Why Does My Microphone Sound Muffled, How to Fix It?

Having crystal-clear audio is essential when recording. Although microphones can sound muffled even with the finest of them, this issue can ruin an otherwise flawless recording.

You may not even realize that your recording sounds underwater if you aren’t listening to it via a decent pair of studio headphones when you’re recording.

At this point, you may be asking yourself, “Why does my mic sound muffled?” when you play your audio back.

You may have to re-record a session that can’t be rectified due to muffling, even though there are software solutions that can recover some muffled audio.

This article tells you about what causes your microphone to sound muffled and offers solutions to fix it.

Why Does My Mic Sound Muffled?

After recording your audio, it’s annoying to discover that the sound is muffled when you want to listen to it afterward.

It can also make your audience irritated and unpleasant if this happens in an online meeting, especially if you’re conducting a business meeting.

Listed below are a few possible causes of microphone sound muffled.

1. Placing The Mic Too Far Or Too Close

If you’re not using a condenser microphone, you may not know that it requires a certain distance to the subject.

Place it about 1 meter away from the subject to use a condenser mic. This distance is critical for capturing the sound accurately.

If you place the mic too close, it will pick up background noise, and the sound will sound muffled. If you place the mic too far away, the sound will not be recorded at all.

To fix this, try placing the mic closer to the subject and moving it to the best possible spot to record.

2. The Microphone Is Unbalanced

If your microphone is unbalanced, it will cause the sound to be muffled. In addition, the unbalanced microphone will be louder than it needs to be, and this can cause distortion.

When using a wireless microphone, the distance between the mic and the person speaking will determine the distance between the mic and the speaker’s mouth.

3. Background Noise

When recording in a noisy environment, background noise can cause the sound to be muffled.

You can use a microphone with an external noise filter to reduce background noise. This is a great tool to help you get the best audio recording.

4. The Microphone’s EQ Is Not Set Properly

If you use a condenser mic, you should set its gain to zero and then use the microphone’s built-in EQ to make the sound clear.

You should also ensure that you’re not picking up background noise from your surroundings.

5. The Microphone Is Dirty

Dirty mics can pick up unwanted noise and distort the audio. You can use a tissue or a microfiber cloth to clean the mic to wipe it.

You can also use a cleaning brush to remove any dirt. If you’re using a condenser mic, you can use a special cleaning solution to clean it.

6. Your Microphone Is Too Loud

If your mic is too loud, the sound will be muffled. You can adjust the volume of your microphone to a level that’s comfortable for you to use.

If you’re using a condenser mic, it will be too loud if you’re not using the mic’s built-in EQ. So instead, you can use a condenser mic with an external noise filter to reduce the noise.

You can also try using a mic stand or a boom pole to reduce the microphone’s volume.

How to Fix a Muffled Microphone?

The first thing you need to know is what causes your microphone to sound muffled. The problem with your microphone is most likely because of how you’re holding it. If you hold your phone in a way that’s not comfortable, then you might be causing your mic to sound muffled. 

1. Check the Distance Between the Microphone and the Subject

If you’re using a condenser mic, you should place it about 1 meter away from the subject. This distance is critical for capturing the sound accurately.

2. Try Holding Your Phone Differently

If you’re using a wired headset, you should place your phone on your desk, rather than holding it in your hand. You might also want to try using a wireless headset. If you’re using a Bluetooth headset, make sure you’re using a microphone that’s compatible with your phone.

3. Make Sure You’re Holding Your Phone Correctly

You should hold your phone in a way that’s comfortable. You’ll want to make sure you’re not putting your ear near the mic. If you’re using a wired headset, you might want to try using an earbud instead of a headset.

4. Use a Microphone Cover

You might want to try using a microphone cover. You can use a piece of paper, or you could try using an actual microphone cover.

5. Try Using a Different Microphone

You might want to try using a different microphone. For example, you could use a headset with a built-in mic, or you could try using a microphone that’s already attached to your computer.

6. Make Sure You’re Not Clipping Your Mic

You might want to try moving your phone away from your face. If you’re using a wired headset, you might want to try using a different cable. You could also try using an earbud instead of a headset.

7. Check the Mic Settings

The first step to fixing your muffled microphone is to check the settings. If you’re using a condenser mic, you should ensure that the mic’s gain is set to zero, and then you can use the mic’s built-in EQ to make the sound clear.

You can set the filter’s gain to zero if you’re using a condenser mic with an external noise filter.

FAQs

Why Does My Microphone Sound Muffled on Zoom?

Make sure your computer’s speakers are on/unmuted. … If your speakers appear to be on and the volume is turned up, but you still can’t hear sound, check Zoom’s audio settings and select a new speaker. Click the up arrow to the right of the Mute button at the bottom of the Zoom window.

How Do I Test My Microphone in Windows 10?

To test an already installed microphone:

  • Make sure your microphone is connected to your PC.
  • Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
  • Go to Input > Test Your Microphone in the sound settings and look for the blue bar that goes up and down when you speak into your microphone.

How Do I Fix Muffled Sound on My Computer?

Your speakers may sound muffled due to a setting in the audio settings. To change this, press and hold your finger on the speaker icon in the taskbar. Click on “Playback Devices” in the menu that appears. Press and hold on “speakers” in the playback devices menu and select “properties”.

Why Is My Sound Muffled on My iPhone?

Suppose the volume on your iPhone is low. In that case, it may seem like the speakers are muffled when you receive a phone call or notification. … You can also adjust the volume on your iPhone by going to Settings -> Sound & Haptics and dragging the slider under Ringtone & Alerts.

Conclusion

Microphone muffling can be a big issue for musicians, podcasts, vloggers, and almost anyone else looking to capture audio through a microphone. A poorly positioned microphone will end up capturing more of the instrument than your voice, unless you speak very loudly. It’s imperative to find the best position for a microphone if you want your voice to be recorded clearly while you play music or make music.

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