A simple phone trick saved my workday in Lisbon

I was trying to join a video call from a cafe in Lisbon last week, but the background noise was awful. I tried my usual headphones, but the mic still picked up everything. On a whim, I used my old wired earbuds with the mic and held the mic right under my chin while talking quietly. The difference was huge. The person on the call said it sounded like I was in a quiet room. Has anyone else found a cheap, simple fix for bad audio on the go?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia9053mo ago

Seriously, you think holding a wire under your chin is a reliable fix? What about when you need to move your head or take notes? That sounds like a great way to get tangled up and look ridiculous. I've tried that before and the cord rubbing on my shirt makes a ton of noise. Wouldn't it just be smarter to spend twenty bucks on a basic clip-on mic that actually works right every time?

sagesingh1mo ago

Wait, wait wait wait. You actually tried holding the wire under your chin?? Like you just tucked the earbud cord under there and prayed?? Oh man, I'm honestly a little shook that worked at all, even for a second. The whole rope burn thing from the cord rubbing on your collar sounds like a nightmare, I can't believe you dealt with that. And yeah, moving your head would just send the whole thing flying or make you look like you're having a weird neck spasm. I'm with you on the clip on mic being smarter, even if it's just a cheap one from Amazon. But hey, props for trying the crazy life hack, I guess we've all been there when we're desperate.

-1

felix_coleman873mo ago

Honestly, the whole cord noise thing is real, but it got me remembering this time I was on a train and my fancy wireless buds died. I dug out these ancient apple earpods from the bottom of my bag, the ones with the little mic nub, and just sort of held that part against my neck while whispering. My friend said I came through crystal clear over all that train racket. It felt like a weird life hack, even if I looked like I was trying to strangle myself with a white wire.