Filed under: Audio, OS, Software, TUAW Tips
TUAW Tip: Use ambient noise reduction for chats and sound recording
I do a decent amount of audio recording and chatting, but I don't ever remember seeing this option in System Preferences until last night. Turning on the "Use ambient noise reduction" feature under the Input tab of the Sound pane can help cut out the TV or dogs barking in the background, though it obviously isn't an end-all solution. A quiet, sound proofed setup is still ideal, but this setting should help for those times when 'ideal' just isn't possible. The setting should work with your Mac's built-in microphone, as well as any external mics you plug in.
[Update: From the comments, it sounds like this might only be an option on Apple's Intel-based notebooks. Readers are reporting that PowerBooks, iBooks, G5 iMacs and even Core Duo Mac minis (an Intel non-portable) don't have the feature. This is very interesting, and suggests that it could be due to an actual update to the microphone hardware in the MacBook/Pros since, as far as I know, noise cancellation typically involves a dedicated chip for this kind of functionality. Only certain mobile phones, for example, actually have noise cancellation, and I believe that is also due to the presence of a specific chip.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lars said 12:40PM on 2-28-2007
Odd, I don't have this setting (10.4.8 Intel iMac) at all.
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Sarah said 12:56PM on 2-28-2007
I have a 10.4.8 PPC Mac and I don't see it either (12" G4 ibook)
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Wojtek said 1:04PM on 2-28-2007
Doesn't show up on 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo Mac mini...
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Greg said 1:05PM on 2-28-2007
10.4.8,
Don't have it.
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Adam said 1:12PM on 2-28-2007
It shows up on my 10.4.8 MacBook Pro.
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brainwise said 1:11PM on 2-28-2007
I just set it. So it's available on my MacBook running 10.4.8.
I hope this helps with the voiceovers I sometimes have to record for soundFX at the theater.
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Jerome said 1:11PM on 2-28-2007
it's here on a MBP Core Duo running 10.4.8
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Al Wilkes said 1:11PM on 2-28-2007
I have it, and I'm on a Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro.
Maybe it's only enabled for use with certain computers' microphones?
I know it shows up on MacBooks also.
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JeromeOD said 1:13PM on 2-28-2007
it's only when you've highlighted a microphone, not a line in, if that helps?
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riccardo said 1:34PM on 2-28-2007
i wish i have it!! my pals hate me when i play WoW using Skype: my iMac G5 fans are at full throttle and they just hear that rather thn me! microphone next to fans= bad solution!
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Tony said 1:18PM on 2-28-2007
AFAIK, it's only available on the portable macs. I wonder if this would be useful on my iMac while using Skype. Oh well.
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Christopher Lloyd said 1:27PM on 2-28-2007
I don't have it on my powerbook G4 10.4.8.
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Sarah said 1:25PM on 2-28-2007
Ah, not all portable macs ... my ibook G4 doesn't have it ... think we may be looking at a macbook/macbook-pro only thing ...
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Matt said 5:37PM on 2-28-2007
As far as I know, there's actually two microphones in some of Apple's hardware (including the standalone iSight camera). This allows software (maybe on a chip?) to determine what sound is directed at the computer and what is ambient noise.
Someone should confirm that this option is available with a firewire iSight plugged in.
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Andrew R said 2:24PM on 2-28-2007
As far as I know, this is only available on Intel powered Mac laptops/notebooks. So, Macbooks and Macbook Pros have it, iMacs don't.
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Billy of the Knight said 2:23PM on 2-28-2007
Not on my MacBook running 10.4.8
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jeff said 3:28PM on 2-28-2007
shows up if I use my macbook's built in mic but disappears when I use my Logitech USB headset.
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Laura said 4:27PM on 2-28-2007
Audacity's noise reduction is pretty great, IMO. Obviously not helpful for Skype, etc., but good for sound recording.
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Jim said 4:36PM on 2-28-2007
I have a MacBook Pro, 10.4.8, and I have this option.
I believe the reason that only some computers have this option, is because their microphone is located next to the speakers. During chat sessions, etc. there is some feedback from the speakers into the mic, unless you have this option checked. The MacBook Pro's microphone is located under the left speaker.
Source: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacBookPro_15and17-inch_Core2Duo_UserGuide.pdf
(p 22)
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Jimmy said 5:32PM on 2-28-2007
I had this on my MacBook - when the mic worked.. but now the mic is very unreliable, it will work for a minute or two then it goes deaf I hope they fix it soon....
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=691546&start=0&tstart=0
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