below for the science stuff.)

So what does this mean for you? Well if you are in a nice quite room with little to no ambient noise, then Omnidirectional is going to give you the highest quality sound out of the ModMic, but beware that if you have a noisy keyboard or someone likes to skateboard down the hallway on the other side of the door the Omni capsule will pick that up as well.

In comes the Uni, if you live in a dorm room or are headed to a LAN party, the switching to the unidirectional capsule is the way to go. The ModMic will pick up your voice while reducing the unwanted audio around you. You may notice a slight drop in how rich or full the sound is. Simply put, this is because the mic is no longer capturing the natural way your voice would sound if someone were physically there.

So, the short version: Omni mode when its quiet. Uni mode when its noisy. You can't tell the difference but the people on the other end will thank you!

Manager your cables like a pro

One of the most common questions and reasons for warranty replacements is proper cable management. Let's cover a few do's and don'ts of managing your ModMic cable, so you can get the most out of your workspace and a long life for your ModMic.

When you buy the ModMic 5 we make sure you have all the tools you need to setup your new headset correctly. First, off you will find a long piece of cable wrap in the box, while inside the ModMic case you will find our traditional S clip solution. Keep in mind the ModMic 4 does not have the cable wrap.

S Clips and a Base Clasp

We will go over how to use each of these individually as well as how you can pair them for the best result for your style of headphones.

S Clip Method
This is the most common method of cable management and if done correctly can be very effective! Here is how it is done:

•  Place the ModMic in the appropriate spot on your headphones (refer to the included instruction in the package)

• Once the adhesive has cured straighten out your headphone and Modmic cables ensuring there are no tangles.
• From the base of your headphone cable make a small “U” in the Modmic cable and place your first clip about one inch below where your headphone cable leaves the cup. Here are a few pictures of What it should and shouldn't look like. (this step is very important if you do not leave some slack for the Modmic cable it will be supporting the weight of both cables and can cause accelerated wear on the Modmic’s strain relief! Check out the pictures below the first one is wrong while the second is what you want to see!)

• Space the remaining S clips down your cable about every three to five inches and stopping about three inches from the connectors so you have enough wiggle room to plug the them into your device!

Cable Wrap Method

The cable wrap method is a quick and easy way to manage three wire setups and thicker cabled headphones. This method can also be used on headphones with single thinner wires but it may not have as tight of a fit.

• Place the ModMic in the appropriate spot on your headphones (refer to the included instruction in the package)
• Once the adhesive has cured straighten out your headphone and Modmic cables ensuring there are no tangles. Lay the included cable wrap next to your stretched out cables and cut it to the desired length ( About an inch from the bottom of your headphone cup is as long as i would go.) Making sure to leave a few inches unwrapped at the end so it is easy to plug it into your desired devices.
• You can use a lighter to melt the edges of the wrap for a clean look, but be careful not to burn too much... or yourself. Caution: fire is hot!
• Now slide both cables into the included cable wrap and you are done!

This method is also great if you are borrowing some headphones or if you have multiple sets you switch between frequently and don’t want to bother with taking on and off S clips.

Hybrid method

This method is what I personally prefer, as my headphones have a single wire that is on the skinny side and tends to flop around when just placed in a cable wrap.

• Place the ModMic in the appropriate spot on your headphones (refer to the included instruction in the package)
• Once the adhesive has cured straighten out your headphone and Modmic cables ensuring there are no tangles. Lay the included cable wrap next to your stretched out cables and cut it to the desired length ( About an inch from the bottom of your headphone cup is as long as i would go.) Making sure to leave a few inches unwrapped at the end so it is easy to plug it into your desired devices.

• From the base of your headphone cable make a small “U” in the Modmic cable and place your first clip about one inch below where your headphone cable leaves the cup (this step is very important if you do not leave some slack for the Modmic cable it will be supporting the weight of both cables and can cause accelerated wear on the Modmic’s strain relief!)
• Space the remaining S clips down your cable about every three to five inches and stopping about three inches from the connectors so you have enough wiggle room to plug the them into your device!
• Now slide your S clipped cables into the included cable wrap and you are done!

Using all the tools, this wire isn't going to move.

Use one of these methods to protect your ModMic and keep your desk space looking great! The best part is you can remove any of these three methods fairly easily and without damage to your headphones or your ModMic!

Stay tuned for our next Pro-Tips article, where we'll be tackling some interesting uses for the ModMic you may not have considered!