because it looks like a BDSM collar?
Why don't more people use throat mics?
71–80 of 285 posts
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#72One 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”)
I disagree, the article is proclaiming them to be a good solution:
> Throat mics are an improvement over a standalone wired microphone (if that’s what you are using)
I'll go as far to say that the author is making a completely false claim here and does the reader a disservice by not even attempting to back up this claim with a recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5_eI9ungGE&t=228s
I'll just go ahead and say it: throat mics sound like shit.
Compare that to a popular dynamic microphone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9bniJsyb1E&t=57s
The author doesn't seem to know that dynamic microphones only capture sounds directly in front of them, which makes them ideal for environments where there is background noise, especially if the background noise comes from further away.
The other thing about AirPods is that they sound better connected to Apple equipment where they aren't limited by A2DP, and most AirPods owners own other Apple products.
Also, any recent laptop is likely to have multiple built-in microphones with noise cancelling, and if it's a recent Mac the quality is actually incredible.
The product I recommend that has been very flexible for my usage has been the Antlion ModMic Wireless. It has really amazing wireless quality without the need to mess with Bluetooth, as it uses a USB dongle. For PC gaming, I like to pair this with my over-ear Sony headphones, which are wireless headphones, but for my gaming purposes I plug in the wire and use the ModMic for input. Then, on the go, I can remove the microphone (mounted magnetically) and use my headphones as standard Bluetooth headsets.
For my Mac, the solution I like is to use AirPods for the output, but use the Mac built-in microphone as an input (only a good solution if you're typing on an external keyboard, or else people will hear you typing). It sounds a lot better than the AirPods microphone. It's so good that the only practical step up is a dedicated dynamic or condenser microphone.
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#73I should write up my solution using a parabolic dish that focuses sound from a relatively small zone where my head (usually) is, into a good cheap mic. You get good isolation (even from keyboard sounds) requires nothing on your head or throat, and ... physics! (You just need to accept a big dish in your field of view, and you also can't pace, walk around, as with bluetooth solutions.)
This actually sounds sick :)
You know what is crazy, those microphone guns[0] mics might actually be amazing.
I know that people (youtubers) actually have problems with being able to turn their A/Cs on because of the background noise... Rather than trying to remove that noise with AI/post processing or turning the A/C off maybe people should be looking into microphone guns.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMGZ1M-Zoom-Microphone-Black/dp...
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#74A guide on how to spot a Metal Gear fan:
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#75I'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 "l…
Could you provide samples? Maybe it works for you in particular, but all the throat mic tests I've seen on youtube have absolutely abysmal sound quality.
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#76I went down this path once. For normal life everything about throat mikes is awful: the sound quality, discomfort, difficult to get positioned correctly, and get to transmit your swallowing sounds to the world.
But what if it had bluetooth though?
There's a kickstarter in here, I know it! I just need someone on HN that is crazy about hardware to see this post.
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#77Because they are pretty annoying. One possibility is tank helmet, but in this head inside it is really not that preferable to wear... Then again outside in winter it isn't too bad option.
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#78Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#79https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rk79-Y6Nag
Found this video which demonstrates the usage of a throat mic in an operating room. It's not perfect but it works quite well. I had never heard of this thing before but it's rather cool!
Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
OP here, I hundred percent agree -- it was definitely stupid and pointless. Would do again :) If I'm a real HNer I'll post an update in 3-6 months after I've wired bluetooth to this. (don't hold me to this) [EDIT] - I'm not a real HNer, please don't expect that this will ever happen. No way I'll find time to hack up and wire bluetooth to this thing.
Looking forward to the post when you get Doom to run on it. :)
So, just the audio then.