just curious… what are some different ways to use your multi-mic
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Comparing directional vs. omi-directional (vertical on user vs. horizontal on table), my only complaints are the streamed sound of a voice sounds “tinny” in either mode. Environmental noise (HA mics) turned off in both comparisons. In the vertical position on a wearer, it’s amazing how clear and above back noise the user’s voice is (tested with microwave and 3 noisy exhaust fans plus refrigerator running in hard-tiled floor kitchen. In the horizontal on-kitchen-table position, the user voice did not come through so loud and clear over all the noise, which was also picked up by the Multi-Mic in a horizontal position. But with my wife wearing the Multi-Mic, I should be able to hear her in just about any environment. Too bad that ReSound does not offer “fashion statement” covers for the device. She’s a little bit reluctant to put it on (“Oh, well. OK.”) - with a little more bling to go, she might be more ready to be seen with it hanging around her neck! Décor ideas, anyone?!
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when I was away I tried using the multi-mic to stream while watching TV since I stream 100% at home… I placed it in front of the TV speakers and it worked great… for me streaming TV raises word comprehension to about 90% on most programs… especially sporting events
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My observations here are possibly of more benefit to Android than iPhone users as they have direct MFI streaming.
I’ve searched the forum and noticed that a number of users such as efigaxalie have commented in the past not just on the Multi-Mic as a remote mic but on using the line-in 3.5 mm standard jack input to stream audio. I noticed also that in the ReSound packaging materials for the Multi-Mic there was a blurb “convert your HA’s into stereo headphones.”
So I thought even though I have the Phone Clip+, if I use the Multi-Mic instead, I have one less Bluetooth connection and possibly better streaming. The PC+ is phone BT to PC+, then PC+ BT to HA’s. Whereas with the Multi-Mic, it’s a hard-wired audio connection phone to Multi-Mic, then BT streaming direct to HA’s.
I tried Multi-Mic audio streaming last night on a long walk and it worked very well. Not any even brief warbles whatsoever in listening to an audio talk show podcast. The most critical difference between the PC+ streaming and the Multi-Mic is that the PC+ streaming can be “shot” into a particular program of the four basic programs you have (or perhaps even into a Favorite? - haven’t tried that) so the audio is adjusted according to those program settings and you can pick Streaming Focus to cut out sounds from your HA mics. The Multi-Mic streaming is “pure” sound “as is” to begin with. You can’t feed it to a built-in program. But you can adjust relative volumes of the Multi-Mic vs. Environment (a slider for each) and you have the 3-range equalizer to play with bass, mid-tones, and treble. I haven’t studied battery life but theoretically, if the PC+ and Multi-Mic had the same size battery, using the Multi-Mic should be easier on your phone battery and the Multi-Mic battery as you only have M-M to HA streaming, not the two simultaneous BT streams with the PC+ and maybe with one less BT leg, the audio quality should be better? With the Multi-Mic, you can check battery level of your streamer to the nearest 25% charge increment but with the PC+, you can only tell fully charged or about to run out.
Since I’ve listened to podcast while walking for years with wired headphones and wired earbuds having my phone wired to my Multi-Mic is not a big deal as I can clip the M-M to my jacket or shirt and put the phone with excess wire in my jacket or pants pocket.
I noticed in skimming through past posts that one iPhone user actually liked the iPhone to M-M wired connection, then BT from M-M to HA, better than a direct MFI stream - but hardly a reason to run out an buy a Multi-Mic just for that!
I guess since I effectively have two audio streaming devices (PC+ and M-M) that also extends possible streaming time without having to recharge. Both PC+ and the Multi-Mic will fit together into the Lowe Pro Volta 25 belt camera case along with the line-out/line-in jack cord, if I chose to use the case to carry the streaming accessories instead of the Quattro charging case (I may need another Volta 25 case!).
I have used the multi-mic for:
Conversation in noisy environments. My wife was amazed at my comprehension in a noisy restaurant. I clipped it on my cousin at a get together at his house. He was also amazed at the improvement in my speech discrimination.
Listening during presentations and classes.
Listening to wired sources through the 3.5mm input.
Enabling the use of Roger accessories by plugging in a Roger receiver x type 03 into the euro socket on the bottom.
I have not yet had opportunity to use the telecoil functionality.
While at home, I have a TV streamer, at my Dad’s house…I use it for TV streaming. They don’t have the volume up enough for me. It works wonderfully in this regard.
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How do you think streaming to your HA’s from the multi-mic with 3.5 mm input compares to streaming via the Phone Clip+ with its double Bluetooth aspect, if you have that device, too? I think the streaming via the multi-mic is great but I wish I could switch the input to the Outdoor program parameters as with the outdoor noise that leaks through my ear muffs and my open domes the Outdoor program mode makes speech in podcasts clearest for me at a safe ear volume level from the HA’s. I find streaming from the multi-mic is more the level of clarity of the All-Around program when outdoors but maybe I should check out what the bass, mid-tones, and treble are set to for the Outdoor program and duplicate that when multi-mic streaming from 3.5 mm input. I’m still in the early stages of multi-mic streaming and quite ignorant and you are quite the expert!
The multi-mic is more stable…only one wireless connection.
The phone clip is best for phones or any device for two way communication… I have a Motorola 2way with built in Bluetooth. The clip is my pipe into my hearing aids and my microphone. I have to have two to get all the way through my 12 hour shift.
Sound quality there isn’t a big difference other than the ability to apply the programs to the clip stream. That is actually fairly new. The Linx 3D had the clip set up like the multi-mic in that regard. I do not know if that is still the case or not. I now have Quattros. I, personally, would have preferred the stream to be independent of the programs. That way I could have had a program for the loud areas in my job. As it is, I just mute the mics.
If you work in a rougher environment or wear gloves a lot, I also recommend Resounds remote. It is pretty cool and definitely useful.
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Thanks for the tips! It might have been you, too, in another thread that commented that the advantage of the Remote is also that you can control your HA’s much faster than with the phone app.
Now the next question is where to put/carry all this stuff! Reminds me of a long time ago when I was standing in line at a tech sorta meeting and had a lot of stuff on my belt: phone, point-and-shoot camera, utility tool pouch, etc., and someone else in line remarked that I looked like Batman. I tried to reply in all seriousness that I was Batman! - but I don’t think I made a convincing case.
I’m considering the multi-mic for streaming from a Mac connected to the 3.5mm jack. This would replace the over-the-ear headphones I use now, which are okay but give me feedback and headphones get uncomfortable pretty quickly as they put pressure on my HAs.
I use webex and other videoconferencing tools a lot for work, and I’d like a way to stream from my computer to my HAs (and back). The thing that’s missing from the multi-mic is, ironically, the microphone for 2-way communication. My headphones have this, of course. Does anyone have advice on a good separate microphone to use for web conferencing along with the multi-mic? Any thoughts on quality of sound from PC (mac, actually) to MM to HA? Thanks.
The Resound Phone Clip+ is for phone calls, soft phone, and streaming.
I think Brian is looking for something that will let him stream to and from his PC for Skype-like phone conversations without the lagginess of having a PC+ as a intermediary device (double BT - PC to PC+, then PC+ to HA’s). The Multi Mic is great for streaming audio from the PC with next to no lag via an audio jack connection between PC & Multi Mic but he needs a wearable microphone (ideally, I would think) that provides voice input back to his PC. The best wearable mic that I’ve used (many years ago) was a Shure device similar to what an aerobics instructor or a musician in a band would wear but those things can get very pricey and the one I used is no longer made any more.
There is no delay and the Phone Clip+does everything he is asking for, in one device.
Perhaps it depends what BT device one’s PC has. With the BT USB dongle that I use in my PC, if I start playing a YouTube video, there is up to a 7-second delay before the audio kicks in in my HA’s - or maybe my PC is just a slow old clunker, relatively speaking. There is a lesser delay if I stream via the PC+ from my Galaxy Note 8 running Android Pie to my ReSound Quattro’s but I’d say there, there can be at least a 2 to 3 second delay after pressing play on my phone before hearing anything in my HA’s. It’s been at least 6 months since I streamed with the Multi Mic but I don’t remember any delay in streaming from PC or Galaxy Note 8 to HA’s via the Multi Mic. So perhaps it’s a YMMV issue. The delay with a PC+ is quite real for me. Once it starts streaming, the streaming is pretty solid with my Quattro’s whereas others with variants of the LiNX 3D have reported problems with dropping. With an incoming phone call, my Galaxy Note 8 also rings for a few seconds before the PC+ makes my HA’s ring, as well.
ReSound in its own product literature essentially admits that the Quattro’s are supposed to solve the problems that users encountered streaming with LiNX 3D devices and the PC+ but IMHO, I don’t think that they succeeded entirely and I’m looking forward to MFA as the ultimate answer (at least in the phone department).
I find the PC+ good enough but not great. For one thing, they should have included the battery meter that they put on the Multi Mic on the PC+. Having a light that just tells you that you have some sort of charge, or, Oops! It’s dying!, or, Dang! It’s DEAD! is the pits… With all the years that have gone by, ReSound could have come out with an updated version of the PC+ that included a meter. Perhaps 4 or 5 LED’s are more complicated but they found room and battery power in the Multi Mic to deal with it so they could have done a revised PC+ that’s more useful to the user in monitoring charge - because it’s useless when it dies. Like efigalaxie did to get through the day, maybe ReSound just wants you to buy a second one so you don’t get caught short. Not trying to be disagreeable or anything - just relating my actual experience with the PC+ as you are relating yours - and the experiences happen to be different - no escaping that.
Perhaps another possible difference is that I don’t have either my phone or my PC set to operate at maxxed out CPU levels, etc. I pick “balanced” or “optimized” power settings especially for my phone designed to conserve battery life throughout the day. And I haven’t bothered figuring out whether the new “AI optimization” of battery usage in Android Pie is affecting my streaming and phone calls - that could be a source of difference, too, between us. I think I have my podcast playing apps set as sleeping apps that should only be running if I launch them manually.
Me too post coming up.
I have been trying the PC+ at work. We run 100% Skype for Business. There is a 7 second delay when answering the phone which is enough to miss greetings which leads to awkwardness. The mic quality is pretty poor too. I have a spare TV streamer at home I’m thinking of trying. But, like the OP, I need to find a decent mic.
I used the Phone Clip+ for several years, and the original Phone Clip before that, on multiple PCs and phones, both office and cell. The streaming delay was always 2-3 seconds, about the same for phone calls. I could hear when it connected and would wait to say “hello”. Phone calls and Webex meetings were never a problem. It was annoying to miss most all notifications on the phone though. Actual streaming from the phone had the same 2-3 second delay.
There could be a delay in the “system” but I don’t think all that can be blamed on the Phone Clip+. One way to analyze that is to make a recording of you, saying 1, 2 ,3, 4, 5, 6, 7 while looking at a watch to make sure you are doing it 1 number per second. Then play that back and see what number you hear first. Make sure the Phone Clip+ is connected first.
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BTW, the most annoying feature of the Phone Clip+ is that you can’t keep it under your shirt. You have to pull it out or keep it clipped to your clothes, which I never trusted.
I ended up with Phonak because I can connect a lapel Mic to the Compilot 2 and keep the Compilot 2 under my shirt all day. It’s not perfect either though. I can’t find a lapel Mic that does background noise reduction. So, I have a good quality Mic that works great, if I’m in a perfectly silent room with no A/C vent noise or any other background noise.
I have an idea but I haven’t tested it yet. What if I wore a call center headset with boom Mic, and plugged it into the Compilot 2? Would the Compilot 2 recognize the Mic and just ignore the headphone part of it? I would want the incoming sound to still be transmitted.
Wanted to give the Phone Clip+ a little more love than I showed in my previous post. I originally I got it as just a make-do temporizing thing until Made For Android (MFA) came along and I paid little attention to learning all the ins and outs of how the PC+ worked.
Recently, I’ve discovered the volume rocker is truly “multi-functional.” If you’re streaming music or a phone call from your Android phone, the rocker controls the volume of whatever’s coming from your phone. But if you’re streaming neither, the rocker switches to controlling the volume of your HA’s, which I find more convenient than reaching up behind my right or left ear depending on whether I want to raise or lower HA volume, respectively, or reaching for the phone to use the smart app. And with the P button on the PC+, I can switch HA programs. Not as fully functional as a remote or taking the trouble to fish out my smartphone for the Smart 3D app but useful functionality nevertheless. And I’ve been thinking, having a PC+ now, whether I’ll really need MFA, especially since to have MFA functionality, I’d have to buy a new Android phone and my Galaxy Note 8 is still good for another couple of years until better 5G comes along. PC+ gives me a hands-free phone experience but hopefully me getting MFA eventually is going to cut out the lag time for a phone call starting to ring in my HA’s.
I’ve just discovered coloured Duck Tape - using it to decorate all sorts of things. ‘Stick’ it to some greaseproof/wax/parchment paper, cut our your share, then stick to whatever you want. You could make a cover using their red glitter tape for example to bling it up.
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