Guide
Which microphone to use
Better sound in means better text out. The good news: the mic you already have is probably the best one.
MacBook mics are tuned for voice and pick up a normal speaking voice from where you sit.
A headset, a USB mic or a wired earphone mic, 10 to 20 cm from your mouth.
They work, but they send lower-quality sound while the mic is on.
Why AirPods sound worse
When a Bluetooth headset's mic turns on, the connection switches to a mode made for phone calls. It sends narrower sound, so words like “fifteen” and “fifty” are harder to tell apart, and your music drops in quality while you talk. It can also take a second or two for the mic to start. That's why Freshflo uses your Mac's own mic by default, even when AirPods are connected.
How to pick a mic in Freshflo
- Open Freshflo from the menu bar, then Settings → General.
- Under Microphone, leave it on Automatic, or pick the one you want.
- Keep Use the Mac's microphone instead of AirPods on, unless you really want to use your headset.
If the mic is silent, Freshflo says so in its menu and offers a fix.
Five tips for better results
- Talk normally. No need to slow down or speak like a robot. Freshflo handles ums and restarts.
- Start speaking right after you press the key, and let go after your last word.
- Whispering works in a quiet room, with the mic close.
- Add names to your Dictionary (people, products, places) so they're always spelled right.
- Noisy room? A wired headset beats the laptop mic.
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