OS: “Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)"(Checked by cat /etc/os-release)
Interfaces
List up microphone(or web cam) devices on USB.
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lsusb
(output)
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Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 0411:0260 BUFFALO INC. (formerly MelCo., Inc.) BUFFALO BSWHD06M USB Camera
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 0b0e:0420 GN Netcom Jabra SPEAK 510
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 046d:0823 Logitech, Inc. HD Webcam B910
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 08bb:2902 Texas Instruments PCM2902 Audio Codec
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Note that capture 0-16 means the configuration is binned in 16 steps. If you want to down the volume to 50% for this device, you need to set amixer sset Mic 8 -c 4 in the following step.
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arecord -D plughw:4,0 kyoritsu_100.wav
1.2 Buffalo
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$ amixer sset Mic 100 -c 5
Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Capture 0 - 88
Front Left: Capture 88 [100%] [16.00dB] [on]
Front Right: Capture 88 [100%] [16.00dB] [on]
$ amixer sset Mic 77 -c 5
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Capture 0 - 88
Front Left: Capture 77 [88%] [13.25dB] [on]
Front Right: Capture 77 [88%] [13.25dB] [on]
$ amixer sset Mic 66 -c 5
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Capture 0 - 88
Front Left: Capture 66 [75%] [10.50dB] [on]
Front Right: Capture 66 [75%] [10.50dB] [on]
1: Kyoritsu Products is too quiet to use even with the volume set to 100%.
2: Buffalo has some sound quality and volume expected for a 2000 yen class webcam. Stereo microphones might be useful.
3: Logitech is neither good nor bad. Considering the microphone performance and cost (8000 yen class), Buffalo is the better choice.
4: Jabra has almost no noise and works well at low gain. Price (¥23,000 class) and size are the main drawbacks.
5: JMTek has less noise than Logitech and Buffalo webcams, even at moderate (88%). Considering the cost (around 2000 yen~) and its use as a smart speaker, an omnidirectional condenser microphone is considered effective.
Based on the above results, an omnidirectional condenser microphone and a stereo microphone that can pick up sound and is small in size are desirable. Considering its use as a smart speaker, the sensitivity (distance) of the microphone should also be longer. Among the USB microphones tested, JMTek seems to be the best in terms of cost. However, we need to be careful if the same level of performance can be maintained when the microphone is hatched.
