Nagai Hajime

Both smartphones and laptops have built-in microphones, but do I need a microphone?

This article is aimed at people who use voice recognition for work or other purposes.

Have you ever wondered why someone nearby is using voice recognition?
We are now seeing voice recognition services being used in a variety of situations, such as built-in voice recognition in smartphones and AmiVoice products. But have you ever seen a situation where the machine reacted strangely, as if it couldn't hear you properly? Even though the person's voice sounds fine to you.

One of the reasons for misrecognition is that the voice a person hears can be very different from the recorded voice.When you want to effectively use voice recognition in your work, you want to improve the accuracy as much as possible. How to choose and use a microphone for recording This is very important.

Choosing the right microphone is crucial for utilizing voice recognition!

Recently, we often hear that voice recognition technology has advanced to the point where the recognition rate exceeds 90%, but if you feel that the accuracy is not as high as you would expect, then you should take a look at your microphone.

Points to consider when choosing a microphone

Let's look at microphone catalogs to see what kind of microphone to choose for voice recognition. However, the specifications listed in the catalog are for reference only. The sound recorded will vary depending on various factors, such as compatibility between the devices, the service being used, and the limitations of the OS and software being used. No matter how good the specs are, the actual sound may be terrible, so please check the following points.

1. directional
   To record your own voice without picking up surrounding sounds unidirectional It is said that the best ones are:
2. sensitivity
   When using voice recognition in a noisy environment, the microphone Low sensitivity You may get better results by selecting and speaking with the microphone closer to your mouth.This is because it reduces the amount of surrounding noise picked up and focuses on your own voice. However, when using a microphone with low sensitivity, you should speak a little louder. Some models on the market allow you to adjust the sensitivity on the microphone itself, which is very convenient.
3. 形式
   In general Electret condenser type Please use what is called "skin conduction" or "throat microphone" sounds. Unfortunately, sounds generated by skin conduction or throat microphones are special sounds and are difficult to use for voice recognition.
4. Shape
   The microphone body マイクアーム The best microphones are those that are attached to the end of a long arm and can be moved and adjusted towards your mouth. There are also microphones that have directional controls that make them feel like they are close to your mouth even when they are far away.
5. Connection method
   When connecting a wired microphone to a PC Via USB audio adapter We recommend using a Bluetooth microphone that is less susceptible to electrical noise. When choosing a Bluetooth microphone, look for one with HD VOICE or similar features. WIDE BAND (16kHz) Please select a product that can record.

How to use the microphone and speaking tips

Even if you have a good microphone, if you don't use it properly, you won't be able to get the most out of it. Here are some tips to keep in mind when using it.

1. Check that the microphone and mouth are positioned appropriately. Directional microphones can make the sound extremely quiet if you don't speak directly into the microphone.
2. Even though there is a microphone connected via Bluetooth, are you speaking directly into the device? Make sure that the microphone you are speaking into is the same as the microphone the app is using.
3. Even if you think you are speaking in a quiet place, there may be surrounding noise, background music, voices, and room reverberation. If you listen to the recorded audio, you may realize that it is surprisingly loud.
4. When using in a noisy environment, lower the microphone sensitivity and hold the microphone closer to your mouth. If the surroundings are noisy, you may be speaking loudly without realizing it, so be careful not to speak so loudly that the microphone input meter swings off the scale.
5. In fact, sometimes the sound of someone opening their mouth or breathing out through their nose at the end of a conversation can be recorded. In such cases, using a microphone with a windshield (microphone cover) can reduce this.
6. Be careful if you have a habit of saying things like "huh?" or "ah" without realizing it when you speak. Adding an extra word at the beginning can sometimes result in the word being converted into an unintended word.
7. Do you speak slowly, as if you were teaching a child? Speaking slowly will cause the sound to break up, further reducing accuracy. Try speaking as you would in normal conversation.

Other Information

Depending on the type of microphone and OS, features such as echo cancellation and AGC (auto gain control) may be available. These make it easier for people to hear your voice during a call, but while they may make it easier for people to hear, they can also cause voice recognition services to process your voice and reduce recognition, so we recommend disabling these settings for the time being.

A dedicated microphone is recommended for voice recognition

　　　

Advanced Media is also developing a dedicated microphone that can pick up clear voices, which is essential for voice recognition.Also available on AmazonSo, please try it if you like.

Use the microphone correctly to make voice recognition more convenient!