2024-08-15

My Unreasonable Mac Setup for Video Calls

  1. Audio / Wired Headphones
  2. Audio / Push to Talk
  3. Audio / Microphone Audio Processing
  4. Audio / Microphone Hardware
  5. Video / Video Hardware
  6. Video / Video Software
  7. Screen Sharing: Virtual Screen
  8. Wrapping Up / Testing

I'm doing a lot of video calls and I have strong opinions that could easily cover their own article. But in this one, I just want to list my current (very unreasonable) setup and give you some links and pointers along with some more reasonable options. Importantly, I have a lot of this stuff around because of my other interests and by no means am I suggesting that you should buy the things I'm listing here just for calls. Well, maybe the Apple earplugs.
I'm trying to sort this by priority / best results for least effort.

Audio

This is the most elaborate part and I believe that it is by far the most important piece of the puzzle for an enjoyable call.

Wired Headphones

Always headphones, never speakers. I'm using the simple Apple wired ear plugs that used to come with the iPhone when it still had a headphone jack. You can still buy them.
The most important thing for me here is comfort. I wouldn't suggest in-ears. There are also the Koss Stealth that are a bit more comfortable than the Apple ones for me but they sound much worse.

Push to Talk

Everybody needs to make sure they are muted when they are not speaking. The best and easiest way I have found is using push to talk on a regular keyboard, using one of the keys that you rarely use otherwise (I'm using right option, right shift might also be good).
I have found an open source application and made some patches to make it work like I want. My fork will use the system input device on startup and will toggle mute/live when you tap the key for just a short while. When you press longer than 200ms, it will unmute on keydown and mute on keyup.

Here is my fork on GitHub and here is a build of that app (self-signed so you'll have to do the silly right click→open dance)

The reason I'm not using the meeting software's keyboard shortcut is that the window might not be focused (during screen share for example) so I might not be able to toggle or even see the current mute status. With the app, it's always in the menu bar and it's always available. Also you don't have to remember different shortcuts for different applications.

It's free and I don't think there is a more reasonable option.

Microphone Audio Processing

Input levels are pretty important and Chrome has this annoying habit of lowering your input volume when it thinks something is too loud (but never raising it again).
I check input levels regularly, and when I use Chrome, I have a plugin installed that stops this behavior.

Next, I'm using an elaborate software setup to use some audio plugins on my mic before it goes to the meeting software. This relies on the Rogue Amoeba suite: I'm using Loopback to create a virtual device that'll pass thru what I feed it via Audio Hijack. My Audio Hijack chain has these modules:

The more reasonable option would be to just use the microphone input device directly and activate macOS's Voice Isolation Mic Mode.
I still recommend regularly checking the levels and taking a couple of seconds every day to record yourself through this setup and make sure everything sounds nice.

Microphone Hardware

I am using an Aston Stealth right now, running through this super cheap (and bad) tiny audio interface. This only works because of the preamp in the Stealth, the audio interface couldn't drive a regular dynamic mic. The reason I'm using it is mainly that it is so small and you don't need any unwieldy XLR cables with this.
I would probably be using my Rode M3 if it wasn't in use for other things in my house. That is a fantastic mic for the price IMO.

The more reasonable option would be to use the integrated mic in the Apple headphones. It's really good! Maybe use a clip so that you can have it closer to your mouth and not have it rub on clothing when you move.

Video

Video Hardware

I have a Sony ZV-1 and an Elgato Cam Link 4k that I use — I would actually not get the Cam Link but instead one of the cheap 4K capture sticks like this because I have had better results with them. The Cam Link is just what I had around.
I'm using a selfie stick that has detachable feet as a stand and it works out to just clear above my MacBook screen.

I wanted to list the iPhone's Continuity Camera feature as the reasonable option but while testing it for this article, I was really underwhelmed by its image quality. I would rather use the internal webcam in my MacBook (14" M1 Pro). Maybe for older Macs Continuity Camera would be worth it.

Video Software

This is a rant and it's only about what I absolutely refuse to do or accept: Those terrible, cringeworthy, appalling background blur or background replacement filters. I just can't understand how people look at this and think “that's fine”. How is anybody accepting this as reasonable quality? How can the people who build that feature not immediately say “ok, the tech isn't there yet” but instead really go ahead and just ship it? Do they have no shame?
Fuck background filters. They're the cookie banners of video calls. They are video conferencing ordered from wish.com.

In case you're wondering, the more reasonable option would be NOT TO USE BACKGROUND FILTERS.

Screen Sharing: Virtual Screen (via DeskPad)

Since I'm working for multiple clients, I'm very cautious about sharing my screen. I've gotten used to using a virtual screen via DeskPad and moving specific windows there that I want to share. It also helps with the fact that sharing big screens is always problematic because people with smaller screens will not be able to read anything.

Wrapping Up / Testing

I sometimes capture myself (locally, nothing gets uploaded) using this local webRTC recorder to make sure everything sounds and looks good.
I think that is all for now. Let me know if you'd be interested in reading another post about comparisons between different setups and my hot tipps for the most enjoyable calls.