Mics and Masks: Can You Hear Me Now?

TL;DR

Get recommendations for audio equipment to amplify your voice for teaching in masks and simultaneously teaching students in the classroom and online.

Transcript

And we thought last year was bad! Hi! I am Valerie Pennington. Welcome to the Penguin Prof Channel! This year we're teaching in masks to students who are live and students who are watching us live over Zoom. Two main scenarios: in scenario one, it's just the faculty member, the students in a classroom and you just need to amplify your voice. In sce... Read More

Key Insights

• 😷 Teaching in masks and online platforms can be challenging, but there are solutions to amplify your voice and provide a good learning experience.
• 🔇 The Zoowetec speaker is effective for amplifying your voice in scenario one, with occasional cutouts from the wireless headset.
• 🎙️ The Samson USB wireless microphone is recommended for scenario two, but it is advised to upgrade the microphone for better sound quality.
• 👤 Passing audio through your computer requires additional software, such as GarageBand for Mac users or alternative software for Windows users.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is recommended for amplifying your voice in a classroom with live students?

The Zoowetec speaker is recommended, as it comes with wired and wireless headsets, allowing you to amplify your voice for live students in the classroom.

Q: What is recommended for teaching live students in the classroom and online simultaneously?

The Samson USB wireless microphone is recommended for this scenario. It connects to your computer via USB and allows you to pass audio through Zoom or Google classroom.

Q: Is the microphone that comes with the Samson kit sufficient?

The microphone that comes with the kit is not loud enough, even with the gain adjusted. It is recommended to spend extra and purchase a better microphone.

Q: How can you pass audio through your computer?

For Mac users, GarageBand can be used to pass audio through the computer. For Windows users, there is a native feature called "Listen to this device," but it has a significant lag. Windows users can recommend alternative software in the comments.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Scenario one: Use the Zoowetec speaker to amplify your voice in a classroom with live students. It comes with a wired and wireless headset, and the only downside is occasional cutouts with the wireless headset.

• Scenario two: Use the Samson USB wireless microphone for teaching live students in the room and students watching remotely. The microphone that comes with the kit is not loud enough, so it is recommended to upgrade to a better microphone.