What are the best practices for using headphones and microphones in web conferencing?

1 Choose the right devices

Not all headphones and microphones are suitable for web conferencing. You want to choose devices that are comfortable, reliable, and compatible with your web conferencing software and platform. Ideally, you should use headphones with a built-in microphone or a headset that has noise-canceling features and a mute button. Avoid using speakers, earbuds, or built-in laptop microphones, as they can cause feedback, echo, or low-quality sound.

2 Test your devices before the meeting

Nothing is more embarrassing than joining a web conference and realizing that your devices are not working properly. To prevent this from happening, you should test your devices before the meeting. You can use the audio settings or the test call feature in your web conferencing software to check your microphone volume, sound quality, and background noise. You can also ask a colleague or a friend to do a quick test call with you and give you feedback on your audio.

3 Adjust your devices during the meeting

Even if you have tested your devices before the meeting, you may still need to adjust them during the meeting. For example, you may need to increase or decrease your microphone volume depending on how loud or quiet you are speaking. You may also need to mute or unmute your microphone when you are not speaking or when there is a lot of background noise. You can use the keyboard shortcuts or the controls in your web conferencing software to adjust your devices quickly and easily.

4 Position your devices correctly

Positioning your devices correctly can help to optimize your audio quality and web conferencing experience. To achieve this, keep your microphone close to your mouth, but not too close that it causes popping or breathing sounds. Additionally, avoid touching or moving your microphone or headset during the meeting, as it can cause unwanted noise or interference. It is also important to angle your microphone away from your speakers or headphones to prevent feedback or echo. Finally, use a stand or a clip to secure your microphone or headset, so that it does not fall or slip.

5 Be mindful of your environment

Creating a suitable environment for web conferencing is essential to ensure a good audio quality and web conferencing experience. To achieve this, you should close the doors and windows to reduce external noise and distractions, turn off or mute any devices or applications that may cause notifications or sounds during the meeting, use a plain or professional background to avoid visual clutter or distractions, and use natural or artificial lighting to illuminate your face and avoid shadows or glare. By following these best practices, you can improve your audio quality, avoid common audio problems such as feedback, echo, background noise, and low volume, and communicate and collaborate more effectively and efficiently with your remote teams, clients, and partners.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?