Optimizing Voicemod: Perfect Mic Setup and Speaking Tips

In this article, we’ll guide you through the ideal way to use and configure Voicemod for optimal online communication. Achieving the right volume and audio quality is essential, and we’ve got you covered with these expert tips.

Get the best Microphone setup

Before you embark on your online communication journey, let’s dive into the ideal way to utilize and fine-tune Voicemod for exceptional volume and audio quality.

1.- Set up your Mic at the right distance

Finding the perfect distance from your microphone is crucial for enhancing voice clarity and eliminating unnatural frequencies. This step is essential to ensure that subsequent DSP/AI effects processing yields the best results.

• Maintain a distance of at least 15 cm from the microphone to prevent popping sounds.
• Avoid positioning the microphone beyond 30 cm. Doing it can introduce room reverberation.

2.- Speak directly to the Mic

For headset users, positioning the microphone correctly is critical. Direct it towards your mouth and keep it around 2 centimeters away to ensure clear and undistorted audio transmission. Experiment with microphone distance using the “Hear Myself” feature to gauge audio quality before transmission.

3.- Adjust your Mic gain levels

Properly calibrating the microphone input volume is paramount to avoid distortion caused by excessive input volume or cut-off words due to insufficient volume. Maintaining an optimal input signal level is vital to minimize background noise.

How to adjust your Mic gain in MacOS

1. Click on the Apple Menu: In the upper-left corner of your screen, click on the Apple logo to open the drop-down menu.
2. Select “System Preferences”. From the drop-down menu, click on “System Preferences.” This will open the System Preferences window.
3. Choose “Sound”: In the System Preferences window, locate and click on the “Sound” icon. It looks like a speaker.
4. Navigate to the “Input” Tab. You will see different tabs at the top. Click on the “Input” tab. Here, you can adjust the microphone settings.
5. Select Your Microphone: If your microphone is already connected to your Mac, it should appear in the list of input devices. Select your microphone from the list by clicking on it once. You might see the microphone’s name or a generic input device.
6. Adjust the Input Volume Slider: After selecting your microphone, you will see an input volume slider. This slider adjusts the gain of your microphone. Slide it to the right to increase the gain (make it louder), and slide it to the left to decrease it (make it quieter). You can test the microphone by speaking while adjusting the slider to find the appropriate volume level.
7. Check the Input Level Meter: Below the input volume slider, you’ll see a level meter that indicates the input volume in real-time. Speak into your microphone, and you’ll see the meter responding. Adjust the input volume slider until the meter’s levels are in the green range when you speak at an average volume.
8. Test Your Adjustments: After making adjustments, go to Voicemod and test how you sound with the Hear Myself active. You can use the MacOS system’s sound preference pane’s input level meter as a guide while speaking.
9. Fine-Tuning: Depending on the microphone and your environment, you might need to fine-tune the gain level further. Adjust the gain until your voice sounds clear and at an appropriate volume during recordings or online calls.
10. Close System Preferences: Once you are satisfied with the microphone gain adjustments, you can close the System Preferences window.

Doubts? Follow our video guide!

Speaking Tips

With your microphone setup perfected, it’s time to focus on delivering a captivating performance. Remember that certain voice types, such as AI-generated voices or singing, require a learning curve through experience and experimentation because “It’s an instrument”.

Prosody (Cadence, Vocalization…)

Mastery of voice acting techniques, particularly prosody, is paramount. This is especially relevant for AI voices, where accurate prosody is fundamental for optimal intelligibility. Mispronounced vowels or consonants can be misinterpreted by AI, affecting overall quality.

Consider this example to grasp the significance of prosody: “Sample quote showcasing excellent pronunciation.”

Projection

Perfecting projection is essential for content creators, voice actors, and singers to maintain consistent intelligibility and loudness. Experiment with different projection levels, from conversational tones to shouts and whispers, to discover your ideal balance.

Remember that AI voices are still in the beta phase, so their expressiveness will likely improve with technological advancements.

Non-Verbals

When dealing with AI voices, exercise caution to avoid blowing into the microphone or generating non-verbal noises (like coughs and throat clearing) that could confuse the AI and result in unwanted artifacts. While technology is evolving, increased expressiveness in this aspect is anticipated over time.

Feel free to experiment and embrace the ever-evolving world of AI-driven voice technology!