What is Mic Monitoring? (Benefits, Disadvantages, and How to Enable on Xbox, PC, and More)

If you are an Xbox gamer, you probably know how annoying it is for someone to raise their voice during the game. Luckily, a Mic Monitoring feature can help you manage this issue. But what is Mic Monitoring? Dig right into this post to find out!

What is Mic Monitoring? Mic Monitoring, also known as "Sidetone," is a feature in some headphones and headsets. It allows you to monitor the audio quality and volume by transmitting your voice to the headset. Some devices compatible with this feature are laptops, computers, PS4, and Xbox. This article will discuss the advantages of Mic Monitoring, Headphones with Mic Monitoring features, enabling Mic Monitoring on your PC, and more.

Do All Headphones Have a Mic Monitoring Feature?

Unfortunately, most headphones don’t have the Mic Monitoring feature. Some of the headphones with this feature are:

• JBL Quantum 400
• Astro A40
• Logitech G633
• Razer Kraken 7.1 V2 Chroma
• Turtle Beach XO One
• Xbox Wireless Headset

The Benefits of Mic Monitoring.

Some of the advantages of Mic Monitoring are:

• Mic Monitoring helps improve audio quality. You may raise your voice during an EPS game, especially with loud background noises. Your friends may not tell you, but that can be very unpleasant to them. In this scenario, a Mic Monitoring will help you listen to your voice and adjust accordingly.
• Mic Monitoring saves you Post production time. When you are alert to the quality of the audio quality during recording, it makes your post-production easier. Your editing process becomes more manageable, giving you more time to improve your shooting.
• You identify Audio issues immediately. Mic Monitoring helps you to specify audio problems and correct them immediately. You get to know if there are any background noises and the necessary action to take in real-time.

What are the Disadvantages of Mic Monitoring?

• Mic Monitoring causes echo. When you set a very high Mic Monitoring level, the microphone transmits the sound from your headset, causing an echo.
• The Mic Monitoring feature is hard to distinguish. Many headset manufacturers need to include this feature in their list for users to know if it has this feature.

Can you use Mic Monitoring on Xbox?

Yes. You can use Mic Monitoring on Xbox, but first, you must ensure your headset is compatible with the Mic Monitoring feature. Most gaming devices, such as Xbox, don't have an internal Mic Monitoring feature, so you'll need some headsets to support it. Here is a simple process on how to use Mic Monitoring on Xbox.

• Connect your headphone with the Xbox controller.
• Open the Menu by pressing the Xbox controller button.
• Click the Audio icon to help you change the settings.
• You will find three options: headset chat mixer, headset volume, and Mic Monitoring.
• On the left side, you will find the Mic Monitoring slider. To open it, drag it to the left side.

Connecting Mic Monitoring on PC.

Windows has an inbuilt Mic Monitoring function that you can use with any headset on your PC. To connect Mic Monitoring on your PC,

• Right-click the "volume" icon from the taskbar. If you are using Windows 10, click "Sounds" or "Sound Settings" if you are using Windows 11.
• Scroll to "Advanced" and click "More sound settings" if you use Windows 11.
• Next, go to "Recording," click on the device you are using, and then select "Properties."
• Click the “Listen to this device” on the “listen” tab.
• To finalize, click “Apply” and “ok” to save these changes.

Enabling Mic Monitoring Feature on Discord.

To enable Mic Monitoring on Discord, follow this guide:

• Go to the settings on the Menu. You will see "App settings," from which you should select the "Voice and video" option.
• Under the "Input device," there is a "drop-down" option to help you select the headset you want Discord to use.
• Select the device you want to connect from the Menu. By selecting the "default option," your Discord will use the microphone set as default for the OS instead of the one you chose.
• Regulate the level of the volume. If it's too high, click and drag the slider located under "Input volume."
• Lastly, there is a "Let's check" button in the Menu. It allows you to evaluate the output of the sound Mic Monitoring and the general quality of your headset, making it easier for you to change the audio settings.

Using the Mic Monitoring Feature on Mac.

Although Mac does not have an in-built option to help you with Mic Monitoring, there are some Apps you can use; Quick Time is the best option for you.

• Install the "QuickTime" app.
• Go to "File menu."
• Click "New Audio Recording."
• Drag the “Volume slider” to the highest level.

Does A Mic Monitoring Feature Cause An Echo?

Mic Monitoring is a vital feature that helps users improve their sound quality. But, sometimes, you may hear some echo when using it. The echo is because both the speaker and microphone pick the audio. If there is an echo, you can correct it by changing your headphone batteries, restarting your Xbox, or restarting your Xbox.

What Causes The Mic Monitoring To Grey Out on Xbox?

Two main reasons can cause your Xbox One to grey out. First, there may be a connection error with your wireless headset, and second, you may be using an adapter instead of a 3.5mm jack pin. To correct this error, you can try to:

• Unplug the headset.
• Clean the Jack and its port.
• Put back the headset or the adapter.
• Update your Xbox controller and make sure you attach the regular headphones.

If the Voice settings are also “Greyed out," just go to the settings, then audio, and adjust the settings.

Conclusion.

A Mic Monitoring feature helps you monitor your audio quality during gaming or video conferencing. Most headphones lack this feature, so be careful when buying them. Some known headphone brands with Mic Monitoring are JBL Quantum 400, Logitech G633, and Turtle Beach XO One.

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