How can I improve my Android microphone quality?

Microphone quality is an important but often overlooked feature on Android phones. With the rise of mobile gaming, podcasting, vlogging and more, having clear and high-quality audio recording on your smartphone has become increasingly vital. Poor microphone quality can make it difficult for people to understand you on calls, ruin your gaming commentary, or reduce the production value of videos. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve Android microphone quality.

This article will provide tips on how to enhance the microphone performance on your Android device. We’ll cover choosing better recording apps, updating your phone’s settings, using external mics, reducing background noise and more. With the right troubleshooting, you can significantly boost the clarity of voice recordings and call quality on your Android phone.

Default Microphone App

Most Android devices come with a built-in microphone app that allows users to record audio. This default app is convenient since it is pre-installed, but it has some limitations in terms of audio quality.

The main advantage of using the default microphone app is that it is simple and easy to access. There is no need to download any additional software, so you can start recording right away. The default app also tends to be lightweight and have a clean interface without too many settings to adjust.

However, one downside is that the default microphone app often lacks advanced features for enhancing audio quality. It may not have noise cancellation, equalizer presets, gain control, or other options that third-party apps provide. The audio bitrate and sample rates also tend to be lower in the default app.

Audio quality can vary significantly across different Android devices when using the built-in microphone app. High-end Android phones from Samsung, Google, LG and others tend to have very good built-in microphones and produce decent quality recordings through the default app. However, lower-end budget phones often have subpar microphone hardware, which limits audio quality.

Android OS updates can also affect default microphone app quality over time. For example, Android 11 introduced the ability to record in higher lossless formats compared to previous versions. But overall, Android’s default microphone app remains quite basic, making third-party apps worth considering if higher quality recordings are needed.

Third-Party Recording Apps

While the default microphone app on Android can often get the job done for basic recording needs, there are many popular third-party apps that can provide enhanced audio quality and additional useful features. Here are some top options to consider:

WO Mic (source) – This app allows you to use your Android device’s microphone as a wireless microphone for your computer. Many users report it provides better sound quality than built-in recording apps.

EZ Mic (source) – EZ Mic has volume boosting and noise cancellation features to help improve sound quality. You can use it to record voice memos, interviews, music, and more.

Droidcam (source) – This app has a frequency filter to help reduce background noise and echo. It also allows wireless camera connectivity and can live stream audio.

Iriun (source) – Iriun utilizes optimized codecs to provide low-latency, high-quality audio recording and streaming. It also offers noise suppression and acoustic echo cancellation.

Testing reveals these third-party apps often provide cleaner, richer recordings compared to the default microphone app. Key features like volume boosting, noise reduction, frequency filters, and specialized codecs contribute to the improved audio quality.

Microphone Hardware

The hardware of the microphone itself plays a big role in the audio quality you’ll get. Most Android devices come with built-in microphones, but these are often low quality. Using an external microphone can significantly improve sound quality.

The factory microphones installed in vehicles are usually higher quality omni-directional microphones designed specifically for picking up voices in the cabin over road noise. However, when installing an aftermarket Android head unit, the onboard microphones may not integrate properly, leading to poor performance. An external microphone designed for car use will outperform the built-in mic.

According to discussions on Bimmerpost, many find that an external microphone produces much clearer audio for voice commands and hands-free calling when compared to using the built-in microphone or OEM mic with an aftermarket Android head unit. Dedicated external mics are optimized to pick up voices over ambient noise.1

So when installing an Android auto head unit, adding an external microphone mounted in a good location can significantly improve the microphone performance for your device.

Microphone Settings

The microphone sensitivity can be adjusted on Android devices to optimize performance. The default microphone sensitivity may pick up too much background noise or not enough of the desired audio source. To adjust the microphone settings on an Android device:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Select Sound or Sound & vibration.

3. Choose Advanced or Additional settings.

4. Select Microphone sensitivity.

There will be slider to adjust the microphone level. Move the slider to the right to make the microphone more sensitive and pick up more sound. Move it to the left to lower sensitivity and reduce background noise pickup. Test different settings while making a voice recording to find the optimal balance.

For the best possible audio quality, the microphone level should be set high enough to clearly detect the desired sound source without being so sensitive that it picks up lots of extraneous noises. Some experimentation in the user’s typical recording environment will help determine the right settings.

Sources:

[How to manage microphone settings on Android](https://www.androidauthority.com/android-microphone-settings-3393146/)

Reducing Background Noise

One way to reduce background noise coming through your Android microphone is to position the mic closer to your mouth. Try holding your phone closer when recording audio or speaking into it during calls. The proximity effect means sounds that are closer to the mic get emphasized while farther sounds get decreased. Some microphone mounts or external mics allow adjusting the mic position for optimal noise reduction.

Using a noise cancellation app can also help suppress ambient sounds. Applications like Krisp utilize noise suppression algorithms to remove background noise in real-time during calls and recordings. Products like the Nvidia RTX Voice plugin specifically target background noise like fans and keyboards. While paid options like Adobe Audition offer more advanced noise reduction capabilities.

Additionally, external microphones and audio interfaces with built-in noise cancellation can improve microphone quality. Dedicated microphone hardware often outperforms built-in smartphone mics. Consider accessories like lapel mics or USB condenser microphones with noise cancellation features for clearer voice pickup.

Enhancing Voice Quality

One way to improve the sound quality of your voice recordings is through post-processing and editing. There are several audio editing apps available for Android that offer features to enhance and optimize voice recordings:

Adobe Audition (https://www.adobe.com/products/audition.html) is a professional audio workstation that allows you to clean up recordings by reducing background noise, normalizing volume levels, and applying effects like compression and EQ to enhance the voice. The EQ effects in Audition can help boost treble or bass frequencies to bring out the clarity and richness of your voice.

For free editing options, apps like WavePad Audio Editor (https://www.nchsoftware.com/wavepad) provide voice optimization presets to improve speech audio. You can also manually adjust the EQ to reduce muddiness and make voices cleaner and fuller.

Many Android devices also have built-in audio effects that can be applied directly when recording voice memos or audio clips. Under your device’s Settings > Sound, look for options like Adapt Sound or Personalize Sound – these use EQ to tune the sound specifically to your voice and listening preferences. Turning on these effects while recording can help compensate for microphone weaknesses and capture better quality vocals.

Experiment with both post-production effects as well as built-in audio tuning on your Android device to get the best possible vocal sound for your recordings.

Connection Type

The type of connection you use can significantly impact Android microphone quality. Microphones generally sound best when connected directly to the phone’s headphone jack. The audio signal travels directly into the phone without any Bluetooth compression or interference which can reduce quality. Headphone jack microphones like lavalier mics provide the cleanest and highest quality sound on Android devices.

Using wired headphones can also improve microphone pickup versus the built-in mic or speakerphone. The microphone is closer to your mouth and headphones block out background noise. Make sure headphones are fully plugged in to maintain a strong connection.

Bluetooth microphones and headsets often have lower quality due to Bluetooth compression. However, newer Bluetooth 5.0 devices have improved bandwidth and latency. For best Bluetooth mic quality, stay close to your phone and reduce sources of interference.

If you hear buzzing, static or choppy audio with your microphone, try the following troubleshooting steps:

– Restart your Android device and microphone/headset

– Ensure devices are fully charged

– Toggle Bluetooth off and on

– Toggle airplane mode on/off to refresh connections

– Try a different microphone or headset

– Plug devices directly into the headphone jack

– Move closer to your phone if using Bluetooth

– Check for software updates on both devices

Following proper connection protocols and troubleshooting can help optimize microphone performance on Android.

Microphone Maintenance

Proper maintenance of your Android device’s microphone can improve audio quality and extend its lifespan. Here are some tips:

• Use a soft brush or compressed air to gently remove dust and debris from microphone ports.
• Avoid exposing your device to moisture, which can cause corrosion in microphones.
• Don’t blow aggressively into the microphone port, as this can push debris further inside.
• Inspect your microphone port regularly for accumulated debris.
• Avoid dropping your device, as the impact can damage microphone components.

If your microphone stops working or produces poor quality audio, it may need to be replaced. On some Android models the microphone is integrated into the main device board, requiring full device replacement. On others, the microphone module is removable and replaceable. Consult a qualified repair technician to determine if your faulty microphone can be replaced.

With proper care and maintenance, your Android microphone can continue capturing high quality audio and effectively powering voice functions.

Summary

There are several steps you can take to improve your Android microphone quality:

• Use a high-quality third-party recording app like Open Camera or Cinema FV-5 that provides more microphone controls.
• Invest in a good external microphone or headset to improve audio clarity and reduce background noise.
• Adjust microphone settings in your Android device to enable noise suppression and increase microphone gain.
• Reduce ambient noise around you and speak close to the microphone for the best sound quality.
• Check your internet connection type as cellular networks can compress audio.
• Clean your phone microphone regularly to prevent dust buildup.

The key things to remember are using a quality app, reducing background noise, adjusting microphone settings, and using a good external microphone if possible. With some simple tweaks, you can significantly improve the microphone audio when recording videos or having phone conversations on your Android device.