When unmuted during normal use, Milo uses voice activation detection (VAD) to avoid transmitting continuously, especially when nobody is saying anything. When a Milo detects sound that is likely to be speech, the microphones open and the audio is transmitted to the group.
Loud non-speech noises can sometimes trigger the mics. You may notice this for example when someone in your group is skiing down an icy slope, or when passing by a loading truck or a building site using heavy equipment.
On the flip side, if someone in your group is a quiet talker, the mics may not trigger, resulting in the group missing some of their comments, even when their Milo is positioned close to their mouth.
Milo Link enables you to change VAD sensitivity to address these situations across different contexts and environments:
- For each Milo you want to change, go to Advanced Settings, then choose Voice detection sensitivity
- By default, sensitivity is set to be Balanced across a wide range of use cases and contexts
- Set it to Low when you want to filter out more loud noises. Be aware of the tradeoff: You now also need to speak louder to trigger VAD and transmit what you say
- Set it to High for someone who is soft-spoken and is in a fairly quiet environment. Be aware of the tradeoff: More noise may be transmitted at this setting
To summarize:
A quiet person in a quiet environment will prefer high sensitivity.
If there is a lot of background noise, choose lower sensitivity, and remember to speak up.