Communication plays a vital role in today’s society. Especially since the world is edging towards virtual platforms. It’s particularly important to gamers as team coherence enhances gameplay. However, hearing your voice echo can throw you off your game and lead to unfavorable results. Read our article to learn how to turn off mic monitoring!
That’s why you need to learn to turn off mic monitoring. This is why we’re here to highlight both the pros and cons of using it. After reading this guide, you should be able to disable mic monitor whenever you want. First, let’s take a look at what mic monitoring is.
Why is Microphone Monitoring Important?
Microphone monitoring is a nifty feature for budding artists. The possible side effects are often overlooked though. You need to embrace the benefits and be wary of the drawbacks. It’ll simply be frustrating otherwise. So if you want a smooth experience, it’s best to learn about both.
What Does Mic Monitoring Entail?
Most wireless headsets come with a microphone. These help you hear yourself while you’re speaking. This is particularly useful in gaming and recording in your home studio. You can hear yourself and modulate according. This way you know when to speak louder or quieter.
This feature redirects your voice input to the headset. It’s a lifesaver if you’re a part of a chaotic voice channel. If you frequently deal with online meetings for work, this is especially helpful too. Regulation can make the experience better for all parties involved!
Is Mic Monitoring Necessary?
In short, no. You can do just fine without it. It’s just nice to know when to tone down. It’s easy to get carried away with the thrill of the game. However, your screaming and screeching can ruin the experience for others. So to avoid any unpleasantness, mic monitor comes in handy.
Also, it’s useful listening to and regulating your voice. You can fix any issues with your microphone if any. It can be enabled on the Xbox or PS4. It also works on Windows or Mac computers. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks.
Advantages of Mic Monitoring

This feature has been around for a while. No one just knew how to utilize it. We’re pretty sure many aren’t aware of it still. Some brands began to highlight this feature though. Especially through gamers and streamers. Mic monitoring can be utilized only when it’s done right. Here are the benefits.
1. Troubleshoot in a Moment
Audio with clarity is a lifesaver in gaming. It could be a matter of life and death. You don’t want to jeopardize your teammates’ lives. This is where mic monitoring can make a difference. You can detect the problem even when there’s too much noise. So even the most subdued footsteps can be heard.
2. Better Team Communication
We know it’s hard to avoid a screaming match or two but it can get a tad annoying. Especially for others. With noise-canceling headphones, it’s easy to go overboard. Your voice reaches an entirely different pitch subconsciously. Mic monitoring helps you tone down background sounds and decrease constant screaming matches.
Disadvantages of Mic Monitoring

It’s not all fun and games though. Like every other thing, there are significant disadvantages to mic monitoring too. Take a look!
1. Increased Echoes
Hearing your voice helps you regulate your tone, but it also makes things worse. Sometimes the resonance that follows your excitable scream can be a bit too much. The reverberating echo can be picked up from your microphone again. This is where you want to disable the mic monitor feature!
2. Improved Gameplay? At What Cost?
Hearing your voice takes a long while to get used to. Especially for new players. This is annoying for players who enjoy music during their gaming sessions too. We know there’s a thrill in jamming to your favorite rock songs while eliminating your enemies. Best to turn off the mic monitor to make the most of it.
How to Turn Off Mic Monitoring

You can disable mic monitoring with just a few simple steps. Let’s take a look.
For Mac Operating System (Disable):
Step 1:
Open Launchpad and look for QuickTime Player.
Step 2:
Click on File and press on “New Audio Recording.”
Step 3:
Look for the Seek Bar at the bottom to change Mic Monitoring Intensity. Just drag the bar to the left to disable it.
For Windows 10 Operating System (Enable and Disable):
Step 1:
Go to Control, click on Hardware and select Sounds.
Step 2:
You’ll notice four tabs. Click on the Recording one and press on Microphone.
Step 3:
Press on Properties and click on the Listen tap. Tick on “Listen to this device” to enable mic monitoring.
Step 4:
Untick to disable mic monitoring!
For Xbox One (Disable):
Mind you, mic monitoring only works when you’re using compatible headphones.
Step 1:
Click on the home button and then press on audio.
Step 2:
Three bars will pop up, including Mic Monitoring.
Step 3:
Just drag the bar to the left to disable it!
For PlayStation (Disable):
Like Xbox, Mic Monitoring only works when you have the right headphones. However, instead of mic monitoring, the feature here is called “Sidetone.” It automatically gets disabled when you unpair your headphones. However, you can disable while using the headphones too.
Step 1:
Go to Settings and press on Devices.
Step 2:
Click on Audio Devices and find Sidetone.
Step 3:
Turn it off and voila! You’re good to go.
Conclusion
We live in a society where communication is rapidly exchanged virtually. It’s important to keep up. Especially for players who based their gaming career on a coherent team.
It can make or break this depending on the equipment you have. Communication is key for success. So if it’s easier for you without mic monitoring, then disable it. We hope these tips on turning off helps!
You can also read: Best Dynamic Microphones