Microphone setup – PatientNotes

When dealing with audio transcripts, factors such as voice clarity, microphone positioning, and the type of microphone used are crucial.

To improve content quality, consider using a microphone positioned near between yourself and your client to ensure it captures audio from everyone in the room. Most built-in microphones are unidirectional, designed to pick up sound from close sources. It’s important to check the microphone settings before using PatientNotes.app in actual client sessions.

For enhanced transcription accuracy, consider using an omnidirectional condenser microphone placed centrally among the participants. This setup enables the microphone to pick up sound from all directions, offering complete coverage of the conversation. Our tests have demonstrated that this arrangement significantly improves the quality of transcriptions.

Testing microphone in Patientnotes

1. Select Microphone check

2. Ensure the microphone is working. Note- You will need speakers for this to work. Check the mic at different distances from your room.

3. If you can clearly hear the audio on replay then your system is working.

Problem-solving audio issues

Testing microphone on Windows devices:

Type sound settings into the search bar or press windows + S

Select sound settings, then select input
Choose microphone input, ensure input input volume is maximal or 100%
Test microphone input in windows at the distances you will be taking notes

5. Press start and then stop- the higher the test result the better the audio input

It is recommended that input volume be set to approximately 75%.

Having the input to 100% may reduce the quality of the transcript.

Testing on a microphone mac

To test an external microphone on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Connect the external microphone to your Mac.

2. Open the System Preferences application.

3. Locate and click on the "Sound" preference.

4. Within the Sound preference window, navigate to the "Input" tab.

5. Choose the desired input device, which corresponds to the microphone you want to test.

6. Adjust the volume settings to ensure the microphone captures the intended sound. Speak into the microphone to verify its functionality.

7. The input level bars will illuminate to indicate the detected input. If the bars do not light up, it means your microphone is not detecting any input.

Guide to Setting Up Telehealth for Mac

If you're using a Mac with headphones or telehealth systems such as Google Meets or Microsoft Teams, our Telehealth for Mac tool is essential for you.

What does the Mac companion app do? The app allows you to record audio from any telehealth platform seamlessly. This ensures that audio from both parties can be effectively transcribed into PatientNotes.

Availability: This tool is available for free to all PatientNotes subscribers.
Visit our setup guide

Setting up on an iPad or Iphone

Step 1: Download and Install the App
1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Search for "PatientNotes."
3. Tap "Get" to download and install the app. Link

Step 2: Grant Necessary Permissions
1. When you open the app for the first time, it will ask for permissions that are essential for its operation.
2. Ensure you allow the app to access your microphone. This permission is crucial for recording your notes.
3. You may also need to allow permissions for notifications to stay updated with the app's functionality and updates.

Step 3: Optimize Device Settings for Recording

1. Go to your device's Settings.
2. Scroll to "Battery" and ensure that Low Power Mode is turned off. Low Power Mode can restrict background activity, which may affect recording quality.
3. Navigate to "Privacy" and then "Microphone" to verify that PatientNotes has access.
4. Ensure that your device's volume is adequately set up so that the recordings capture clear audio.

Step4: Keep the App Updated
1. Regularly check the App Store for updates to the PatientNotes app.
2. Install updates as they become available to take advantage of improvements and new features, including any enhancements to audio recording capabilities.

Optimizing Microphones:

To maximize the quality of your audio input, consider the following steps when using USB microphones:

1. Disconnect Unnecessary USB Devices:

- Unplug any USB devices that are not in use, as they may draw power from the USB ports, potentially affecting audio quality.

2. Check USB Power Processing:

- Ensure that the distribution of power to your USB ports is functioning optimally. Fluctuations in power can impact the quality of audio input.

3. Consider Audio Jack Usage for Sound Card Pickup:

- If you encounter issues related to USB connections affecting your audio input, you might explore using the audio jack as an alternative. This can enhance pickup quality through the sound card.

By following these steps, you can address potential issues that might impact the quality of your audio input, leading to improved results.

Online mic testing for quality around the consulting room

For assessing the quality of microphones in your consulting environment, we recommend utilizing the following tool: WebcamMicTest

Recommended Microphones

Windows advanced settings

To improve audio input quality from a USB microphone on a Windows PC, you can adjust various settings. Here are the key settings to consider:

1. Microphone Sensitivity/Volume:

- Right-click on the speaker icon in your system tray and select "Open Sound settings."

- Scroll down to the "Input" section and click on "Device properties" for your USB microphone.

- Adjust the microphone sensitivity (volume) by moving the slider. Experiment with different sensitivity levels to find the one that captures your audio clearly without distortion.

2. Microphone Enhancements:

- In the same "Device properties" window, click on "Additional device properties."

- Go to the "Enhancements" tab. Depending on your microphone and drivers, you may have options such as noise suppression, echo cancellation, and pitch shifting. These can help improve audio quality in specific situations. Enable or disable them based on your needs.

3. Microphone Exclusive Mode:

- In the "Device properties" window, go to the "Advanced" tab.

- Under the "Exclusive Mode" section, you can choose to allow applications to take exclusive control of the device. This can sometimes lead to better audio quality in certain applications.

4. Microphone Privacy Settings:

- Ensure that your microphone has the necessary permissions to access apps and services. In Windows 10 and later, go to "Settings" > "Privacy" > "Microphone" and make sure that apps you use for recording have permission to access the microphone.

5. Driver Updates:

- Check for driver updates for your USB microphone. Manufacturers often release driver updates that can improve performance and compatibility with your PC.

6. USB Port:

- Use a USB port on your PC that provides stable power and data transfer. Some USB ports may not provide sufficient power for certain microphones, leading to reduced audio quality.