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FAQ

Microphone Setup

Choose the right mic and fix common audio issues.

Selecting a Microphone

VoxInk uses your system's default microphone by default. To choose a different one:

1

Open VoxInk Settings

Click the VoxInk icon in the menu bar, then click the gear icon to open Settings.

2

Choose your microphone

Under the Microphone section, select the mic you want to use from the dropdown. VoxInk lists all available input devices.

3

Test it

Hold Fn + Ctrl and say a few words. If text appears, your mic is working.

Troubleshooting: No Sound Detected

If VoxInk isn't picking up your voice, work through these checks in order:

1. Check microphone permissions

Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and make sure VoxInk is toggled on. If it's not listed, try removing and re-adding VoxInk.

2. Verify the correct mic is selected

Open VoxInk Settings and confirm the right microphone is chosen. If you recently plugged in a new mic, it may not be selected automatically.

3. Try toggling noise cancellation off

If you speak softly, the noise gate might be filtering your voice. Turn off noise cancellation from the menu bar and try again.

4. Check mic distance

Position your microphone 10-15cm from your mouth. Built-in laptop mics work, but they're further away and pick up more ambient noise.

5. Test in another app

Open Voice Memos or QuickTime and record a clip. If your mic doesn't work there either, the issue is system-level, not VoxInk.

Mic Recommendations

Built-in MacBook mic

Works fine for quiet environments. Good enough to get started. Position the laptop closer to you if possible.

Wired headphones (with mic)

Great option. The mic sits close to your mouth, isolating your voice from background noise. AirPods or any earbuds with a mic work well.

USB microphone

Best audio quality. Zero latency. If you dictate frequently, a USB mic is the best investment. Even a budget USB mic outperforms built-in options.

USB vs Bluetooth

Note: Bluetooth microphones (including AirPods) can add 100-200ms of audio latency. This doesn't affect transcription accuracy, but you may notice a slight delay before recording starts.
Tip: If you use AirPods and notice the audio quality drops during recording, it may be because macOS switched to the Bluetooth SCO codec (lower quality, used for calls). This is a macOS behavior, not a VoxInk issue.

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