The Best Mic Placement for Video Calls (Not Podcasts)

The Best Mic Placement for Video Calls (Not Podcasts)

Most microphone placement advice is written for podcasters and streamers — people who can position a mic directly in front of their face without worrying about how it looks on camera. Video calls are a different situation entirely. You need to sound great and look professional at the same time. Here's how to get both.

Why Video Call Mic Placement Is Different

In podcasting, the mic is front and center — close to your mouth, directly in your sightline, and visible in every frame. That's fine for audio-only content. But on a video call, a large mic blocking half your face looks unprofessional and distracting. The goal is to get the mic close enough for great audio while keeping it out of the camera frame.

The Golden Rule: Closer Is Better

The single biggest improvement you can make to your video call audio is getting the mic closer to your mouth. Most people use their laptop's built-in mic or a webcam mic from 60–90cm away — far enough that room noise, echo, and background sounds compete with your voice. A dedicated mic at 20–30cm makes a dramatic difference in clarity and presence.

Best Mic Positions for Video Calls

Option 1: Below Frame (Recommended)

Position the mic just below the bottom edge of your camera frame, angled upward toward your mouth. This keeps it completely out of the shot while staying close enough for excellent audio. A boom arm makes this easy to dial in precisely.

• ✅ Invisible on camera
• ✅ Close proximity for clear audio
• ✅ Works with any mic type

Option 2: Side Placement (Off to One Side)

Place the mic to the side of your monitor, angled toward your mouth at roughly 45 degrees. Keep it at mouth height or slightly below. This works well if you have a cardioid or supercardioid mic that rejects sound from the sides and rear.

• ✅ Out of the camera frame
• ✅ Doesn't block your view
• ⚠️ Slightly more off-axis — use a mic with good side rejection

Option 3: Above Frame (Overhead)

Mount the mic above your monitor or on an overhead boom, angled downward toward your mouth. This is common in broadcast setups and keeps the desk completely clear. It requires a longer boom arm but looks completely clean on camera.

• ✅ Completely invisible on camera
• ✅ Clean desk aesthetic
• ⚠️ Requires a longer arm and careful angle adjustment

What to Avoid

• Directly in front of your face — blocks your face on camera and looks unprofessional.
• Flat on the desk — picks up desk vibrations, keyboard noise, and is too far from your mouth.
• Too far away — anything beyond 40cm starts picking up significantly more room noise relative to your voice.
• Pointing at your keyboard — even a slight downward angle toward the desk picks up typing noise.

Essential Accessories for Clean Video Call Audio

• Boom arm — lets you position the mic precisely and move it out of the way when not in use.
• Shock mount — isolates the mic from desk vibrations caused by typing.
• Pop filter — reduces plosive sounds ("p" and "b" sounds) that can distort on calls.

The Bottom Line

Great video call audio comes down to two things: getting the mic close to your mouth and keeping it out of the camera frame. A boom arm gives you the flexibility to achieve both without compromise. Once you dial in the position, the difference in how you sound on calls is immediately noticeable — to you and everyone you speak with.

Explore our desk audio accessories including boom arms, shock mounts, and microphones to upgrade your video call setup.