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Why don't more people use throat mics?

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Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#51
OP here -- this article isn't a recommendation to ditch whatever you use and get at throat mic! I just think they're interesting and finally scratched my own itch so figured I'd my experience (and leave some hints if anyone wanted to go make a bluetooth version).

The tl;dr:

> tl;dr - Don’t chuck the Sony 1000XMs/AirPods just yet. Throat mics are an improvement over a standalone wired microphone (if that’s what you are using), and have better background noise reduction but in a quiet room your usual bluetooth headset is still way more convenient.

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It definitely reads as a personal project and not one claiming a superior solution (“People can hear me gulp”)

OP here -- yes this was definitely not a serious recommendation for anyone! I just thought some others might have possibly thought of this before (and now they don't have to do it!) I thought the tl;dr would cover it: > tl;dr - Don’t chuck the Sony 1000XMs/AirPods just yet. Throat mics are an improvement over a standalone wired microphone (if that’s what you are using), and have better background noise reduction but…

just buy a proper mic or a roaming mic unless the choker look is more your choice, but then I doubt arch supports your webcam so nobody gets to see it...

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#54

One of the most Hacker News articles ever written. A bad solution (wearing a choker) to a self-generated problem (using Arch) that costs a lot of money. In summary: this generates more problems than it solves (unless you're a navy seal).

One of the most Hacker News comments every written. A dismissive comment about a diy home project because you'd rather be critical of someone else than build something yourself.

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#56

I'm curious as to why the author even thought that a throat mic would have good audio quality. Throat mics are designed for loud, high intensity situations. For the use case of a throat mic, "good audio quality" means the receiver can actually understand what you're saying, something that is pretty easy to achieve in a home office environment. And I'm sure that it's possible to make a throat mic that has great audio…

> I'm curious as to why the author even thought that a throat mic would have good audio quality. Throat mics are designed for loud, high intensity situations. For the use case of a throat mic, "good audio quality" means the receiver can actually understand what you're saying, something that is pretty easy to achieve in a home office environment.

The good audio quality I thought would come from it being viable in a "loud, high intensity situation". I thought quite simplistically that there must be something there if people are depending on throat mics in warzones.

To be clear though, the throat mic certainly has "good audio quality" -- I use it on most of my calls now, and I don't get any complaints -- tested with a friend beforehand and he didn't know the difference until I asked.

> And I'm sure that it's possible to make a throat mic that has great audio quality. But I think the overlap of "people who want throat mics" and "people who want good audio quality" consists solely of the author of this article.

Would sure like to find some more people (maybe ones that like to do kickstarters or have manufacturing connections) because I'd sure like to expand this niche!

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#57

One of the most Hacker News articles ever written. A bad solution (wearing a choker) to a self-generated problem (using Arch) that costs a lot of money. In summary: this generates more problems than it solves (unless you're a navy seal).

It definitely reads as a personal project and not one claiming a superior solution (“People can hear me gulp”)

> People can hear me gulp

it's already bad enough hearing people slurping/gulping with normal mics, this mic sounds horrible.

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#58
post #54

One of the most Hacker News articles ever written. A bad solution (wearing a choker) to a self-generated problem (using Arch) that costs a lot of money. In summary: this generates more problems than it solves (unless you're a navy seal).

One of the most Hacker News comments every written. A dismissive comment about a diy home project because you'd rather be critical of someone else than build something yourself.

No post body was provided.

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#59
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OP here -- yes this was definitely not a serious recommendation for anyone! I just thought some others might have possibly thought of this before (and now they don't have to do it!) I thought the tl;dr would cover it: > tl;dr - Don’t chuck the Sony 1000XMs/AirPods just yet. Throat mics are an improvement over a standalone wired microphone (if that’s what you are using), and have better background noise reduction but…

just buy a proper mic or a roaming mic unless the choker look is more your choice, but then I doubt arch supports your webcam so nobody gets to see it...

> just buy a proper mic or a roaming mic unless the choker look is more your choice,

Yeah I have/had a Sony 1000MX2, AirPods, a Corsair VOID (from a gamier time in my life), and a regular plug in headset+mic -- lots of redundancy in my audio setup.

Have to admit that the convenience of a bluetooth headset I can wear and walk around is still the most convenient right now. The throat mic only being wired (for now) is a real bummer.

> I doubt arch supports your webcam so nobody gets to see it...

Arch actually is not at fault 99% of the time! Arch Wiki is quite possibly the greatest distro wiki to ever exist -- I happily run pacman every day and mana falls from the gods and everything works great usually.

Webcam funnily enough has never been a problem :)

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It definitely reads as a personal project and not one claiming a superior solution (“People can hear me gulp”)

> People can hear me gulp Some people are into that <_<

Throat mic ASMR is an untapped market.
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