Audio Best Practices & Troubleshooting
This guide combines proactive best practices with step‑by‑step troubleshooting to help you prevent and fix audio issues quickly.
Best Practices for Voice Writing
- Place the microphone 1–2 inches from your mouth, slightly off‑center to avoid breath noise.
- Use a USB microphone for consistent results instead of 3.5mm analog jacks.
- Work in a quiet environment; reduce background noise from fans or HVAC systems.
- Set microphone format to 16‑bit, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.
- Disable audio enhancements in the Sound Control Panel.
- Uncheck "Allow applications to take exclusive control” in Microphone Properties → Advanced.
- Keep drivers updated directly from the audio chipset vendor (e.g., Realtek).
Tip: Consistency is key — use the same mic, port, and settings every session.
Troubleshooting Common Audio Issues
- No sound output: Check connections, volume, and default output device.
- Microphone not detected: Verify input device and privacy permissions.
- Choppy audio: Disable enhancements, close background apps, restart Windows Audio services.
- Low volume: Increase mic level, adjust placement, confirm dictation software gain.
- Issues after update: Roll back drivers or reinstall vendor drivers.
- Persistent errors: Check Event Viewer for recurring audio service issues.
Shortcut: Press
Win+R, type mmsys.cpl to quickly open the Sound Control Panel.Quick Checklist
- ✔ Verify cables and connections
- ✔ Run the Windows audio troubleshooter
- ✔ Restart after updates
- ✔ Confirm correct input/output devices
- ✔ Test with a known audio file
