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🎧 How to Get the Best Audio for Your Recording
🎧 How to Get the Best Audio for Your Recording

Tips on using headphones, external mics, and easy ways to level up your sound

Saj Khan avatar
Written by Saj Khan
Updated over a week ago

When you record with Roll, you can get studio-quality audio using tools you already have. This guide walks you through how to get the cleanest, crispest sound - whether you're using your built-in mic or a professional external one.


1. Wear headphones (Seriously, This Makes a Huge Difference)

Headphones are the #1 way to improve your audio quality - and they’re required if you want to use an external microphone with Roll.

Why headphones matter

When you're not wearing headphones, sound from your speakers can loop back into your mic, creating echo, feedback, and messy audio. To help with this, Roll automatically enables echo cancellation.

What is echo cancellation?

Echo cancellation is a real-time filter that detects and removes sound from your speakers before it reaches your mic. It helps prevent:

  • Echo (your voice repeating back)

  • Feedback (that high-pitched screech)

  • Other participants’ voices being picked up by your mic

While useful, echo cancellation can slightly distort your voice. You may hear:

  • Clipping (parts of words cut off)

  • A processed or “tinny” sound

  • Loss of richness in your tone

Wearing headphones fixes this

When you're wearing headphones:

  • No speaker audio leaks into your mic

  • Echo cancellation is automatically turned off

  • You get clean, natural sound with no distortion

⚠️ Important: Headphones are required to use an external mic with Roll. If you don’t wear them, Roll will default to built-in audio and enable echo cancellation.

🎧 How to enable “I’m wearing headphones” in Roll

  1. Plug your headphones into your computer

  2. Join your live session on Roll

  3. In the sidebar, look for the audio settings section

  4. Toggle the option that says “I’m wearing headphones”

    • This disables echo cancellation and allows external mic use

🎯 Be accurate! If you select "I’m wearing headphones" but you're not actually wearing them, your audio may echo for others in the session.


2. Use a good microphone

Once you’re wearing headphones, even your built-in mic will sound better. But to take it to the next level, we recommend using an external microphone.

External mics help:

  • Deliver fuller, warmer, and clearer sound

  • Cut down on background noise

  • Make you sound more professional and polished

Most USB or plug-and-play desktop mics work effortlessly with Roll.

Need help picking one?

Check out:

⚠️ Remember: Headphones are required to use an external mic with Roll. If you don’t wear them, Roll will default to built-in audio and enable echo cancellation.


3. Recording with Your Phone + Desktop Mic

Want to use your phone for video and your computer for audio? Here’s how to get the best of both worlds:

✅ Step-by-step setup

  1. Plug headphones into your computer
    This disables echo cancellation and enables external mic support.

  2. Join the live Roll session on your computer

  3. In the sidebar, select “I’m wearing headphones”

  4. Connect your external microphone to your computer

  5. On your desktop sidebar:

    • Set your speakers to your connected headphones

    • Set your microphone to your preferred desktop/external mic

  6. Make sure your audio is working correctly on your computer
    Confirm that:

    • Your external mic is selected as your input mic source

    • You’re hearing sound through your headphones

  7. Once your desktop audio setup is confirmed, you're ready to set up your phone for video capture

    • Open the Roll app on your iPhone, or Android

    • Log in using the same email as your computer

    • If logged in correctly, you’ll see a big yellow “Join” button on your phone - Roll detects that you're already in a call

    • Tap Join to connect your phone’s camera to the session


🎬 Pro tip: Always do a short test recording to make sure your audio and video are working perfectly before you go live.

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